Differences between Positive and Humanistic Psychology

This week, we will be examining whether positive positive psychology is one of the new areas of psychology or it is the re-imagining of humanistic psychology. Considering the week’s resources and additional research, two-word clouds are created. The first is based on positive psychology whereas the second one is based on humanistic psychology. In the next part a written analysis where the result will be explained. The analysis will start with the definition for both the aspect that is positive as well as humanistic psychology, which has been defined by the scholars. The one will be examining, how these sub-fields are related and different. One will also include the results derived from the word clouds. Besides, that it will also reflect on how the preparing of these word clouds to get the bettering understand the two major areas that are positive psychology and humanistic psychology.

Humanistic Psychology- Definition and notion

Positive Psychology

Figure 2: Author’s own

Positive psychology is considered as an expression that was first utilized within the humanistic approach of psychology, in the study conducted by Maslow 1968. It was in 1990 when positive psychology was able to gain a lot of momentum. One of the popular and greatest researcher Martin Seligman, who had a Ph.D. in positive psychology which seeks to understand the process and the scientific research that is responsible for strength and positive emotion that is generated within the individuals. The researcher, Seligman has defined positive psychology as a scientific study that is related to a positive experience, positive characteristics of individuals, and the Institute that facilitate the development and programs which could potentially help the individual in improving their quality of life. It can be also further defined as the scientific study of human strength and virtues that would allow in adopting a more open perspective when it comes to human potential capabilities and motivation (Waterman, 2013). According to the author Vera (2006) who stated that positive psychology cannot be either considered as philosophical nor it can be categorized as a spiritual movement at the same time, it should not be considered as an exercise or self-help or an magical method that could help the individual in reaching the happiness. For Seligman (2002) positive psychology is not a new concept, as before World War-II the main aim of psychology was to help the individual to live their life to the fullest, to cure the mental disorder, and to make the life of the individual more productive. Besides that, it also included building up the talent and the intelligence of the individual (Waterman, 2013).

Humanistic and positive psychology are inter-related and different

The word cloud will contribute towards getting more clarity about the two concepts especially when it comes to understanding human functioning, moreover, through the words, it gets easier to associate with the psychological perspective and their characteristics. The the word cloud helps in understanding the definition and the main principle that undermines these concepts. This provides clarity to the values, behavior, and notions they follow. Apart from that, it becomes easier to relate the common grounds in both the perspectives works and at the same time also highlight the areas of difference. From the word cloud it can be seen clearly seen that some of the words are the same, or means the same however it can be also be drawn the humanistic approach is more inclined towards the meaning, freedom, personal responsibility, self-actualization, and human potential where on the other hand positive psychology is related towards positive experience, positive characteristics of individuals, and the Institute that facilitate the development and programs which could potentially help the individual in improving their quality of life. So, it can be said that this word cloud it helps in getting more clarity through the virtual presentation of the words which are concerns two the perspective

References

Friedman, H., 2008. Humanistic and positive psychology: The methodological and epistemological divide. The Humanistic Psychologist, 36(2), pp.113-126.