Humanistic, Cognitive and Positive Psychology - Essay Example

Humanistic Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Positive Psychology Affiliation Analysis of Humanistic Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Positive Psychology Humanistic psychology, also known as humanism, developed during the mid-nineties as a response to the behaviorism and psychoanalysis that prevailed dominantly in psychology at the time. Psychoanalysis is focused on studying the unconscious motivating factors that drive behavior whereas behaviorism is focused on studying the conditioning processes that causes some behavior. Humanist thinkers at the time felt that behaviorism and psychoanalysis were pessimistically oriented, placing too much emphasis on tragic emotions and failing to consider the roles played by personal choice (Maslow, 1965). Humanistic psychology is contrastingly focused on individual potential and emphasizes the significance of growth to attain actualization. The central principles of humanistic psychology argue that people are instinctively good and so mental, and social complications result from nonconformities to natural tendency. Humanism suggests that individuals have personal agency and are motivated to exercise the free will to follow things or ideas that will aid them in achieving their optimal potential as human beings. The need for personal growth and personal fulfillment is a crucial motivator for all human behavior. People are constantly seeking for new ways to learn new things, to grow and become better, and experience psychological self-actualization through growth. Therefore, humanistic psychology stresses creativity, individuality, and self-actualization as the key themes of its approach to psychology (Maslow, 1965). The three schools of thought are not perceived to be in competition rather each provides a different dimension of examining and understanding the human mind and behavior. Humanistic psychology focuses on a dimension that implores a universal perception of the human mind and behavior. Cognitive psychology focuses on cognition, the underlying mental process that lead to overlying activities. Attention, thinking, reasoning, language, learning, emotion and problem-solving are areas covered in the research. Cognitive psychology is associated to a school of thought referred to as cognitivism. Cognitivism advocates for an information processing system of mental function that is supported by experimental psychology and functionalism. Cognitive psychology is focused on the way information is processed by humans, examining how incoming information is treated (stimuli) and how the treatment results in a response (Anderson, 1990). In a simple examination, cognitive psychology focuses on variables that intercede stimuli reception and response output. The cognitive perspective employs a nomothetic approach to studying human cognitive processes, but also implements idiographic techniques by using case studies. Normally cognitive psychologists use experiments conducted in laboratories to study behavior because it is a scientific method. For instance, participants may take part in memory tests under controlled conditions. Though, the use of lab experiments can be criticized because of ecological validity. The emergence of Cognitive Psychology was because of discontent with the behaviorist method in its focus on external behavior instead of internal processes and the emergence of better experimental approaches. The comparison of computer processing of info and human brain also facilitated its emergence (Anderson, 1990). Positive psychology uses scientific study and understanding to intervene effectively in aiding the achievement of a satisfying life rather than simply treating mental deficiencies. The positive branch of psychology complements, without replacing or ignoring, the traditional practices of psychology (Snyder, 2009). By including an important focus on the use of scientific method to study and understand positive development in human, this branch of psychology is related to investigations of how the human developmental process can falter. The branch raises questions to the possibility that mere focus on disorder can result in a partial understanding of an individual’s condition (Snyder, 2009). Historically humanistic psychology contributed to the formation and development of positive psychology with respect to the objectives that it aims to achieve. Certainly the most significant incentive for the development of positive psychology was the response to dramatic increases in attention directed to the understanding and attempt to treat psychopathology and the environmental and biological factors that contributed to mental illnesses and psychosocial functioning. As valued as developments in the enhancement of human suffering are humanistic psychology provided very little knowledge on how human potential may be fully realized and how human well-being may suitably be promoted. Positive psychology, as a branch of study, emerged as an intensive and coordinated focus to promoting research attention and theoretical application toward enhancing that which is psychological functioning at its optimum. This supplementation of positive psychology created further opportunities for understanding mental related illnesses. The history of psychology comprises many fore-runners of positive psychology who directed their efforts to improving the understanding of well-being and healthy psychological functioning (Maslow, 1965). Most of the theories developed by these forerunners are employed in both fields of psychology. Among the most notable theories in the two fields include organism theory, Maslow’s theory of motivation and self-actualization, normal personality theory and positive mental health theory. The theories and related efforts facilitated the generation of empirical research on features of psychological functioning that existed before the creation of positive psychology. Humanistic psychology and cognitive psychology may well share their inception on the basis that they both rejected the behaviorist method that focused on external behavior rather than internal behavior. Humanistic Ethics that emerged in the mid-twentieth century and early twenty-first century had significant influences on the emergence and development of the three psychology fields. By society placing mindful experience at the center of the ethical practice of psychology, humanistic, cognitive and positive psychology found itself restricted to rejecting the controversy that the ideals of a value-free science is a possibility in psychology (Greening, 1985). The ideas that by being objective centered it would allow values to be dictated by culture and politics. The notion presented a fixed perspective of things. Early humanistic psychologist believed that setting universal values would help facilitate universal understanding of human nature. The humanistic ethics eventually led to the establishment of the America Psychological Association (APA). The mid-50s was characterized by advancement in technological developments. Hence, the prevailing thoughts at the time were centered on the application of science and technology to achieve objectives (Greening, 1985). The perspective was very influential in the three psychology fields. Psychologist started applying technology tools to help in carrying out their research procedures. Some of the technological advances that influenced psychology significantly were the development of the computer processing and digital recording devices. Technology also facilitated data analysis to draw conclusions, shortening research periods. The occurrence of World War two and the wars that followed created an opportunity for growth of the three fields of psychology. The need to treat a large number of casualties of war increased the demand for psychologist in humanistic and positive psychology. Humanistic psychology, cognitive and positive psychology has involved the application of scientific research of human behavior and brain since their inception. With these research process, a lot of knowledge has been achieved facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of human behavior and the brain (Anderson, 1990). Early psychologist like Abraham Maslow formulated several theories of human growth in testable hypotheses form and Maslow encouraged other scientists to test the theories through scientific research. The criticism of the developed theories has led to improvements in better understanding of human psychology. Extensive research study on understanding positive individual’s traits -strengths and virtues: valor, creativity, spirituality, the capacity to love, integrity, curiosity self-control, and humor have contributed immensely to development in positive psychology. A survey of the contemporary professional psychology landscape, the positive changes that bode well for the dominant future of humanistic psychology. The field of humanistic psychology is experiencing rejuvenated renewal on numerous fronts. A perfect example is the scientific research on psychotherapy now demonstrating that techniques have insignificant influence relating to effectiveness while the interpersonal and personal dimensions relating to therapy are effective determinants of results. Many scholars of Humanistic Psychology have noticed the Annual Conference of humanistic psychology and have expressed excitement about humanistic perspectives (Greening, 1985). Another boosting factor lies in the prevailing political world conditions, and the world political arena is characterized by rising tension between different countries. It is unfortunate but rather realistic that the conditions might deteriorate and spark an all-out war. For of this zeitgeist, it is arguable that humanistic psychology has an opportunity to make significant dominant contributions to the psychology and regain its once dominant position in American psychology. References Anderson, J. R. (1990). Cognitive psychology and its implications. WH Freeman/Times Books/Henry Holt & Co. Greening, T. (1985). The Origins of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology and the Association for Humanistic Psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 7-11. Maslow, A. (1965). Humanistic Science and Transcendent Experiences. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 219-227. Snyder, C. (2009). Oxford handbook of positive psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More