What is Humanistic Theory?

What makes us human? Humanistic theory seeks to answer this question by focusing on our unique capacity for potential for growth and self-fulfilment and the pursuit of a meaningful and authentic life. In psychology, it is one of the major perspectives that emerged in the mid-20th century in reaction to the limitations of psychoanalytic and behaviourist approaches.

Humanistic theory can lead to profound positive changes and has influenced many fields, such as therapy and counselling, education and business. For example, the UK Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (UKAHPP) has evidence highlighting the positive outcomes of humanistic psychotherapy and counselling in mental health treatment. The approach promotes a more empathetic, person-centred way of understanding and helping individuals.

Humanistic approaches represent a shift towards a more optimistic and holistic view of human nature. They celebrate our potential and encourage us to continuously strive to be our best selves. This blog aims to explain the key ideas, principles and applications of humanistic theory in psychology.

What Is Humanistic Theory?

Humanistic theory in psychology, also known as humanism or the humanist perspective:

• Is a psychological approach that emphasises individual potential, personal growth, self-actualisation and free will.
• Is an extremely optimistic theory, as it sees people as inherently good and capable of personal development through their own actions and decisions.
• Believes that people naturally strive to become the best versions of themselves.
• Strongly emphasises viewing individuals as complete and unique beings rather than merely focusing on their behaviours or unconscious drives.

It also takes a holistic view and understanding of humans as whole beings and complex, multifaceted entities, seeing them as more than just the sum of their parts. It also places significant importance on understanding people’s subjective experiences, helping them achieve their fullest potential and celebrating their strengths and possibilities.

Humanistic theory was developed in the mid-20th century in response to the deterministic perspectives of psychoanalysis and behaviourism (Joseph, 2008), which were seen as too limiting and reductionist in understanding human behaviour and experience.

• Psychoanalysis – Sigmund Freud founded the psychoanalytic theory, which emphasises unconscious processes and the influence of early childhood experiences on behaviour. It tends to focus on the darker, pathological aspects of human nature.
• Behaviourism – championed by figures such as B.F. Skinner and John Watson. It focuses on observable behaviours and the external stimuli that shape them. It largely ignores internal mental states and free will, viewing behaviour as a result of conditioning.

In contrast to these two dominant psychological perspectives, humanistic theory promoted a holistic view of people, focusing on personal growth, self-actualisation and the importance of empathy and understanding, thus offering a more optimistic and empowering perspective on human potential and behaviour.

Core Principles of Humanistic Theory

Humanistic theory in psychology revolves around several core principles, which are as follows:

• Free will and responsibility – individuals are responsible, have the freedom to make choices and choose their own paths, and are not solely determined by external forces or unconscious drives. They have the power to shape their own destinies.
• Personal growth – the journey toward self-improvement and personal development is seen as a fundamental human drive. Humanistic theory posits that we are naturally inclined to grow, learn and evolve throughout our lives.
• Self-actualisation –  every human has an innate potential and drive to achieve one’s fullest potential, personal growth and live authentically. This concept was popularised by Abraham Maslow and is at the top of his Hierarchy of Needs. It is about striving to become the best version of oneself.
• Authenticity – being true to oneself and living authentically according to one’s own values and beliefs is crucial. Embracing our true selves leads to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
• Holistic perspective – considers people as whole beings, including the interconnectedness of their thoughts, feelings, desires, behaviours and life experiences, rather than reducing them to fragmented parts or symptoms.
• Empathy and unconditional positive regard – understanding, accepting and supporting others without judgment, regardless of what they say or do, are vital to fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment and for personal growth. People can thrive when they are accepted and valued without conditions.
• Inherent goodness – people are inherently good and naturally move towards growth and self-improvement. This optimistic view contrasts with more negative perspectives seen in other psychological theories.

These principles help understand the whole person and their potential for growth and self-fulfilment. The UK Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (AHPP) have further insights on core beliefs and values here.

