humanistic and existential directions emerged in the middle of the last century in Europe as a result of the development of philosophical and psychological thought of the last two centuries, when, in fact, the result of the sublimation of such flows as "a philosophy of life," Nietzsche's philosophical irrationalism of Schopenhauer, intuitionism of Bergson, philosophyOntology Scheler, psychoanalysis of Freud and Jung, and existentialism, Heidegger, Sartre and Camus.The writings of Horney, Fromm, Rubinstein, their ideas clearly traced motives of this movement.Pretty soon, the existential approach in psychology has become very popular in North America.The ideas were supported by prominent representatives of the "third revolution".Simultaneously with existentialism in psychological thought of this period developed and humanistic over represented such prominent psychologists like Rogers, Kelly, Maslow.Both branches of the steel counterweight already fixed directions in psychological science - Freudianism and behaviorism.
existential-humanistic direction and other current
founder of existential-humanistic (EGP) - D. Bugental - often criticized behaviorism for a simplified understanding of the personality, contempt for man, his inner world and the potential for mechanization of behavioral patterns and the desirecontrol person.The behaviorists also criticized for giving a humanistic approach overvalued concept of freedom, considering it as an object of experimental investigation and insisted that there is no freedom, and the basic law of existence is a stimulus-response.Humanists insist on insolvency and even danger of this approach to humans.
For followers of Freud have humanists were their claims, despite the fact that many of them started out as psychoanalysts.The latter rejected the dogmatism and determinism concept opposed fatalism characteristic of Freudianism, denied the unconscious as a universal explanatory principle.Despite this, it should be noted that the psychology of the person existential still to a certain extent close to psychoanalysis.
essence of humanism
Currently there is no consensus about the degree of independence of humanism and existentialism, but the majority of the representatives of these movements prefer to separate them, although everyone recognizes their fundamental commonality, because the main idea of these areas - the recognition of the freedom of the individual inselection and construction of its existence.Existentialists and humanists in agreement that the awareness of being, touching it converts and transforms the person raising it above the chaos and void of empirical existence, reveals his identity and thus makes sense of himself.In addition, the absolute dignity of the humanistic concept is not abstract theory embedded in life, but rather a real hands-on experience is the foundation for scientific generalizations.The experience is seen as a priority value of humanism and the main landmark.And humanistic and existential psychology evaluate practice as a vital component.But here, unlike traced this method: for humanists important practice experiences and real-world experience solving very specific personal problems, rather than the use and implementation of teaching and methodological patterns.
human nature in the GP and EP
At the heart of humanistic approach (GP) is the notion of the essence of human nature, which brings together its diverse currents and differs from other areas of psychology.By Roy Cavallo, the essence of human nature is to constantly be in the making.In the process of becoming a man is autonomous, active, capable of self-change and creative adaptation, focused on domestic choices.Avoiding the continuous formation of a refusal of the authenticity of life, "the human in man."
existential psychology (EP) humanism is characterized, above all, a qualitative assessment of the essence of the person and look at the nature of the sources of the process of becoming.According to existentialism, the essence of the person is not given either positive or negative - it was initially neutral.Features the same person acquires in the process of finding out its unique identity.With both positive and negative potential, the person chooses and is the choice for personal responsibility.
Existence
Existence - to exist.Its main characteristic - the lack of predestination, predzadannosti that can affect a person, determine how it will develop in the future.Excluded leaving the future, redirecting the responsibility on the shoulders of others, the nation, society, state.A man decides for himself - here and now.Existential psychology determines the direction of development of the individual only choice that he makes.Person-centered psychology as regards the essence of the person as a positive given initially.
belief in human
belief in personality - basic installation, which distinguishes the humanistic approach to psychology from the other currents.If the basis of Freudianism, behaviorism, and the vast majority of the concepts of Soviet psychologists is lack of faith in a person, then the existential direction in psychology, on the contrary, considers the human being from the perspective of faith in him.In the classical Freudianism originally negative nature of the individual, the purpose of influence on it - correction and compensation.The behaviorists estimate of human nature is neutral and affect it by forming and correction.Humanists see the same human nature, or of course, see the positive and help to influence the personality actualization (Maslow, Rogers), or assess the personal nature as quasi-positive and the main purpose of the psychological impact of seeing help in choosing the (existential psychology and Bugental Frankl).Thus, the basis of his teaching Institute of existential psychology puts the concept of individual human life choices.Personality is seen as initially neutral.
problems existential psychology
based humanistic approach placed the concept of perceived value that a person "chooses for himself", allowing the key issues of life.Existential personality psychology declares the primacy of human existence in the world.An individual from birth constantly interacts with the world, and finds in it the meaning of its existence.The world contains both threats and positive alternatives and opportunities that people can choose.Interaction with the world engenders in the individual basic existential problems, stress and anxiety, inability to cope which leads to an imbalance in the psyche of the individual.The problems varied, but schematically it can be reduced to four main "nodes" of polarities in which the person in the development process need to make a choice.
time, life and death
Death - the most easy to realize, because the most obvious ultimate inevitable reality.Awareness of impending death fills man with fear.The desire to live and simultaneous awareness of the temporality of existence - the main conflict that studies existential psychology.
determinism, freedom, responsibility
understanding of freedom in existentialism is also ambiguous.On the one hand, a man committed to the absence of external structure, on the other hand - is afraid of her absence.After all exist in an organized, obeying the plan of the universe outside easier.But on the other hand, existential psychology insists that man creates his own world, and is fully responsible for it.Awareness of the lack of prepared templates and structure engenders fear.
, Love and loneliness
The basis of understanding on the concept of existential loneliness of isolation, ie, detachment from the world and society.A man comes into the world and also one of its leaves.The conflict generated by the awareness of their own loneliness, on the one hand, and the human need for communication, protection, belonging to something greater - on the other.
meaningless and the meaning of life
The lack of meaning in life comes from the first three nodes.On the one hand, being in a continuous knowledge of man himself creates its meaning, on the other - is aware of its isolation, loneliness and impending death.
authenticity and conformism.Wines
Psychologists humanists based on the principle of personal choice, distinguish two main polarities - authenticity and conformism.The authentic worldview man shows his unique personal qualities, sees himself as a person who is able to influence society and their own experience through the decision-making, as the society created a choice of individuals, therefore, can vary as a result of their efforts.Authentic style of life characterized by internal orientation, innovation, harmony, elegance, courage and love.
Man is focused externally, not having the courage to take responsibility for their own choices, chooses the path of conformity, defining themselves exclusively as a performer of social roles.Acting on harvested social patterns, such a person thinks stereotypically, can not and does not want to accept your choice and give it an internal assessment.Conformist looks to the past, relying on ready-made paradigm, whereby he has a lack of confidence and a sense of worthlessness.There is an accumulation of ontological guilt.
value approach to the person and faith in the person of its strength allows her to explore more deeply.About heuristic indicates the direction and the presence of a variety of angles to it.The main of them - traditional existential, existential-analytical and humanistic existential psychology.May and Schneider also highlight the existential-integrative approach.In addition, there are approaches such as Friedman and dialogical therapy Frankl logotherapy.
Despite a number of conceptual differences, personality-centered humanistic and existential currents solidarity in trust to man.An important advantage of these trends is that they do not seek to "streamline" the person, put it most essential problems in the center of his attention, not cut off the difficult issues of conformity of human existence in the world and his inner nature.Recognizing that society affects the formation of personality and its existence in it, existential psychology is closely connected with the history, cultural studies, sociology, philosophy, social psychology, as well as being coherent and promising branch of modern science about personality.
