Humanistic psychology

Humanistic psychology is a comprehensive orientation, an affirmation of a positive psychology for the future of mankind. Given the growing, changing, varied nature of the orientation, it is not considered possible or desirable by its proponents for it to be delimited by particular methods (experimental or statistical). Humanistic psychology attempts to deal with whole, living persons in the process of becoming, rather than isolated aspects of human behaviour. It is therefore especially concerned with topics such as authenticity, encounter, self-actualization, search for meaning, creativity, intentionality, psychological health, being motivation, values, love, identity and commitment.

As a result of the work of C. J. Jung, who formulated a psychology of positive ends and purposes, the main consideration has become the essential spirit of man, and ways and means of achieving it, rather than the pathology of man and its reduction. This approach is characterized by the writings of Goldstein, Fromm, Horney, Rogers, Maslow, Allport, Angyl, Buhler, etc, as well as by certain aspects of the writings of Jung, Adler, and the psychoanalytic ego-psychologists.