Humanistic psychology

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A contrasting ideology to Freudian psychology was from the developing movement of humanistic psychology during the mid-20th century. Psychodynamic theories emphasized the primal drives we were all experiencing, and the inner conflicts produced when they were repressed by the ego and superego. Humanist psychology focused on the individual person and his ability to satisfy a wide range of needs.

According to Abraham Maslow, an American psychotherapist who initiated the humanistic approach, the theory of humanism states that humans seek fulfillment of their fundamental needs, including physiological ones. Humans strive to obtain what they feel they lack. Thus, humans must satisfy their basic needs before moving on to higher-level needs. Humanists believe that humans can find happiness and success through the fulfillment of these essential needs. Humanistic psychotherapy focuses on people identifying one’s own purposes in life and resolving internal conflicts by meeting a full range of personal needs.

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