Key Contributors to Humanistic Theory

Two psychologists have been key contributors to humanistic theory – Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

Carl Rogers was an American psychologist and one of the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology (The Person Centred Association). He is best known for developing person-centred therapy (also referred to as client-centred or Rogerian therapy) in the 1940s. It emphasises a non-directive approach where the therapist provides a supportive environment for clients to explore their feelings and thoughts at their own pace, and clients lead the general direction of therapy (Yao & Kabir, 2023).

Person-centred therapy is built on the following three key concepts to help clients achieve self-actualisation:

• Congruence (genuineness or authenticity) – refers to therapists’ ability to be open, honest and transparent with their clients and convey their own feelings and thoughts. It helps therapists relate to their clients and encourages a genuine and sincere therapeutic relationship. However, they must maintain professional boundaries and not share personal information or shift the focus to themselves.
• Empathy – involves therapists engaging in active listening and striving to understand clients’ feelings, thoughts, and experiences from their own perspective, which helps create a trusting and supportive therapeutic environment.
• Unconditional positive regard – therapists should create a warm and welcoming environment to demonstrate that they universally accept and value their clients without judgment, disapproval or conditions, even if they have unconventional views. This principle fosters a safe space where clients can freely express their thoughts and feelings without fear of rejection or criticism.

Carl Rogers believed in the innate drive within individuals to grow, develop and fulfil their potential. He referred to this as the actualising tendency, which he considered a fundamental principle of human nature. He viewed humans as naturally good and capable of self-healing and overcoming difficulties, provided they are in a supportive environment that fosters empathy, unconditional positive regard and authenticity.

The Person-Centred Association has further information on the person-centred approach here.

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist famously known for his development of the Hierarchy of Needs, which he first introduced in a paper titled “A Theory of Human Motivation”,published in 1943 in the journal Psychological Review. It has since become a foundational concept in psychology.

Maslow’s theory illustrated how human actions are motivated by hierarchical needs, from basic physiological requirements to more complex needs like self-actualisation. The latter is the pinnacle of human motivation through realising one’s full potential and pursuing personal growth and peak experiences.

It also highlights the importance of satisfying basic needs before pursuing personal growth, as it builds a stable foundation before concentrating on higher-level needs and personal development. Without satisfying these fundamental needs, pursuing goals related to self-improvement and achieving one’s full potential is challenging.

BBC News has an interesting article on Abraham Maslow and the pyramid that beguiled business here. We also have another article with further information on Maslow’s theory here.

The Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid with the following levels:

Physiological needs (bottom of the pyramid)

Basic survival needs like food, water, sleep and shelter.

Safety needs

The need for security and protection, including personal safety, health and financial stability.

Love and belonging

Social needs for relationships, love and a sense of belonging. It includes relationships with family, friends and romantic partners, as well as a sense of belonging in a community.

Self-esteem

The need for self-esteem, respect from others, recognition and achievement.

Self-actualisation (top of the pyramid)

The desire for personal growth, self-improvement, peak experiences and the realisation of one’s potential.

According to Maslow’s hierarchy, more basic (lower-level) needs must be met before individuals can focus on higher-level needs. By understanding and progressing through these stages, individuals can work towards achieving a balanced and fulfilling life.

Here is a real-life example of how an individual may progress through the hierarchy:

• Physiological needs -a person living in poverty might focus primarily on securing food and shelter. Efforts could include working multiple jobs, seeking assistance from food banks or applying for government help, e.g. benefits, grants or loans.
• Safety needs – once their physiological needs are met, the same individual might then prioritise safety by finding stable employment with health benefits and a reliable income. They might also start saving for future emergencies and look for a safe place to live.
• Love and belonging – with basic survival and security needs addressed, the person might seek to build relationships. This could involve reconnecting with family, making friends or joining community groups to foster a sense of belonging.
• Self-esteem – as social needs are fulfilled, the individual might pursue self-esteem needs by striving for personal achievements, seeking recognition at work or gaining respect from peers. This could include setting career goals, pursuing further education or developing new skills.
• Self-actualisation -finally, with all other needs being met, the person might focus on self-actualisation. This could involve engaging in creative pursuits, volunteering, travelling or exploring personal passions and potential. For instance, they might start a business, write a book or take up a new hobby that brings fulfilment.

