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Block 2 Unit 4 Humanistic and Self Theory - Maslow and Rogers

1. Discuss the importance of the humanistic approach in the study of personality.

The humanistic approach emphasizes the inherent goodness of people, personal growth, and self-actualization. It focuses on subjective experience and the drive towards realising one's full potential.

2. Discuss the salient features of Rogers’s theory of personality.

Rogers' theory emphasizes the organism, self (real and ideal), congruity and incongruity. It focuses on the drive towards self-actualization.

3. Discuss the characteristic features of Humanistic approach to personality.

Humanistic approach emphasises the entire person, their inherent goodness, and unique attributes towards growth.

4. Critically evaluate the main tenets of Maslow’s theory of personality.

Maslow's theory proposes that needs are hierarchical, and self-actualization is the ultimate goal. However, critics point out that some people do achieve higher levels even without meeting all lower needs first.

5. What do you mean by need hierarchy?

Maslow’s need hierarchy is a model where needs are arranged in order of priority, from basic physiological needs to self-actualization. Lower needs are usually addressed before higher ones.

6. Discuss the importance of deficiency needs and growth needs in the development of personality

Deficiency needs (physiological, safety, belongingness, and esteem) are necessary for survival and basic wellbeing. Growth needs (self-actualization) drive personal development and the pursuit of one’s potential.

7. On what ground does Maslow’s theory differ from Rogers’s theory of personality?

Maslow focused on a hierarchical model of needs, with self-actualisation as the ultimate goal. Rogers focussed more on the phenomenal field and self.

8. Describe the salient features of Maslow’s theory of personality. What are the main features of Maslow’s theory that makes it applicable in organisation?

Maslow’s Theory of Personality

Maslow's theory is a humanistic approach that focuses on the entire person and their unique attributes for greatness. It posits that people are inherently good and strive to reach their full potential. Maslow’s theory is based on the observation of real people, and it provides a model of how a happy, healthy, well-functioning person behaves.

Salient Features of Maslow’s Theory:

• Hierarchy of Needs: Maslow proposed a theory of human motivation based on a hierarchy of needs. The lower needs must be met before higher needs can be addressed. The hierarchy includes:
  • Physiological Needs: The most basic needs for survival, such as food, water, and sleep.
  • Safety Needs: The need for security and stability.
  • Love and Belonging Needs: The need for affection, intimacy, and belonging.
  • Esteem Needs: The need for respect, self-esteem, and recognition from others.
  • Self-actualisation: The highest level, involving the realisation of one's full potential.
• Focus on Self-Actualisation: Maslow’s theory emphasizes the drive towards self-actualisation, which is the process of becoming everything one is capable of becoming.
• Holistic Approach: Maslow’s theory is a holistic approach to personality research, opposing reductionism.

Applicability of Maslow’s Theory in Organisations:

• Employee Motivation: Maslow's hierarchy of needs can be applied to understand and motivate employees. Organisations need to satisfy lower-level needs (e.g., fair pay, safe working conditions) before focusing on higher-level needs (e.g., recognition, opportunities for growth).
• Creating a Supportive Work Environment: By understanding the hierarchy of needs, employers can create a supportive work environment that encourages employee engagement and productivity.
• Personal Growth: The theory encourages the provision of opportunities for growth to encourage self-actualisation of employees.

9. Distinguish between deficiency needs and growth needs.

Deficiency Needs vs. Growth Needs: Maslow's hierarchy of needs is divided into two categories: deficiency needs and growth needs.

• Deficiency Needs (D-Needs): These are the first four levels of the hierarchy: physiological, safety, love and belonging, and esteem. They are called deficiency needs because their lack of satisfaction motivates people to meet them.
• Growth Needs (B-Needs): This is the fifth level need, which is self-actualisation. Unlike deficiency needs, growth needs are not driven by a lack of something but by a desire for personal growth and to become everything that a person is capable of becoming.

