Overview

As Abraham Maslow said in The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance, "I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail" (1966). In previous modules, we have learned about psychoanalysis, the new wave of psychoanalysis, and the trait tradition. In this module, we have learned about the humanistic approach. This approach challenges a potential cognitive bias in psychoanalysis that treats behavior as pathology, or something that can be diagnosed and treated. For this journal, we will step outside of the pathology lens on behavior and focus on the role of happiness, self-improvement, and compassion.

analyzing Theory

• Describe how humanism differs from the personality theories you have studied so far.
• Explain the role of nature and nurture in the humanistic approach.
• Describe the role of emotional intelligence in the humanistic approach.
• Explain the role of systemic issues in society, such as a lack of equity, access, or opportunity in the hierarchy of needs.