Beyond Freud What Adler Contributed to Psychology

Humanist School of Thought in Psychology

Introduction

The humanistic school of thought in psychology emphasizes the unique nature of each individual and the importance of personal growth and fulfillment. This approach began in the 1950s as a reaction to the dominant behaviorist and Freudian perspectives, which tended to view people as either determined by their past experiences or governed by unconscious drives. The humanistic psychologists Adler, Rogers and Maslow were among the pioneers of this movement, and their work helped to shape the field of counseling and therapy. Adler posited that, contrary to what Freud argued, human beings could know what they wanted and could achieve their goals without regard to any subconscious or unconscious meddling. Rogers' concept of unconditional positive regard was particularly influential, as it emphasized the importance of accepting people just as they are. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs also had a major impact on psychological thinking, as it emphasized the importance of meeting basic needs before seeking self-actualization. Together, these ideas helped to create a more holistic view of human nature that has inspired many subsequent theorists. This paper will discuss the historical figures responsible for the school of thought, major theories they suggested, and how this school contributed to the school of modern psychology.

Adler

According to Lemberger (2017), “Adler inspired multiple permutations of psychotherapy, not least of all the various humanistic approaches” (p. 125). For that reason, any discussion of the humanist school of psychology should begin with Adler, who is often noted as the father of individual psychology (Lundin, 2015). It was Adler’s view that people were not pushed and pulled by unseen, unknown forces, but rather that people were often motivated by insecurities or inferiority, or a desire to be happy or to succeed or some other factor. Unlike Freud, who viewed psychology as compartmentalized—the organism of the self divided—Adler viewed the organism as whole and conscious of itself (Lundin, 2015). The limitations of Adler’s effectiveness in psychology had to do with the fact that his theory gave way to an enormous amount of complexity, as so many different factors could be found that motivated people’s thinking and behavior. Somewhat in response to this limitation, cognitive behavioral psychology was developed, which focused less on the reasons people acted and more on what people could do to improve their lives by avoiding triggers and replacing negative thoughts/behaviors with positive ones (Sperry & Sperry, 2017).

Overall, Adler’s view of psychology is often considered to be one of the most influential of the twentieth century. His theory of individual psychology emphasized the importance of social and cultural factors in shaping personality and behavior. According to Adler, all human beings are born with a sense of inferiority. This sense of inferiority drives them to striving for superiority, which leads to personal accomplishment and satisfaction. Inferiority feelings can also lead to negative compensatory behavior, such as aggression or withdrawal from social situations. Adler believed that it was important to address these feelings in order to help people reach their full potential (Lundin, 2015). It was a limited view of the human personality, but all in all it was a welcome first step in bringing a humanist approach to the discipline.

Rogers

Rogers (1951) advanced the humanist school of thought when he argued that “the best vantage point for understanding behavior is from the internal frame of reference of the individual” (p. 495). Using that idea, he developed the person-centered theory. Rogers’ work helped to shape the field of humanistic psychology, and his theories continue to be used by therapists today, especially the person-centered theory of psychology, which argues that humans have an innate tendency to grow and develop. This theory rests on three key tenets: self-actualization, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding (Rogers, 1951). Self-actualization refers to a person’s ability to reach their full potential. Unconditional positive regard means accepting others without judgment. Empathic understanding is the ability to see the world from another person's perspective. Rogers believed that these three factors were essential for helping people reach their full potential. As a result, the person-centered theory has had a profound impact on psychology.

With regard to what Rogers suggested about human behavior/psychological processes, Rogers’ theory of personality stressed the importance of self-concept in shaping human behavior. According to Rogers, one’s self-concept is made up of one’s perceptions and beliefs about oneself, and it serves as a filter through which people see the world. A person’s self-concept affects how he responds to situations and influences the choices he makes. It also affects one’s relationships with others, as people tend to relate to others who confirm their self-concept (Rogers, 1951). Rogers believed that it is important for people to have a positive self-concept in order to lead fulfilling lives. He suggested that people can change their self-concept by engaging in activities that provide them with a sense of satisfaction and success. Through these experiences, people can learn to see themselves in a more positive light and develop new ways of perceiving themselves and the world around them—a very important development in the humanist school of thought.

Maslow

Maslow preceded Rogers with his ideas, and like the theories of Adler and Rogers, Maslow’s theory of human motivation is one of the most influential theories in all of psychology. Maslow’s work was a major contribution to the humanist school of thought in psychology, which emphasized the importance of understanding humans as unique individuals with their own set of needs and values. According to Maslow (1943), humans are motivated by a hierarchy of needs, starting with basic physiological needs and moving up to higher-level needs such as self-actualization. The most basic needs, such as food and shelter, are at the bottom of the hierarchy, while more abstract needs, such as self-actualization, are at the top. Once the basic needs are met, people can begin to focus on safety and security needs, such as the need for personal safety and financial security. And after these needs are met, people can begin to focus on love and belonging needs, such as the need for intimacy and close relationships. Finally, once all of these other needs are met, people can begin to focus on self-actualization needs, such as the need for personal growth and fulfillment (Maslow, 1943). This hierarchy of needs suggests that people are motivated by different things at different times in their lives. However, all humans share the same basic needs for survival, safety, love, and self-actualization. Maslow’s work has inspired countless researchers and practitioners to focus on understanding the needs of individual human beings, rather than treating them as interchangeable parts. As a result, Maslow’s theory continues to have a profound impact on our understanding of human motivation and behavior.

Contributions

The main contributions of these theorists to the humanist school of psychology are that increased awareness of the self can contribute to one being better able to achieve a state in life that one could consider happy or effective. Adler emphasized the importance of social factors and how they could affect a person’s sense of inferiority or superiority, security or insecurity. Maslow’s work helped to bring attention to the importance of individual growth and self-actualization, and why it was important to address individual needs over the course of one’s life; and Rogers’ theories helped to promote a more complete and holistic humanistic view of psychology, which built on the prior work of Adler and Maslow, who essentially set the stage for the humanist school of psychology.