The humanistic psychology movement shaped the theory and practice of therapy and counselling, and transformed the way people saw and spoke about themselves. In contrast to the prevailing approaches of the mid 20th century and before, it emphasised individuality, free will, responsibility, and human potential. Humanistic psychology was enormously influential, giving rise to a number of now widely used therapeutic methods, including person-centred counselling and existential therapy.
Humanistic psychology emerged in the second half of the 20th century, into a burgeoning field of counselling and psychotherapy. With a focus on the individual’s capacity for self-determination, the movement presented a challenge to the existing two ‘forces’ in psychology: psychoanalysis and behaviourism. Psychoanalysis had emphasised uncovering what might be unconscious or repressed, while behaviourism understood human behaviour as a result of conditioning. Humanistic psychology took a more holistic – and more positive – approach, highlighting human experience, agency, and potential. At its heart was the humanist view of human beings as makers of meaning with the power to shape their own lives, without the need for a god or external authority.
Albert Ellis, one of its major proponents, defined humanistic psychology as:
the study of the whole individual, by logico-empirical means that are distinctly human, for the purpose of helping… live a happier, more self-actualizing, and more creative existence. It completely accepts people with their human limitations; it particularly focuses upon and employs their experiences and their values; it emphasizes their ability to create and direct their own destinies; and it views them as holistic, goal-directed individuals who are important in their own right, just because they are alive, and who (together with their fellow humans) have the right to continue to exist and to enjoy and fulfill themselves.
Albert Ellis, Humanistic Psychotherapy: the Rational-Emotive Approach (1974)
The movement was influential on the growth of qualitative and survey-based approaches to research, drawing on people’s subjective experiences, but humanistic psychology was most profoundly instrumental in shaping the practice of therapy and counselling. The person-centred approach in particular, with an emphasis on the therapist’s role as non-judgmental and non-directive, today underpins most psychotherapy, social work, pastoral care, and counselling.
Person-centred counselling was developed by the American psychologist Carl Rogers in the mid-20th century. It emphasises the importance of the individual and their own experience, with the fundamental aim being growth towards a good life, and becoming a more ‘fully functioning person’. Rogers described this as someone who is:
more able to experience all of his feelings, and is less afraid of any of his feelings; he is his own sifter of evidence, and is more open to evidence from all sources; he is completely engaged in the process of being and becoming himself, and thus discovers that he is soundly and realistically social; he lives more completely in this moment, but learns that this is the soundest living for all time.
Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person (1961)
The role of the counsellor in Rogers’ view was facilitating the ‘core conditions’ for this growth to take place, including non-judgement, unconditional positive regard, and empathy.
Human nature is not nearly as bad as it has been thought to be. In fact it can be said that the possibilities of human nature have customarily been sold short.
Abraham H. Maslow, Toward a Psychology of Being (1968)
Maslow was an American psychologist who developed a theory of self-actualisation (a ‘hierarchy of needs’) based on human motivations. An atheist, Maslow was a leading proponent of humanistic psychology. In 1967, the American Humanist Association named Maslow Humanist of the Year.
The basic nature of the human being, when functioning freely, is constructive and trustworthy.
Carl Rogers, Freedom to Learn (1969)
Carl Rogers was an American psychologist who developed a number of widely used therapeutic methods and concepts, including person-centred (or client-centred) counselling. He was named Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association in 1964.
The essence of humanism, in both psychological and ethical areas, is that man is fully acknowledged to be human — that is, limited and fallible — and that in no way whatever is he superhuman or subhuman.
Albert Ellis, Humanistic Psychotherapy: the Rational-Emotive Approach (1974)
Albert Ellis was an influential American psychologist who developed rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT), the foundation of what would become the widely practiced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In 2003, he was named the second most influential psychologist of the 20th century by the American Psychological Association, after Carl Rogers.
In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.
Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning (1946)
Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist who developed logotherapy, which emphasises people’s will to meaning. Logotherapy aims to restore a sense of meaning by encouraging creative activities and meaningful experiences, as well as encouraging self-acceptance and an appreciation of one’s place in the world.
When we are not truly known by the other people in our lives, we are misunderstood. When we are misunderstood, especially by family and friends, we join the “lonely crowd.” Worse, when we succeed in hiding our being from others, we tend to lose touch with our real selves. This loss of self contributes to illness in its myriad forms.
Sidney Jourard, preface to The Transparent Self (1964)
Sidney Jourard was a Canadian psychologist, and the author of The Transparent Self and Healthy Personality: An Approach From the Viewpoint of Humanistic Psychology. Jourard emphasised the importance of openness and authenticity, arguing the need for people to pursue personally meaningful goals, as well as strive to shape the world so that others have the opportunity to do the same.
Carmen Schuhmann, ‘Counselling and the Humanist Worldview’ in the Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Humanism (2015)
‘Humanistic Therapies’ in the Encyclopedia of Social Work (20th edition, 2008)
‘Humanistic psychology’ in the Dictionary of Psychology (4th edition, 2015)