Maslow’s theory was that human beings are motivated by a hierarchy of needs.
Best response to these two discussions
1ST DISCUSSION
Maslow’s theory was that human beings are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. According to Mcleod, “Maslow noted that the order of needs might be flexible based on external circumstances or individual differences.”(2022).
Carl Rogers agreed with Maslow but added that for a person to develop correctly, they needed surroundings that provided affirmation, trustworthiness, and understanding. (Mcleod,2014)
As confirmed by Speilman et al., “Both Rogers’s and Maslow’s theories focus on individual choices and do not believe that biology is deterministic” (2014).
Personally, I agree that nurture or environment plays a more significant role in our behavior. Using my son as an example will validate this.
I separated from my son’s biological father before my son was eighteen months old
. While his father was granted visitation, he did not see him regularly. Thus my son’s upbringing was primarily done by his stepfather and myself.
Contrary to his biological father’s behavior, my son ultimately turned out to be the opposite. He is loving and kind, and he has chosen to be a paramedic so he can help others.
He provides for his family and is a good husband and father. Growing up in a nurturing environment aided in my son’s positive development.
Personality traits are defined as our patterns of thoughts, feeling, and actions and shape our biases.
Since our environment significantly influences our traits, changing our environment can impact these traits.
For example, a child growing up in a violent household may become anxious and scared with simple everyday activities.
However, if they are placed in a nurturing environment where they feel safe and secure, those anxieties can disappear, and they can enjoy their life and surroundings without fear.
McLeod, S. A. (2014, February 05). Carl rogers. Simply Psychology. www.simplypsychology.org/carl-rogers.html
McLeod, S. A. (2022, April 04). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Simply Psychology.www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Spielman, R. M., Dumper, K., Jenkins, W., Lacombe, A., Lovett, M., & Perlmutter, M. (2014, December 8). 6.1 what is learning? – psychology. Psychology. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://openstax.org/books/psychology/pages/11-5-humanistic-approaches
2ND DISCUSSION
When considering Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Carl Roger’s theories, I believe that Carl Roger’s theories support my position the most. Carl Rogers believed that all people had what he called “Self-Concept”.
This was how people viewed themselves, and it was influenced all the way from childhood into adulthood and how society perceived us. According to T Arun Christopher. (2021), ” The self is influenced by the experiences a person has in their life, and interpretations of those experiences” (p. 3).
It is broken up into three components which are self-worth, self-image, and ideal self. Self-worth is what we think about ourselves like self-esteem. Self-image is how we look or see ourselves like when we are looking into a mirror.
Ideal-self is the person who we would like to be. According to Carl Roger, when our self-image becomes more like our ideal self we start to self-actualize which is the goal or drive that people have from birth through adulthood as it evolves through painful trial and error.
For example, as a child, you try to learn to ride a bike and during the learning process you fall, yet you still try over and over to learn to ride until you are successful.
Once you reach self-actualization, you according to Carl Roger become a fully functional person which is extremely difficult but means that you are happy and fulfilled.
I am constantly looking at myself on a daily basis. I consider it my daily inventory. I reflect on what I think about myself, usually, this is done by reflecting on my actions, behaviors, and thoughts.
My self-worth usually paints the picture that I see when I look at myself in the mirror. Once I reflect on what I see and feel in the mirror about myself I compare this to who I want to be which is my ideal self.
I then strategize and pray about how God can help me become the person I want to be and let him direct my path. I can honestly say that I am nowhere near reaching self-actualization and becoming a fully functional person yet, but I try every day to get one more step closer to feeling the harmony of being there.
And I believe that the beauty of trying to reach self-actualization is seeing yourself grow as a human in the process because we will probably never reach becoming a fully functional person.
References:
T Arun Christopher. (2021). Carl Rogers Theory on Personality.
