Psy 307. Humanistic, Existential & Transpersonal Psychology
Spring 2002

STUDY GUIDE #3

Humanistic Psychology

3 weeks
15% of Letter Grade


Learning Objectives:


Readings (in Psy 307 Reader #2):

Carl Rogers. A Therapist's View of the Good Life. From On Becoming a Person. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin,1961.

Carl Rogers. (1980). My Philosophy of Interpersonal Relationships and How It Grew and The Foundations of a Person-Centered Approach. From A Way of Being. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1980.

Abraham H. Maslow. A Theory of Human Motivation. From Motivation and Personality. New York, Harper & Bros., 1954.

Abraham H. Maslow. Self-Actualization and Beyond. From J. F. T. Bugental, Ed. Challenges of Humanistic Psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1967

Abraham H. Maslow. Lessons from the Peak-Experiences. Reprinted from the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1962, v. 2(1), pp. 9-18.

Virginia Satir. Patterns of Commuication. From The New Peoplemaking. Palo Alto, CA: Science & Behavior Books, 1988.

Ilene Serlin & Eleanor Criswell. Humanistic Psychology and Women. From Kirk Schneider, J. F. T. Bugental & Fraser Pierson, Eds. Handbook of Humanistic Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2001.


Key Concepts:

The Third Force
Gestalt Therapy

Carl Rogers

  • Congruence
  • Unconditional Positive Regard
  • Empathic Listening
  • Client-Centered or Person-Centered Therapy
A. H. Maslow
  • Self-Actualization
  • Hierachy of Needs
  • B-Values
  • Metaneeds
  • Metapathologies
Virginia Satir
  • Placating
  • Blaming
  • Computing
  • Distracting
  • Leveling
  • Juiciness


Writing Assignments:

Group assignment: View the film The Big Kahuna. Analyze the three main characters in the film. What does each character represent? What are the main themes? How do the fantasies they each have created for themselves shape the ways they are living, and not living, their lives? How would you interpret their lives in the terms of humanistic psychology?

Individual Assignment: Compare Maslow's concept of "self-actualization," Rogers' "congruence," and Bugental's "authenticity." Are these essentially the same concept? What is the value of this (these) concept(s) in facilitating the personal growth and development of oneself and others?