Humanistic Approach to Psychopathology

Theorists: Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, Self - Actualization
Rogers: here and now
Rogers and Maslow: Self actualization
Concept: Attributes behaviour to how a person perceives oneself and the world around him - human beings are inherently good.

Self Concept:

1. It is a set of beliefs and perceptions about oneself - represents the 'I and me' , 'what I am', and 'what I can do'.o
2. This is also what is called the self-image or  real self

Ideal self: The ideal self is what the person would like to be
True Self: Is what the person actually is

Phenomenal Field - represents the organism or the organismic self

1. This is individuals frame of reference including all feeling and expressions regardless of whether they are accepted or denied.
2. It consists of symbolized conscious experiences and unsymbolized unconscious experiences.

When there is incongruence  between

1. Real self and ideal self
2. Real self and organismic self

- there's confusion and maladjustment

- the individual feels threatened and anxious

- there's dissatisfaction

- defense mechanisms set in and thinking becomes constricted and rigid

When there's congruence between

1. Real self and ideal self 
2. Real self and organismic self

- the individual is well adjusted

- mature and functioning is normal

- the individual moves towards self actualization

Person-centered Therapy

- the goal is to enhance congruence and to help the person to move towards self-actualization (the development of a person to reach his/her fullest potential)

- to replace unrealistic conditions of worth with truer, organismic values

- this can be done through a relationship with a therapist who can exhibit unconditional positive regard towards the individual

- the therapist shows

1. unconditional positive regard (non-judgmental respect)
2. empathy (the capacity to look at things from the client's shoes)
3. genuineness (being oneself rather than playing the role of a therapist)