Biological Vs Humanistic

Jeremy Vigil

 

Psychology 250

July 22, 2002 

Abstract

            I will describe both the biological and humanistic approach.  I will then follow it with their similarities and differences.

Overview

            The biological and humanistic approaches are two of six psychology approaches.  The other four are Psychoanalytic, trait, behavioral, and cognitive.  These all are different approaches to personality.  They each describe how we gain our personalities and what affects them.  The approach used depends on the therapist and client’s personalities.  Some are more effective then others.  The effectiveness is determined by our personalities.  I believe it is the therapist responsibility to get to know the client to determine what approach will work best.  A therapist is not expected to be an expert in all approaches but they need to know an overview of all.  This will help determine if their own approach will be effective.  Sometimes, a therapist must admit that someone else would have the tools to better help their client.  

Biological Approach

Therapists who use the biological approach believe that personality is derived from your parents’ personalities.  In other words, your personality is genetic.  When you are born you will have a foundation for a certain personality.  This is contrary to the blank slate position.  This is the belief we are all born with no personality and we learn what our personality is from our parents. 

Biological approach therapists concede that biology is not the only factor in development of your personality but it does lay the foundation for it.  It was theorized natural selection has determined our personality.  The personalities without survival skills are not passed down to the next generation. 

We are not born with full fledge personalities when we are born.  Instead, we are born with a temperament.  This is a predisposition towards a certain personality.  This does not mean we keep the same personality all our lives.  We are just more likely to use a certain temperament.  You can understand people’s temperament by watching children playing.  They will be inhibited or uninhibited.  An inhibited child will seem withdrawn and appear to be watching the other children instead of participating.  An uninhibited child will start the conversation and interact with the other children.

Humanistic Approach

The humanistic approach explains we have control of our own personalities.  We are responsible for our own actions.  Therapists who use this approach believe the client knows their own self more than anyone else does.  The client knows what problems they need to correct.  This is demonstrated through the Q-sort test.  The client is given several cards with personality descriptions.  The client is then asked to sort by what they feel describes them.  This is a tool a therapist can use to determines a clients personality. 

Clients choose their personality through their actions.  It can also be said we choose to be good or evil.  Your choices determine your personality.  It is said we do not have to do anything yet people believe there are things we “have” to do.  Determining the things we consider we have to do are windows into our personality.  What things we believe we have to do are items we consider important and add to our personality.

Humanistic people believe in the here and now.  They do not focus too much on the past or future.  Their motto is to enjoy the day you are in. 

The humanistic approach was born out of the need for therapy for “healthy people”.  The Freudian approach was focused on the mentally ill.  The humanistic approach was needed to fill the hole.  Although, the humanistic approach is for healthy people they still have personal issues that need to be resolved before attaining self-actualization.  This is part of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.  Only by knowing ourselves can we obtain self-actualization.    

Similarities

The first similarity is they both conceded they are not the only approach.  Other factors contribute to your personality like your culture and environment.  Both the humanistic and biological approached are not a strict as the psychoanalytical approach. 

Another similarity is they both are approaches for healthy people.  Research was not all done by the mentally ill people like Freudian’s approach.  The positive side of personality was explored.  This differs from the psychoanalytical approach, which focuses on the negative side of personality.  These approaches are more helpful to the masses because I believe most people have a healthy personality.

Differences

            The main difference is what controls your personality.  With the humanistic approach, you are in control of your personality on a conscious level and with the biological approach, your genetics controls your personality.  You can also say that the humanistic approach is a conscious decision for your personality while the biological approach is not.  With the Biological approach your personality is set a birth while the humanistic approach you are solely responsible for your personality.  

Conclusion

            Both approaches are valuable it is up to the therapist to decide which is the best one to use and be the most beneficial.  They both have their strengths and weaknesses.  If one approach does not work you should try another one.  A balance in all approaches would be the best coarse of action.  I feel the best approach is most adaptable to our personality.