therapy that the goals she set for herself were far too ideal. It is not uncom-
mon for clients to enter therapy expecting near perfection of themselves andto consider themselves failures when they fall short of these impossible goals.
It is clear from this example that Rogers ’therapy was successful in bringing
the client ’s real and ideal selves closer together. No doubt she was better
able to experience life as a fully functioning person than she was before enter-
ing therapy.
STRENGTHS AND CRITICISMS OF THE HUMANISTIC
APPROACH
The humanistic movement hit psychology like a storm in the 1960s.
Therapists from every perspective were converted to the person-centered ap-proach. Humanistically oriented encounter groups and workshops sprang up
everywhere. Psychologists applied Rogers ’and Maslow ’s ideas to such areas
as education and the workplace. Then, almost as quickly as it arrived, the
third force movement seemed to fade in the late 1970s. Many converts became
disenchanted, some humanistically oriented programs were declared failures,
and the number of popular paperbacks capitalizing on the movement dwin-dled. But, also like a storm, the humanistic approach to personality has left
reminders of its presence. Today a large number of practicing psychotherapists
identify themselves as humanistic in their orientation (Mayne et al., 1994),and many others have adopted various Rogerian techniques in their prac-
tice. Humanistic psychologists enjoy an active division in the American
Psychological Association and publish their own journal. Although the move-ment never replaced the well-entrenched psychoanalytic or behavioral ap-
proaches, it remains an appealing alternative view of human nature for many
psychologists. This ebb and flow of popularity suggests that the humanisticapproach, like other approaches to personality, has both strengths and points
for criticism.
Strengths
Because personality theorists often dwell on psychological problems, the hu-
manists ’positive approach offers a welcome alternative. The writings of
Rogers and Maslow remain popular with each new generation of students.These theorists also should be credited for drawing the attention of many per-
sonality researchers to the healthy side of personality. Recently we have seen
a huge interest in what has been called positive psychology (Seligman, Steen,
Park, & Peterson, 2005; Lopez, 2009). An increasing number of researchers
are turning their attention to such topics as creativity, happiness, and sense of
well-being.
Not surprisingly, humanistic psychology has had a huge impact on the
way psychologists and counselors approach therapy. Many therapists identifythemselves as “humanistic. ”More important, several aspects of the humanistic
approach to therapy have been adopted or modified in some form by a large
number of therapists from other theoretical perspectives (Cain & Seeman,Strengths and Criticisms of the Humanistic Approach 301