It is important to note that this progression is not always linear, and individuals might move back and forth between different levels based on changing circumstances.

The British Psychology Society (BPS) has an interesting article on the lesser-known aspects of the famous theory here.

Applications of Humanistic Theory

Humanistic theory has a broad range of applications across various fields, especially in counselling and therapy, education and workplace psychology.

Counselling and therapy

Person-centred therapy creates a supportive environment for growth by:

• Encouraging clients to explore their own thoughts, feelings and behaviours in a non-judgmental space which can lead to enhanced self-awareness and understanding.
• Empowering clients to focus on their strengths, abilities and capacities so they learn to trust their own judgment and develop the confidence to make positive changes.
• Fostering an empathetic and accepting environment, thus helping clients to emotionally heal and improve their mental health and well-being.
• Helping clients identify personal goals and work towards achieving them through the therapeutic relationship, thus promoting overall personal growth and satisfaction.

Applying humanistic theory to counselling and therapy requires counsellors and therapists to foster a positive and empathetic therapeutic environment. Some examples of the techniques that align with this approach include:

• Active listening – involves not just hearing clients’ words but listening intently to what they have to say without interruption and judgement and using body language and responses that demonstrate understanding. For example, nodding, maintaining eye contact and using verbal affirmations like “I see” or “That must have been difficult for you”. It shows clients that the therapist/counsellor values their thoughts and feelings and makes them feel heard and valued.
• Empathy – this technique requires therapists and counsellors to put themselves in their client’s shoes, truly understand things from their situation and share their feelings. It is about seeing the world through the client’s eyes and validating their experiences. Therapists and counsellors can demonstrate empathy by reflecting the client’s feelings to them, such as saying, “It sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed”, which helps them feel understood and supported.
• Focusing on clients’ strengths – this technique involves recognising and emphasising clients’ strengths, abilities and resources rather than concentrating on problems, which can help build a sense of self-worth and confidence and empower them to overcome challenges. For example, highlighting a client’s resilience by saying, “You’ve shown a lot of strength by coming here and talking about this”.

By employing these techniques, therapists can create a nurturing, non-judgmental space that fosters growth and healing. Overall, it can lead to profound personal changes.

Education

In education, humanistic theory emphasises the importance of a student-centred approach, considering their needs, interests and learning styles and helping them realise their full potential. It also encourages autonomy, creativity, critical thinking and self-directed learning, giving students more control and providing activities that promote problem-solving and critical thinking.

Educators can build trusting relationships with students by acting as facilitators rather than authoritarian figures, thus helping students feel valued and understood. They can also create a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves and taking risks without fear of judgment or failure.

Educational providers and educators apply humanistic principles to foster a holistic learning environment that focuses on the overall development of students, including emotional and social growth, not just academic achievement. Maria Montessori and her teaching method is one example of how these principles have been applied to create learning environments that support the holistic development of children.

As humanistic theory suggests that students are naturally motivated to learn, educators are encouraged to design meaningful and engaging activities to help students find personal relevance in their studies.

Workplace psychology

Humanistic theory has valuable applications in workplace psychology and can create more supportive work environments. For example, employers, managers and HR professionals can apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to create environments that motivate and satisfy employees at all levels:

• Basic needs – meeting employees’ basic needs, e.g. fair salaries, appropriate facilities and comfortable working conditions, as these are the bedrock of motivation.
• Safety needs – providing job security and a healthy and safe work environment.
• Social needs – fostering a sense of belonging, e.g. through team-building activities, social events, encouraging collaboration and creating a supportive and positive company culture.
• Self-esteem needs – recognising and rewarding employees’ achievements, providing opportunities for career advancement and offering constructive feedback.
• Self-Actualisation – helping employees reach their full potential by offering professional development opportunities, encouraging innovation and allowing them to take on challenging and meaningful projects.

