Humanistic vs. Social-Cognitive Psychology Perspectives

Introduction

This paper compares and contrasts the main themes of the social-cognitive perspective with the themes of the humanistic perspective in psychology. Both perspectives are reviewed and presented in turn, the differences between them are made clear, and the limitations of each perspective are also identified.

The Humanistic Perspective

The authors of Humanistic Perspectives on Contemporary Counseling Issues 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). Rather than listing humanism among 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). The authors do not claim, however, that humanism is the only viable intervention.

Indeed, while patients struggling with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and attention deficit disorder (ADD) may find biologically based interventions — such as Ritalin for ADD — helpful, those interventions should not "hold a primary place" in the counseling milieu, Scholl continues. Applying humanistic strategies — such as person-centered counseling, existential counseling, or Gestalt therapy — helps patients manage their lives. 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." Humanism holds 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 the "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 be viewed "as by-products of other processes" (Scholl).

The Social-Cognitive Perspective

A major thrust of the social-cognitive perspective — reflected and defined through the work of Albert Bandura — is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, according to the Consumer Health Information Research Resource at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the belief "in one's ability to perform a specific behavior" (nih.gov). Bandura referred to "perceived self-efficacy" as the way people think 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 NIH article explains that rather than asking a male how confident he is about purchasing condoms or about their 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 means the individual fully understands the reasons for safe sex behavior. Conversely, a female with low perceived self-efficacy regarding her ability to maintain control when her partner pressures her to have unprotected sex will likely engage in that behavior and be at greater risk of HIV infection (nih.gov).

In Predicting Health Behavior: Research and Practice With Social Cognition Models, Luszczynska and Schwarzer explain that a low sense of self-efficacy is linked to "depression, anxiety and helplessness" (Luszczynska, et al., 2005). A strong sense of personal self-efficacy, however, brings about "better social integration," a strong sense of "competence," the facilitation of "cognitive processes" — including high-quality decision-making, goal-setting, and academic success (Luszczynska, 128).

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