Humanism: Summary One Can Define Humanism as

Humanism: Summary One can define humanism as a school of thought or belief system which connects to both the fields of philosophy and ethics and which places a focus on the power of the individualism. There are a range of different types of humanism, and modes of thought connected to humanism, along with different intellectual and religious movements connected to humanism. All of these elements are partly responsible for making the definition of the term unclear.

In certain respects, the development of humanism was a reaction to the dissatisfaction of many experts with behaviorism. The school of thought surrounding humanism was in many ways the consequences which developed as so many psychologists just couldn't agree with many of the pillars of behaviorism. "Many psychologists did not accept the behaviorists' view that humans were governed by stimuli and responses, with no will of their own to change their behavior" (Pastorino & Doyle-Portillo, 2013).

Thus, the overall goal of humanistic behavioral therapy revolved around assisting to people and helping them to make better choices while harnessing their inner resources so that they can lead better lives (Pastorino & Doyle-Portillo, 2013). Within this mentality, there was the focus on the importance of free will and allowing individuals to engage in their own pattern of thought and other processes.

Today, a lot of treatment programs revolve around some of the pillars of humanism and seek to make the individuals see how personal responsibility is such a crucial factor within their own level of success and how it is key in shaking off destructive habits, behaviors and thought processes.

As one expert explains, "Humanistic therapy is based upon 'a hopeful, constructive view of human beings and the individual's substantial capacity to be self-determining.' As is also the case with gestalt and client-centered therapies, humanistic therapy focuses on the present, addressing patients' histories in ways that promote greater understanding of how past experiences contribute to who the patient is today" (Hurst, 2013). One aspect of humanistic therapy, which can surprise some people, is that it's generally very non-judgmental.

Some people find this surprising, as it has such an intensive emphasis on personal responsibility, but the non-judgmental approach is actually necessary to create an environment more conducive to exploration (Hurst, 2013). A non-judgmental method means that a patient will likely feel more comfortable exploring his thoughts, feelings and motivations, along with all the aspects that are impacting him, allowing him to better understand his motivations and thus, change his actions.

A primary benefit of humanistic therapy is that it focuses on the importance of self-awareness and mindfulness, allowing the patient to make a transition from behavior which is largely reactionary, to actions which are more self-aware and which are governed more strongly by thought (Hurst, 2013). Part of the benefit of these therapy sessions is that they focus on the innate goodness and potential of the individual, which is correct. This mentality focuses on encouraging the patient to engage in behavior which is consistent with.