Which theorist emphasized that an individuals personal growth

They often described peak experiences during which they felt such an intense degree of satisfaction that they seemed to transcend themselves.

They actively engaged in activities that would bring about this feeling of unity and meaningfulness. Despite this fact, most of these individuals seemed deeply rooted in reality and were active problem-seekers and solvers.

They developed a level of acceptance for what could not be changed and a level of spontaneity and resilience to tackle what could be changed. Most of these people had healthy relationships with a small group with which they interacted frequently. According to Maslow, self-actualized people indicate a coherent personality syndrome and represent optimal psychological health and functioning.

As with all early psychological studies, questions have been raised about the lack of empirical evidence used in his research. Because of the subjective nature of the study, the holistic approach allows for a great deal of variation but does not identify enough constant variables in order to be researched with true accuracy. Psychologists also worry that such an extreme focus on the subjective experience of the individual does little to explain or appreciate the impact of society on personality development.

Furthermore, the hierarchy of needs has been accused of cultural bias—mainly reflecting Western values and ideologies. Critics argue that this concept is considered relative to each culture and society and cannot be universally applied.

Carl Rogers : Carl Rogers was a prominent humanistic psychologist who is known for his theory of personality that emphasizes change, growth, and the potential for human good.

Carl Rogers was a prominent psychologist and one of the founding members of the humanist movement. Along with Abraham Maslow, he focused on the growth potential of healthy individuals and greatly contributed to our understanding of the self and personality.

They emphasized free will and self-determination, with each individual desiring to become the best person they can become. Humanistic psychology emphasized the active role of the individual in shaping their internal and external worlds. Rogers advanced the field by stressing that the human person is an active, creative, experiencing being who lives in the present and subjectively responds to current perceptions, relationships, and encounters. Through person-centered counseling and scientific therapy research, Rogers formed his theory of personality development, which highlighted free will and the great reservoir of human potential for goodness.

Rogers based his theories of personality development on humanistic psychology and theories of subjective experience. He believed that everyone exists in a constantly changing world of experiences that they are at the center of.

A person reacts to changes in their phenomenal field, which includes external objects and people as well as internal thoughts and emotions.

Rogers believed that all behavior is motivated by self-actualizing tendencies, which drive a person to achieve at their highest level. As a result of their interactions with the environment and others, an individual forms a structure of the self or self-concept— an organized, fluid, conceptual pattern of concepts and values related to the self. If a person has a positive self-concept, they tend to feel good about who they are and often see the world as a safe and positive place.

The Lifecycle Completed: A Review. New York: Norton. London: Routledge. Freud, Sigmund. Three Essays on Theories of Sexuality. New York: Basic Books.

Gilligan, Carol. Haney, Phil. Harlow, Harry F. Learning to Love. New York: Ballantine. Kohlberg, Lawrence. New York: Harper and Row. Mead, George H. Mind, Self and Society , edited by C. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. On Social Psychology , edited by A. Piaget, Jean. The Construction of Reality in the Child. Skip to main content.

Search for:. Theories of Self-Development Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: Understand the difference between psychological and sociological theories of self-development Explain the process of moral development. What a Pretty Little Lady! Summary Psychological theories of self-development have been broadened by sociologists who explicitly study the role of society and social interaction in self-development.

Short Answer Think of a current issue or pattern that a sociologist might study. What types of questions would the sociologist ask, and what research methods might he employ?

Now consider the questions and methods a psychologist might use to study the same issue. Comment on their different approaches. What sociological topics might show gender differences? Provide some examples to illustrate your ideas. Neo-Freudian theorists , including Erik Erikson, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney, believed in the importance of the unconscious but disagreed with other aspects of Freud's theories. Below are the most prominent psychoanalytic perspective theorists:.

The humanistic perspective of personality focuses on psychological growth, free will, and personal awareness. It takes a more positive outlook on human nature and is centered on how each person can achieve their individual potential.

The following are the most influential humanistic perspective theorists:. The trait perspective of personality is centered on identifying, describing, and measuring the specific traits that make up human personality. By understanding these traits, researchers believe they can better comprehend the differences between individuals. Below are the most important trait perspective theorists:. The social cognitive perspective of personality emphasizes the importance of observational learning , self-efficacy, situational influences, and cognitive processes.

The main proponent of the social cognitive perspective is:. Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter. Mcwilliams N. Guilford; Barenbaum N, Winter D.

In: Freedheim D, ed. Handbook of Psychology: History of Psychology. An existential-humanistic view of personality change: co-occurring changes with psychological well-being in a 10 Year cohort study. Soc Indic Res. Rogers CR. The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. TACD Journal. Kaufman SB. Self-actualizing people in the 21st century: Integration with contemporary theory and research on personality and well-being.

Journal of Humanistic Psychology. November Fleeson W, Jayawickreme E. Whole trait theory. Journal of Research in Personality.