Employers can also apply humanistic theory when creating fulfilling and growth-oriented work environments by:

• Empowering employees by encouraging them to be autonomous, i.e. make decisions and take ownership of their work.
• Regularly acknowledging and appreciating employees’ efforts and achievements to boost morale and motivation.
• Providing continuous learning opportunities, such as training programs, workshops and mentoring, to help employees develop their skills and grow professionally.
• Promoting a work environment that values transparency, open communication and mutual respect, including recognising and rewarding good performance, as well as supporting work-life balance.
• Addressing employees’ holistic well-being by offering wellness programs, mental health support, flexible working hours, remote work options, and ensuring workloads are manageable.
• Leaders practising empathy and active listening, demonstrating genuine concern for their team members’ well-being and creating a positive and nurturing work environment.

By incorporating these principles, organisations can create an environment where employees feel valued, motivated and capable of achieving their best work. Increased employee morale and satisfaction can lead to enhanced productivity.

Criticisms of Humanistic Theory

While humanistic theory has contributed significantly to psychology, it has faced several criticisms. Some examples of common critiques are as follows:

• Lack of empirical evidence – humanistic theory is often critiqued for its lack of empirical evidence, as it focuses on subjective experiences, which can be challenging to objectively measure concepts like self-actualisation, the hierarchy of needs and personal growth in a scientifically rigorous manner. Unlike other psychological approaches that rely on quantifiable data, humanistic theory focuses more on personal experiences and feelings, thus making it challenging to validate the effectiveness of these approaches.
• Overemphasis on personal growth and positivity – critics argue that humanistic theory places too much emphasis on personal growth, self-actualisation and positivity, potentially neglecting the significant role of external constraints and socioeconomic factors in influencing behaviour. It can lead to an overly idealistic view of human potential, ignoring the real-world challenges and obstacles that individuals might face, such as poverty, discrimination and trauma, which can also limit individuals’ ability to achieve self-actualisation.
• Perceived lack of scientific rigour – some consider the humanistic theory to lack scientific rigour compared to other psychological perspectives, such as cognitive-behavioural theory or psychoanalysis. Its qualitative methods and subjective focus are seen as less robust than quantitative, experimentally-based approaches. This perception can limit the acceptance and integration of humanistic principles in mainstream psychological practice and research, as some may perceive them as less reliable or valid.

While humanistic theory often faces criticism for being too idealistic or lacking empirical support, it complements other approaches by focusing on individual experiences and personal growth. Here are some examples of how:

• Psychoanalytic approach – Freud’s psychoanalytic theory delves into unconscious motivations and early childhood experiences. Humanistic theory balances this by focusing on conscious thoughts and present experiences, highlighting personal agency and the potential for self-improvement.
• Behavioural approach – while behavioural psychology focuses on observable behaviours and external stimuli, humanistic theory adds depth by considering internal experiences. It helps understand the motivations and emotions behind behaviours, offering a more holistic view.
• Cognitive approach – cognitive psychology examines mental processes like thinking, memory and problem-solving. Humanistic theory complements this by emphasising self-perception and personal meaning – crucial for understanding how people interpret and respond to their experiences.
• Biological approach – the biological perspective looks at genetic, neurological and physiological factors that influence behaviour. Humanistic theory enriches this by acknowledging that, despite biological predispositions, individuals have the capacity for personal growth and self-determination.

