1.19 Understanding the basics of humanistic psychology

Summary of Key Points

Humanistic Psychology

1. Core Beliefs:

   • Rejects determinism; focuses on subjective meaning and positive growth.

   • Emphasis on self-fulfillment and freedom of choice.

2. Role of VR Professionals:

   • Empathy, reflective listening, and nonjudgmental interactions.

Multimodal Therapy - Arnold Lazarus

1. BASIC I.D. Framework:

   • Behavior (habits/actions).

   • Affective response (emotions/moods).

   • Sensation (senses like touch, taste).

   • Images (self-concept/memory).

   • Cognitions (thoughts/ideas).

   • Interpersonal relationships (social connections).

   • Drugs (biological/nutritional functions).

Person-Centered Therapy - Carl Rogers

1. Key Principles:

   • Human nature is fundamentally good.

   • Self-actualization is the primary motivation.

2. Therapist’s Role:

   • Provide congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard.

3. Six Conditions for Change:

   • Two individuals in contact.

   • Client experiences incongruence.

   • Therapist is congruent, empathetic, and caring.

Gestalt Therapy - Fritz Perls

1. Core Idea:

   • "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

2. Focus:

   • Present awareness and integration of body, mind, and behaviors.

3. Techniques:

   • Questions like: What do you feel? What do you want?

   • Dialogue emphasizing genuineness and self-responsibility.

4. Objective:

   • Restore self-awareness to address unfinished business (e.g., resentment).

Transactional Analysis - Eric Berne

1. Key Concepts:

   • Ego states: Parent, Child, Adult.

   • Analyzing social transactions to understand behaviors.

2. Goal:

   • Alter ego states to resolve emotional problems.

Tips for Memorization

1. Acronyms and Mnemonics:

   • For Lazarus: BASIC I.D.

   • For Rogers: CEU (Congruence, Empathy, Unconditional regard).

2. Associative Memory:

   • Relate Gestalt therapy's “whole greater than parts” to everyday objects (e.g., a car vs. its parts).

3. Repetition with Context:

   • Practice explaining each therapy with examples.

4. Visualization:

   • Use diagrams to show the ego states in Transactional Analysis or the layers of Gestalt therapy.

Quiz

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the focus of humanistic therapy?
   a) Past trauma
   b) Subjective meaning and growth
   c) Behavioral reinforcement
   d) Resolving unconscious conflicts

2. What does the "C" in BASIC I.D. stand for in Multimodal Therapy?
   a) Connections
   b) Cognitions
   c) Circumstances
   d) Clarity

3. In Person-Centered Therapy, self-actualization is:
   a) A rare occurrence.
   b) The result of external reinforcement.
   c) A natural motivation toward growth.
   d) Achieved through dream analysis.

4. What is the primary goal of Gestalt therapy?
   a) Explore the unconscious mind.
   b) Address unfinished business and increase awareness.
   c) Change automatic thoughts.
   d) Focus on behavioral reinforcement.

5. What are the three ego states in Transactional Analysis?
   a) Parent, Child, Adult
   b) Id, Ego, Superego
   c) Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious
   d) Cognitive, Emotional, Rational

Answer Key

1. b) Subjective meaning and growth

2. b) Cognitions

3. c) A natural motivation toward growth

4. b) Address unfinished business and increase awareness

5. a) Parent, Child, Adult