Core Principles of Humanistic Psychology
Ever wondered why you feel most satisfied when you're being truly yourself? Humanistic psychology puts your subjective experiences and personal growth at the centre of understanding human behaviour.
The approach revolves around Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which suggests you have different levels of needs - from basic survival to achieving your dreams. Carl Rogers developed the concept of self-concept - essentially how you see yourself versus who you actually are. When these two align (called congruence), you can achieve self-actualisation - basically becoming the best version of yourself.
What's brilliant about this approach is that it assumes you have human agency - you're not just a victim of your circumstances. You can make choices, set goals, and take responsibility for your actions. It recognises that your personal feelings, beliefs, and values are absolutely essential to understanding your psychological well-being.
Quick Tip: Think of self-actualisation as levelling up in a video game - you're constantly working towards unlocking your full potential rather than just fixing what's "wrong."
