I learnt an interesting topic in a Social and Personality Psychology lecture this week.
In humanistic psychology, the focus is on humanity and higher end of people (unlike other approaches where mental abnormalities are in center of concern). For example, emphases lay upon human potential, happiness and creativity.
A Psychologist, Carl Rogers asserted the "Fully Functioning Person" model. Because he believes in the fact that all people are born with positive intentions, he believed in the positive nature of humans.
According to Rogers, a 'Fully-Functioning Person' has:
1. Openness to experience.
-Non-censoring/non-defensive attitude.
-Receptive to both subjective and objective experiences.
2. Existential living.
-"Increasing tendency to live fully in each moment" (Rogers, 1961).
-Living in the present, not past or future.
-Constant process of 'becoming'.
-Focus on direction rather than destination.
3. Organismic trusting.
-Trusting oneself and not relying on others.
-"Doing what 'feels right'".
4. Experiential freedom.
-Subject freedom of choice in each moment.
-Not pressured by need's and should's.
5. Creativity.
-Creative living.
-Living non-habitually & in your own way.
By a 'Fully-Functioning Person', Rogers means an individual who has the same life intentions as an infant; comfortable in their own skin, living with no 'mask' and has a positive outlook on life.
I believe his proposal about such positive human nature is excellent. It sure sounds like the way a happy person lives by.
