assumptions of the humanistic perspective*

One key assumption of the humanistic perspective is that behavior must be understood in terms of the subjective experience of each person, including the person’s phenomenological viewpoint, or the view of the world. In other words, if humanists want to understand me, they have to study my perceptions, thoughts and feelings because these aspects define the meaning of behavior. Therefore, it is only I who can explain the meaning of a specific behavior. This assumption is very different from other approaches, although it may be the most accessible because of its focus on subjective, personal experience. Since humanists choose to investigate people’s internal feelings and perceptions, they are the most difficult to objectively study, and therefore the theories based upon this assumption are less scientific. In other words, it is difficult for third-party observers to understand me. Psychoanalysts argue that the causes of behavior are due to uncontrollable unconscious processes, and behaviorists focus on the environment’s role on producing responses. They argue that subjective experience is insignificant, and therefore criticize how people’s conscious awareness is irrelevant to explaining behavior.

Another key assumption of the humanistic perspective is that humans are inherently good, and that we tend to strive for self-actualization and rise to our greatest potential in a unique way. However, this assumption is criticized as reductionist and selfish, due to its focus on the individual’s search for self-actualization, which places less importance on and denies the concerns for other people’s chances to fulfill their potentials. In other words, I want to rise to top of my potential, and therefore others are not really that important. This assumption is criticized as too simple, too, because the descriptions of innately good humans and their actualizing predisposition—psychoanalysts and behaviorists argue that there is more to the causes of behavior than that. Also, because humanists study unique aspects of individuals, it is hard to develop general laws of behavior applicable to everyone and results may be biased.

-- yuki