Humanistic theory also complements other psychological approaches by:

• Providing a holistic view of individuals, considering their emotions, thoughts and experiences, thus leading to a more comprehensive understanding of a person’s behaviour and motivations.
• Integrating the humanistic focus on personal growth and self-actualisation with other psychological approaches. For example, combining cognitive-behavioural techniques with a humanistic emphasis on empathy and personal meaning can create more robust therapeutic interventions.
• Focusing on individual experiences and recognising that each person is unique. It can help tailor interventions to better meet individuals’ specific needs and preferences.

Humanistic theory does not oppose other approaches but complements them and offers a more nuanced and compassionate perspective. It emphasises the individual’s subjective experience, promoting a more comprehensive understanding of human behaviour and mental processes and facilitating personal growth.

Why Humanistic Theory Still Matters

Humanistic theory still matters today and has an enduring influence on counselling, education and organisational psychology. It strongly emphasises an individual’s potential for growth, and its core principles, such as empathy, self-actualisation, authenticity and personal responsibility, resonate deeply in these fields. It also has had a profound influence on positive psychology and the study of human flourishing for the following reasons:

• It laid the groundwork for positive psychology, focusing on personal growth, strengths, virtues and well-being.
• Its core principles have deeply influenced positive psychology on what makes life fulfilling and how individuals can achieve their full potential and a meaningful existence.
• Its holistic view of the individual aligns with positive psychology on a comprehensive understanding of well-being, encompassing physical, emotional and social aspects.
• It highlights the importance of self-actualisation and personal growth, encouraging individuals to pursue their passions, build meaningful relationships and contribute to their communities.

Positive psychology explores concepts such as happiness, resilience and life satisfaction that are deeply rooted in humanistic thought. Humanistic theory provided the philosophical foundation for positive psychology, making it essential to understand human flourishing and shifting the focus from treating mental illness to promoting overall well-being. An article by Joseph (2018) details why the person-centred approach is still relevant.

Humanistic theory is still relevant in today’s complex world, as it focuses on empathy and understanding, which helps us navigate the complexities of modern life, for example:

• Empathy – helps bridge gaps between different cultures, beliefs and experiences in an increasingly interconnected and diverse society and is crucial for understanding and relating to others. It encourages us to look beyond our own perspectives, enhances communication and helps foster better relationships.
• Understanding – understanding individuals’ inherent worth and potential and seeing them holistically can help create inclusive environments in communities and various settings. It encourages dialogue and collaboration, which are essential for addressing complex issues.

Fundamentally, humanistic theory remains relevant today because it promotes a holistic understanding of human experience, encourages personal and societal growth, and emphasises the importance of empathy and understanding. Its principles continue to inspire and guide practices in various fields, contributing to a more compassionate and fulfilling world.

Conclusion

Humanistic theory is a psychological perspective that focuses on our individual potential for growth and self-fulfilment and is extremely optimistic, as it believes humans are inherently good. It is underpinned by several core principles, such as free will/responsibility, personal growth, self-actualisation, authenticity, holistic perspective, and empathy/unconditional positive regard.

Carl Rogers (Person-Centred Therapy) and Abraham Maslow (Hierarchy of Needs) are prominent figures and contributors to humanistic theory. Their work has had a lasting impact on psychology and continues to influence many fields, such as counselling and therapy, education and business. By fostering a supportive environment and emphasising the positive aspects of human nature, individuals are encouraged to pursue their goals and develop their strengths, which can help them lead more meaningful and satisfying lives.

Reflect on your own journey toward self-actualisation and take a moment to consider:

• What are your unique strengths and talents, and how can you leverage them to achieve your goals?
• What steps can you take to continue growing and developing, and are there new skills or experiences you want to explore?
• What does self-actualisation mean to you? What are your dreams and aspirations? How can you create a path to achieve them?

Reflecting on these questions can help you identify areas where you can focus your efforts to continue evolving and reaching your full potential. Always strive for personal excellence by pursuing your passions, developing your talents, embracing your strengths and making improvements to be the best possible version of yourself.