The humanistic psychology associated with Abraham Maslow and Carl Roger inspired psychoanalytic practices that would distinguish them from earlier psychoanalytic theories. Their identification of needs beyond those described by Freud prompted a change towards therapy as a means of enabling people to achieve their full potential.
The movement was initiated by psychoanalyst Karen Horney’s identification of the pressure to conform. She called it the “tyranny of the should”, which sets up a tension between the authentic desires of a “real self” and the demands of an ideal self. The idea was taken further by Erich Fromm, who said that much of the stress and despair we feel comes from a feeling of dissatisfaction arising from seeking pleasure and comfort from outside ourselves, rather than from within. This can be overcome by reacting logically and openly to changing circumstances and discovering anew our unique abilities and ideas to relate authentically to others and to the world.