10. Explain the characteristics of self-actualising person.

Characteristics of a Self-Actualising Person: Maslow identified several characteristics of people he considered self-actualised:

• Reality-Centred: They can differentiate between what is fake and what is real.
• Problem-Centred: They treat life's difficulties as problems that require solutions.
• Different Perception of Means and Ends: They view the journey as often more important than the destination.
• Enjoy Solitude: They are comfortable being alone.
• Independent of Culture and Environment: They are not bound by cultural norms and expectations.
• Appreciation of the Ordinary: They have an ability to appreciate everyday experiences.
• Acceptance: They accept themselves and others as they are.
• Spontaneity: They are open and spontaneous in their behaviour and thoughts.
• Humour: They have a good sense of humour.
• Creativity: They tend to be creative and innovative.

11. Critically evaluate Rogers’s theory of personality

Rogers’s Theory of Personality Rogers’s theory is a humanistic approach known as self-theory, emphasising an individual’s experience, feelings, values and inner life. It focuses on how individuals perceive their own being, and how this relates to their sense of who they should be.

Critical Evaluation of Rogers's Theory:

• Emphasis on Subjective Experience: Rogers's theory values the subjective experience of the individual, focusing on their perception of reality.
• Congruence: A key concept in Rogers’s theory is the idea of congruence between the self (who you are) and the ideal self (who you feel you should be).
• Positive Regard: Rogers emphasises the importance of unconditional positive regard and acceptance for personal growth.
• Person-Centered Therapy: Rogers's person-centered therapy seeks to provide empathy, openness, and unconditional positive regard, where the therapist acts as a “mirror” to reflect the individual’s thoughts and feelings.

12. Explain the importance of self-concept in Rogers’s theory of personality.

Importance of Self-Concept in Rogers's Theory:

• Central Concept: The self or self-concept is one of the central concepts in Rogers's theory.
• Definition of Self: Rogers defined self as an organised, consistent, conceptual gestalt of perceptions of "I" or "me" and the relationship of "I" or "me" to various aspects of life, along with the values attached to those perceptions.
• Real Self vs. Ideal Self: Rogers distinguishes between the real self (the self one can become) and the ideal self (what the person would like to be).
• Congruence and Incongruence: The degree of congruence between the real self and the ideal self is an indicator of psychological health. When there is a mismatch the person experiences psychological distress.

13. In the light of Roger’s theory explain the development of personality. What do you mean by congruence and incongruence of self. What role dose it play in the development of personality?

Development of Personality (Rogers’s Perspective):

• Phenomenological View: Rogers’s theory is phenomenological, meaning it emphasises the individual's unique perception of reality.
• Actualising Tendency: Rogers believes that individuals have an inherent tendency to strive for self-actualisation, to realise their full potential.
• Experience and Self: The self-concept develops through the individual's experiences. When the self experiences are consistent with the self-concept, the person is in a state of congruence. Incongruence occurs when there is a mismatch between the self-concept and one’s experiences.
• Congruence and Incongruence: Rogers emphasised the importance of congruence between a person’s self and their experiences in the development of personality. Adjustment and psychological health are explained in terms of a realistic self-concept that is congruent with self.
• Therapeutic Process: The role of the therapist is to provide empathy, openness, and unconditional positive regard to facilitate the client’s movement towards congruence.

14. Discuss the development of personality from Rogers’s phenomenological point of view. What do you mean by phenomenal field? Discuss its importance in the light of Rogers’s theory.

Phenomenal Field:

• Subjective Reality: The phenomenal field is the individual's unique frame of reference, known only to the person.
• Behaviour: According to Rogers, a person's behaviour depends upon their phenomenal field (subjective reality) and not upon stimulating conditions (external reality).

Rogers’s theory suggests that the way an individual perceives and interprets their experiences is what shapes their behaviour and that personal growth is facilitated by a supportive environment that allows individuals to be open to their experiences and to develop a congruent sense of self.