What are the differences between humanistic and behavioral psychology?

Answer 1

Behavioral psychology only acknowledges observable behavior, and completely ignores mental processes. It's theorist include John Watson, B.F. Skinner, and Pavlov. Humanisitcs psychology is a reaction to both behavioral psychology and Freudian psychoanalysis. It took true form in the theories Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and the like. It's focus is "on uniquely human issues, such as the self, self-actualization, health, hope, love, creativity, nature, being, becoming, individuality, and meaning - in short, the understanding of 'the personal nature of the human experience'".

Answer 2

Psychoanalysis

This is based on the work of Sigmund Freud, who believed that the unacceptable thoughts of early childhood are banished to the unconscious mind but continue to influence thoughts, emotions and behaviour. "Repressed" feelings can surface later as conflicts, depression, etc or through dreams or creative activities. The analyst seeks to interpret and make acceptable to the client's conscious mind, troublesome feelings and relationships from the past. "Transference" onto the analyst, of feelings about figures in the client's life, is encouraged. This type of therapy is often used by clients suffering high levels of distress and can be a lengthy and intensive process.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy/Counselling

This approach stresses the importance of the unconscious and past experience in shaping current behaviour. The client is encouraged to talk about childhood relationships with parents and other significant people and the therapist focuses on the client/therapist relationship (the dynamics) and in particular on the transference. Transference is when the client projects onto the therapist feelings experienced in previous significant relationships. The Psychodynamic approach is derived from Psychoanalysis but usually provides a quicker solution to emotional problems.

Person-Centred Therapy

Devised by Carl Rogers and also called "Client-Centred" or "Rogerian" counselling, this is based on the assumption that a client seeking help in the resolution of a problem they are experiencing, can enter into a relationship with a counsellor who is sufficiently accepting and permissive to allow the client to freely express any emotions and feelings. This will enable the client to come to terms with negative feelings, which may have caused emotional problems, and develop inner resources. The objective is for the client to become able to see himself as a person, with the power and freedom to change, rather than as an object

Answer 3

first and second force psychology humanistic being the third two are cognitive and behavioral humanistic is holoistic the whole person focusing on the here and now

Answer 4

person centered therapy is a form of psychoanalitic therapy