Humanistic Theory

The humanistic psychology, also known as the humanistic approach is an approach or perspective of studying psychology (like behaviorism and psychoanalysis). The humanistic theory is almost synonymous to the approach and forms its basis. This approach is quite broad and applies to the society at large and also to the several facts and people within it. One problem of academically studying this theory is that it is vast, focuses on the irrational issues, i.e. the ones that cannot be taken up rationally. For example, take love for instance, you cannot make a graph of loves, it's too vague and also unpredictable.

Alfred Adler, Erik Erikson, Carl Jung, Erich Fromm, Karen Horney, Otto Rank, Melanie Klein and Harry Stack Sullivan are commented to be pioneer psychologists who studied human nature and came up with the theories of psychoanalysis, which were based upon rational clinical observations, which were regarded to be the 'first force'. The second force on the other hand was derived by psychologists such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner, who studied the science of behavior. On the dimension of psychology, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and Clark Moustakas propagated humanistic psychology which is associated with deeper and irrational (non-mathematical) issues such as health, love, spirituality, hope creativity, nature and self actualization. Though this theory applies to even clinical cases, here we are going to discuss the theory in sociological context and the broader approach as propagated by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

What is Humanistic Theory?

As per Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, every human being wonders, am I a good person or what should I be contributing to the society?. The basic definition is that every human being can be a contributor to the society or rather can be a good or successful person at heart. However, to reach that level of 'goodness' a person goes through what is known as 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs'. The pyramid of this theory goes as follows:

Level	Name	Components
1	Self Actualization	morals, emotions, creativity, lack of prejudice, acceptance
2	Esteem	self-esteem, confidence, achievement and respect
3	Love and Belonging	friendship, family and relations
4	Safety	security of body, health, income, family, food and morality
5	Physiological	breathing, food, basic health, sleep, homeostasis, hygiene

There are several approaches in which this theory is interpreted. The theory of personality, which is propagated by Abraham Maslow, states the apex of the pyramid can be achieved only after the initial steps are experienced and appreciated to the best. For example, a person who appreciates the basic necessitates, tends to succeed to the next level in a better and able manner. Gautama Buddha, was a former prince who renounced every aforementioned 'needs' so that he could appreciate them better and become free from them so that he could proceed to the next level, and eventually reached the pinnacle of self-actualization, going even beyond to become the enlightened one. The 'needs' are thus basically not just for satisfaction but are also for the appreciation, because, as human beings we need to be aware of their value, so that we can proceed to the next level and eventually proceed to the next order. The theory of motivation is almost similar, it's aimed at quick proceeding to the next level. Great entrepreneurs, leaders, artists and personalities, always started from scratch. They had to perform every level, renounce it for sometime to become aware of its value, hence they reached the level of self actualization. The theory of behavior analyzes the root of any conflict or any negative behavior as non fulfillment of any need always results into conflict.

We find this theory extensively in several real-life examples and even in fiction. Charles Dickens tells us about the fulfillment of all the levels extensively in almost all his writings, David Copperfield and A Christmas Carol being the prominent ones. Mighty Achilles found self actualization when he fell in love with Priestess Briseis. King Asoka reached the level of self actualization after he was tormented by the horrors of the battle of Kalinga. The start of self actualization is the beginning of salvation and realization of oneself. There can be several other arguments regarding the pyramid and its level. It is after all our job to appreciate and value every level, we do not live for eternity and time takes its toll, we are scared by the expanse of eternity and time always remembers the ones who reached the level of self actualization. It's the ultimate pinnacle of understanding as we encounter something even mightier than time and our own conscience, may be, it is the Almighty himself or maybe it's the expanse of Universe itself, but it might hold the key to the purpose and significance of one's life.