University Psychology of Personality: Essay on Theories

This essay delves into the psychology of personality, focusing on humanistic approaches. It begins by introducing humanistic psychology and its emphasis on an individual's conscious and rational thinking. The essay then compares Carl Rogers' person-centered theory with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, highlighting their shared belief in the importance of fulfilling certain conditions for self-actualization. It explores how growth needs influence personality formation, referencing Maslow's hierarchy to illustrate how the fulfillment of basic needs shapes an individual's development. The essay also examines the main components of the person-centered theory, such as self-esteem, congruence, and empathetic understanding, and their contributions to personality development. Finally, the author reflects on which theory resonates most with their own experiences, relating their upbringing and life experiences to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The essay utilizes various sources to support its claims, providing a comprehensive overview of personality psychology.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY
PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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Introduction
Humanistic psychologists aim to see people’s lives as those individuals would see them.
Some of the psychologists disliked psychodynamic and behaviorist explanations and thus gave
rise to humanistic theories (Hansen, Speciale & Lemberger, 2014). The main purpose is to focus
on the ability of an individual to think consciously and rationally for controlling the biological
urges to meet their full potential.
In the light of humanistic approaches to personality, this paper will compare the person
centered theory with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the way how the growth needs influences the
personality and the main components of the Person centered theory that leads to personality
development.
Compare person-centered theory with Maslow's hierarchy of needs
The humanistic theories emerged in the year 1950. Two type of humanistic theories are
there- the first one is the person centered theory by Carl rogers, that is based on how people
perceives themselves in relation the personal experiences.
Both Maslow and Rogers believed that human beings requires certain conditions to be in
place before they can reach the full potential and have experienced a fulfill life. According to
Carl Rogers, therapies given to the clients has to be simper (Taormina & Gao, 2013). His
viewpoints differed sharply from the behavioral approaches and psychodynamic approaches that
suggested it will be beneficial for the clients or the consumers if the clients are encouraged to
focus on the current individual rather than focusing of some unconscious motive or other’s
understanding about a particular situation. Roger have put forward some ideas of how a therapist

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should be, to improve the condition of the patient. They should be warm, understanding and
honest. According to him, theories should be o implemented to practice. Roger developed his
theories based on his work with clients who are troubled and have claimed, that individuals
possess a remarkable capacity for self-healing and the personal growth leads to self-actualization
(Dweck, 2013).
Growth needs influence personality formation
As per the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, personality of a person develops with
the fulfillment of the basic needs of a person, by the choices that is made by an individual. The
environment can also impact the development of a person and if the needs of a person are not
met. More theoretically, the theory is made on the basis of premise that individuals are born with
specific needs and these needs are have to be fulfilled in order to grow the personality. The first
level of our needs includes the physiological needs for the survival (Waterman, 2013). Without
food, shelter, water and oxygen, a person will not be able to survive. And a person needs to
survive for later development of his personality or the behavior. People who are below the
poverty line are sometimes stuck in fulfilling these basic needs that they do not get the scope to
polish their personality (Ewen & Ewen, 2014). As per the second level of hierarchy of needs,
people fulfill these needs by the seeking out safety by interacting with other people and striving
for a world that will protect them and will keep them free from harm (Cooper, 2013). If these
needs are not met, it becomes very tough to think about the higher level of needs and if a person
remains at that level and does not continue to grow to develop their personality for becoming
their true authentic self. When an individual attains their full potential or finally achieved self-
actualization were said to represent an optimal psychological functioning and health.

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Main components of person-centered theory that contribute to personality development
The person centered theory is one of the most popular theories of counseling developed
by Carl Rogers. A person-centered theory helps an individual to move in the positive direction
and with an appropriate development of the personality (Hoffman, Lopez & Moats, 2013). The
main element of the person centered approach is that individuals have the innate quality to move
towards the process of self-actualization and health when the conditions are favorable.
The main components that leads to a person centered theory contributing to personality
development are self-esteem (out own perception about ourselves), congruence and self-
actualization (the person that we wish to be). Another component that is contributes to
personality development are the positive regards and the conditional positive regard. As per the
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, if the basic needs are not met, a person will never be able to grow
on any level (Ewen & Ewen, 2014). Congruence is the agreement between the self-concept of a
person and their real self and their ideal self. A person is more congruent, if the above mentioned
views agree. The fourth concept is the empathetic understanding (Kaur, 2013). A normal
composed person will always able to understand the viewpoint of the others and should act
accordingly. However, all these conditions needs to be fulfilled for an ideal development of the
personality.
Identify which theory you relate to most and explain why
While there are many theories based on person centered theory, the theory that I can
relate to myself is the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I believe that I order to grow on any level, a
motivation is required to keep reaching out for fulfilling the basic needs. I was raided in a single
parent home, and all my basic needs were met, for example the clothing and the shelter, which

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many children with extremely low socio-economic status might not acquire. Children who are
homeless or those under institutionalization do not receive the same amount of love and care
from their parents, which I had received. They do not have the scope to have any goals of life
other than surviving for that day. The foundation of support, security and care that my parents
had built has helped me to chase my dreams. This has helped me to secure in most of the
relationships. The final level of the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is self-actualization, which
most of the people do not reach.
In conclusion, it can be said that all the theories had been developed in order to promote
positive conditions for clients, enabling individuals to move in positive direction.

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References
Cooper, M. (2013). The intrinsic foundations of extrinsic motivations and goals: Toward a
unified humanistic theory of well-being and change. Journal of Humanistic Psychology,
53(2), 153-171.
Dweck, C. S. (2013). Self-theories: Their role in motivation, personality, and development.
Psychology press.
Ewen, R., & Ewen, R. B. (2014). An introduction to theories of personality. Psychology Press.
Hansen, J. T., Speciale, M., & Lemberger, M. E. (2014). Humanism: The foundation and future
of professional counseling. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 53(3), 170-190.
Hoffman, L., Lopez, A. J., & Moats, M. (2013). Humanistic psychology and self-acceptance. In
The strength of self-acceptance (pp. 3-17). Springer, New York, NY.
Kaur, A. (2013). Maslow’s need hierarchy theory: Applications and criticisms. Global Journal
of Management and Business Studies, 3(10), 1061-1064.
Taormina, R. J., & Gao, J. H. (2013). Maslow and the motivation hierarchy: Measuring
satisfaction of the needs. The American journal of psychology, 126(2), 155-177.
Waterman, A. S. (2013). The humanistic psychology–positive psychology divide: Contrasts in
philosophical foundations. American Psychologist, 68(3), 124.