Why Humanism and Social Cognitive Perspectives Are Key Psychological Theories

Humanistic vs. Social-Cognitive Perspectives

This paper compares and contrasts the main themes of the social-cognitive perspective with the themes of the humanistic perspective. Both perspectives are reviewed and presented and the differences are made clear as well. The limitations of each perspective will also be presented.

The Humanistic Perspective

The authors of Humanistic Perspectives on Contemporary Counseling Issues (a book with no page numbers) explain that humanistic approaches to mental health used to dominate the profession of counseling -- and that humanism should not be "placed on a shelf in the intellectual museum of the profession" nor should it be seen as a "bygone trend" (Scholl, et al., 2013). And rather than putting humanism on the list of perspectives that have been "eclipsed" by newer trends in the field of psychology, the authors believe that humanism is "not just a theory or treatment orientation, but also a 'moral imperative'" (Scholl).

Why should humanism be viewed as a moral imperative? The authors believe that the "beauty of the humanistic approach is its emphasis on individuals as decision makers"; in addition, humanistic interventions help give patients the skill to "control their own growth and development" (Scholl). But the authors do not claim that humanism is the only intervention that is viable.

Indeed, while patients struggling with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and attention deficit disorder (ADD) may find biologically-based interventions (example: Ritalin for ADD) helpful, they should not "hold a primary place" in the counseling milieu, Scholl continues. That is because applying humanistic strategies -- like person-centered counseling, existential counseling or Gestalt therapy -- helps patients manage their lives. And the use of humanistic approaches leads patients to " ... responsible decision-making and the growth of the wholeness and completeness of the human being" (Scholl).

Summing up humanism, it is the focus on a person's subjective experience that leads to " ... respect for each person's dignity"; and humanism is the belief that: a) there should be an emphasis on the "critical role of empathy" as it relates to the quality of every person's experience; b) individuals should have the ability to actively and "intentionally" create meaningful patterns in their lives; c) people should have "freedom, right, and ability" to make their own choices and to learn how to reach their goals; and d) every human should believe in the dignity of humanity (Scholl).

According to Scholl's approach to humanism, people should be understood "only as whole beings" and should never been viewed "as by-products of other processes" (Scholl).

The Social-Cognitive Perspective

Meanwhile, a major thrust of the social-cognitive perspective -- which is reflected and defined though the work of Albert Bandura -- is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, according to the Consumer Health Information Research Resource (nih.gov) -- a component of the National Institutes of Health -- is the belief " ... in one's ability to perform a specific behavior" (nih.gov). Bandura referred to "perceived self-efficacy" as the way people believe about their capabilities " ... to produce designated levels of performance that exercise influence over events that affect their lives" (nih.gov).

As an example of how self-efficacy relates to particular behaviors, the article in the National Institutes of Health explains that instead of asking a male how confident he is about purchasing condoms or about proper application, " ... it is more direct to focus on a person's belief in his ability to use a condom successfully in a preventative health behavior situation" (nih.gov). A high-perceived sense of self-efficacy by the male means he fully understands the reasons for safe sex behavior. A female with a low perceived self-efficacy in terms of having control when her partner pressures her to have "unprotected sex" means she will likely engage in unprotected sex and hence be at risk of an HIV infection (nih.gov).

In the book Predicting Health Behavior: Research and Practice With Social Cognition Models, the scholars that authored Chapter 4 explain that a low sense of self-efficacy is linked to "depression, anxiety and helplessness" (Luszczynska, et al., 2005). But a strong sense of personal self-efficacy brings about "better social integration," a strong sense of "competence," the facilitation of "cognitive processes" including high quality decision making, the setting of goals, and success in academics (Luszczynska, 128).

A peer-reviewed article in the journal Behavior links the social cognitive developmental perspective with "moral judgment," which sounds very much like Scholl's assertion that humanism boils down to a "moral imperative" (Heiphetz, et al., 2014). A "fundamental" aspect of human cognition is "moral judgment," and adults are apt to make moral judgments based on "harm aversion," which is a pattern learned early in a child's development (Heiphetz, 315). When there is a "distress signal," moral judgments are activated and the authors assert that both children and adults "distinguish moral violations from violations of social norms" (Heiphetz, 315).