Lec 3 Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is phenomenology?
The therapist get insights by submerging themselves non-judgmentally into the subject and conscious experience (reality) of the client
Rogers’ perspective of the self / self-concept
Our actual self (our experiences) and ideal self
Note: he believed many life problems are self-relevant experiences, which is when there is INCONGRUENCE (actual vs ideal)
=> use Q-sort technique to measure if the 2 selves are aligned (congruent)
Rogers’ beliefs on self-actualization and self-congruence
Self-actualization: innate motivation, we want to reach our potential
Self-congruence: when our actual and ideal self are aligned => satisfying experience
Note: client knows what they need, they’re the only person capable to improving themselves
Features of self-actualizing
Self-actualization:
- self-acceptance
- trust (to others)
- sense of autonomy and development
- openness to new experiences
- purpose in life
=> when in doubt, learn something, regain mastery / autonomy
Defense mechanisms that explain troubles / impact self-actualization
- subception (an unconscious process to protect us from stimuli that could threaten self-concept - perceive without consciously knowing)
- distortion and denial
- when the person become non-acceptant of their phenomenal field (parts of their experiences, reality)
Note: similar to Freud’s defense mechanisms
Why can’t people accept their experiences? And how does Rogers propose to overcome this?
- need for positive regard
- conditions of worth imposed by other
- internalized conditions of worth by the self (assumptions for ourselves)
Rogers: emphasize on listening to our own voice => why do we have a gut feeling? Animalistic drive / impulse
Note: Freud would dismiss this as animalistic impuleses of it id (supressed)
Rogererian therapy
Client-centered therapy
- an empathetic relationship
- genuine unconditional relationship (regardless of any behavior)
- listen to your true self without fearing being judged
- non-directiveness: rephrases the client’s words (e.g. the problem) and echoes thoughts, leading them to their own realization
=> unconditional positive regard (also the foundation of parenting)
Rogers and humanistic perspective
What truly matters?
Self-actualization
- Linked to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Happiness
- From dependent to independent
- Esteem: I can do something (overcome Oedipus complex)
- S.A: everyone will be different
Features of self-actualizing people
Maslow’s examples include Einstein
Have the ability to (Rogerian qualities for a congruent self):
- accept themselves and others for what they are
- recognize needs of others
- respond to uniqueness of people and situations
Roger’s predictions of behaviors from individuals with congruent self-concept (close alignment):
- form intimate relationships
- resist conformity and assert themselves
Note: we have the same potential as these great people
Positive psychology movement
Dahlsgaard, Peterson and Seligman => What universal good qualities exist in humankind?
The movement focuses on what makes life fulfiling and meaning, encouraging the development of positive emotions
=> they emphasized 6 core virtues (courage, justice, humanity, temperance, wisdom, trancendence)
Note: DPS and Rogers believe in human potential for growth, but the movement involves structured interventions to enhance well-being, while Rogers is process-oriented.
Virtues of positive affective states
How can we make good use of constructive good emotions?
Flow by Mihaly C.
- when we are encapsulated into the task, we are unaware of time
- state of focused attention
- loss of self-consciousness and enjoyment
- match between personal skills and environmental challenge
Flow x Rogerian psychology
Self-actualization.
State of flow => fully engaged in an activity that challenges and utilizes the individual’s skills => personal growth
Note: harder to measure (quantify) because it is a subjective experience
What is unique about humans? Humanistic view is needed
Humanistic view = humans have meaning (different to animals!) strengths and personal growth, humans are inherently good
=> in Rogerian psychology, this is what makes “being human” a meaningful and unique experience
Existentialism Noah Harrari’s perspective
This means what does it mean to exist? (an existential threat is questioning the purpose of life if we are destined to die)
Noah Harrari: meaning of life came when we abandoned a view => kill each other and get killed. Occurred with the creation of religious beliefs (purpose and creation.)
Research inspired by existentialism - terror management theory (study: when mortality is made salient to people, what is the consequence/result?)
Promises of leaving a legacy makes life more meaningful
TMT - when existential threat occurs
- stronger in-group
- rejection of outgroup
- greater identification to religions and traditional beliefs
- see greater difference between humans and animals
Self-determination theory Deci and Ryan
We are motivated in 2 ways:
- Intrinsic (ppl show greater effort and persistence, better physical health and psychological well-being, learning is more long-lasting)
- Extrinsic
Three basic psychological needs in human nature
- Autonomy (self-determined behaviors)
- Competence (control, are we making an impact)
- Relatedness (connection to others)
Heine, Lehman, Markus and Kitayama (1999)
Need for positive regard not as universal (Roger’s theory)
This study found that alike Roger’s theory, most people report having relatively high self-esteem in the US
But in Japan, this positive bias is absent => people report low self-esteem as a valued quality in personality
=> different cultures may endorse a different self-theory
Strengths and limitations of Roger’s theory and phenomenology
Strengths:
- focus on self-concept and human potential for personal growth
- concrete therapeutic strategies
- scientific objectivity to difficult-to-study processes
Limitations:
- little attention to the biological bases of human nature
- may exclude research that is outside of the conscious experience
- pays little attention to the possibility of cultural variation, few tools to explain those variations
