ATS1262 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Environmental Statistics, Social Stigma, Job Satisfaction
ATS 1262 Week 7 Well-being, quality of life and mental health
Humanistic perspective and positive psychology
In the mid 20th century, psychoanalytic and behaviourist theories dominated. For
all their differences, psychoanalytic and behaviourist theories had in common
that human behaviour is motivated by forces over which the individual had little
control. Psychoanalytic theorist (e.g. Frued) argued that humans act in
response to unconscious drives for sexuality and aggression, while behaviourist
theorists (e.g. skinner) identified biological drives (e.g. hunger, thirst) and/or
environmental contingencies of reinforcement as the fundamental motivators
for behaviour.
Neither tradition put much stock in conscious thought and reason or in the
higher aspirations of men and women
In response to the mechanistic and deterministic theories offered in the
behaviourist and psychoanalytic traditions, a third tradition developed in the
50s, 60s & 70s known as Humanistic theories
Humanistic theorists offered a more optimistic and self-determining vision
for psychology than previous traditions. Humanistic theorists like Carl
Rogers and Abraham Maslow argued that human beings are motivated by
higher purposes that distinguish them from the rest of the animal kingdom.
From the humanistic perspective, the supreme motivator is the striving to
actualise and perfect the self.
The humanistic perspective emphasis the uniqueness of the individual and
focuses on the person’s immediate experience. Humanistic theorists assert
that people have free will- the freedom to make choices so that they can fulfil
their potential. According to his perspective, people are motivated to achieve
personal goals so that they can fulfil their true potential
Carl Roger’s Theory
Rogers became a major force in psychological theory and practice following the
publication of his major work, Client-centered Therapy: It’s Current Practice,
Implications, and theory. His client-centred therapy differed markedly from
the prevalent psychoanalytic approaches to therapy or behaviourist approaches
(e.g. behaviour modification). It emphasised the therapist’s warmth and
sincerity, empathy, acceptance, role playing and the dignity of the client-
these have become mainstays of wide variety of therapeutic and educational
approaches employed by clinicians, social workers, teachers, and other helping
professionals today, i.e. Rogers work had a profound influence on clinical
practice and education.
Abraham Maslow’s Psychology of Being
Wanted to prove that human beings were capable of achievements grander than
hate and destructiveness, by studying the peope in the word who seemed to be
psychologically healthiest
He developed a humanistic theory of motivation that delineated a hierarchy of
needs
At the base are physiological needs, e.g. food, water. Above them are safety
needs (need for structure, security, order, avoidance of pain and protection).
Belongingness and love needs are the third level (desire to be accepted and
loved by others and to form relationships). Next are esteem needs (need for
self-respect and esteem from others, and desire to be seen by others). Finally at
the top of the hierarchy are the self actualisation needs (to fulfil his or her own
potential)
find more resources at oneclass.com
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ATS 1262 Week 7 Well-being, quality of life and mental health
The key notion in Maslow’s need hierarchy is that higher needs cannot generally
addressed until the lower needs are satisfied.
Positive Psychology
Positive psychology became a new area of psychology in 1998 when Martin
Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American
Psychological Association. It’s foundation stems from the humanistic tradition
Positive Psychology is the scientific study of human flourishing, and an
applied approach to optimal functioning. It has also been defined as the
study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals, communities and
organisations to thrive.
Positive psychology is grounded in the belief that people want to lead
meaningful and fulfilling loves, to cultivate what is best within them, and to
enhance their experiences of love, work and play
Quality of life
Parallel to the growing area of positive psychology is the burgeoning research in
the last few decades in the area of quality of life. While research in quality of life
would be a key topic of interest for many positive psychologists, it its not limited
to that field, with many disciplines engaging in quality of life research
Quality of life (QOL) is the general well-being of individuals and societies. QOL
has a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development,
healthcare, politics and employment.
Depending on discipline and researcher, specific definitions or explanations of
quality of life will vary. It is an ambiguous concept, lacking a universally
acceptable definition.
Objective vs subjective measures
-Wellbeing is difficult to define but even harder to measure. However, one of the
key distinctions in quality of life research is between subjective (Perceived) vs
Objective (Observable) quality of life or wellbeing
-Objective measures: measures wellbeing through observable factors usch as
economic, social and environmental statistics
-Subjective measures: capture people’s feelings or real experiences, or their
perceived wellbeing
One-dimensional VS Multidimensional Approach
-The measurement of wellbeing can also be in the form of a single item or
measure, for example, in economics the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has been
used as a single measure of objective wellbeing of notions
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
In the mid 20th century, psychoanalytic and behaviourist theories dominated. For all their differences, psychoanalytic and behaviourist theories had in common that human behaviour is motivated by forces over which the individual had little control. Neither tradition put much stock in conscious thought and reason or in the higher aspirations of men and women. In response to the mechanistic and deterministic theories offered in the behaviourist and psychoanalytic traditions, a third tradition developed in the. 50s, 60s & 70s known as humanistic theories. Humanistic theorists offered a more optimistic and self-determining vision for psychology than previous traditions. Rogers and abraham maslow argued that human beings are motivated by higher purposes that distinguish them from the rest of the animal kingdom. From the humanistic perspective, the supreme motivator is the striving to actualise and perfect the self. The humanistic perspective emphasis the uniqueness of the individual and focuses on the person"s immediate experience.
