One of the many theories regarding the study of personality and development of a certain individual is the “Humanist Theory”. Basically, the humanist theory is inclined on the significance of the freedom and the experiences of the individual. Moreover, it highlights on the idea of self-actualization which is believed by humanist theorists as a significant factor for personal growth and stimulation of personal behavior. As parents, the process of raising one’s own children is one of the difficult tasks.
However, principles of the humanist theories of Carl Rogers can be easily associated with the development of the personality and behavior of one’s children. One principle is (1) that each and every individual in this world has his own capability of controlling his own behavior. Another principle is (2) that each individual has his own means of responsiveness. Also, (3) the idea of anxiety has its own way of molding one individual to the more mature and positive side of his personality.
Moreover, the idea, (4) that human beings are uniquely different from each other and from the other biotic factors of the earth and (5) that an individual’s destiny is controlled non other by himself and is affected by several factors in the society that only he has the power which are the ones that he would follow and which are the ones the ones that he would not let in his system. As parents, these five principles based on the ideas provided by the humanist theorists are very appropriate in order to improve the proper psychological development and boost the self actualization of one’s children.
These ideas will help them in pursuing the positive growth of their personality without the repressing their emotions. These ideas make sure that children are given free will and the opportunity to discover life on his own and understand the things and the changes that are brought about by his surroundings. Raising children in the proper way is one of the dilemmas of the parents of today. During the process, parents are primarily taking their position as the parents of their children and as the ones to be followed by their children.
Oftentimes, due to their position as parents to their children, this idea becomes reasons as to when children’s emotions become repressed. Most of the time, the repressed emotions of individuals are likely to have negative effects. One is that they would always limit themselves into the things they are only allowed to touch or to experience. They confine themselves into the areas that they were only allowed to wander. Involvement into other aspects of their surroundings is nearly impossible for them.
Hence, interaction with other individuals is very hard for them to do. Experience becomes limited to these persons and as a result, the growth of their personality is also limited. And when these happen, they become more unconscious of the things that are happening around him. As a result, when something engages his experience that is not known to him or that is not included in his limitations, he becomes more vulnerable to the negative growth of his personality. With repressed emotions, they will not think of asking their parents about those uncommon things.
Often, they will inquire these things to other individuals than to their parents, without even thinking if the things that they were told could lead them to good or could bring them in harm’s way. And without the guidance of their parents, they could not even differentiate the good from the bad. Things would have been better if initially they were given the freedom to express themselves to others and if their emotions were not repressed. Individuals without repressed emotions feels free to ask heir parents and other people of the things that are not common to them.
In this manner, they will have the opportunity of having been guided and be taught of those things and in a way, when certain things come their way, they will know what things bring them to positivity and what things bring the to other side. Thus, not only helping them enhance their personality but also making sure that they are enhancing it onto the positive side of growth.
References
AllPsych and Heffner Media Group, Inc. (2004 March 23). Personality Synopsis. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://allpsych. com/personalitysynopsis/humanistic. html. Atherton, J. S. (2005).Learning and Teaching: Humanistic approaches to learning. Retrieved April 20, 2008. from http://www. learningandteaching. info/learning/humanist. htm. Bbc. (1999 August 24). Humanistic Theory. Retrieved April 19, 2008, from http://www. bbc. co. uk/dna/h2g2/A147151. Dombeck, M. & Wells-Moran, J. (2006). Humanistic Theory. Retrieced April 20, 2008, from http://www. mentalhelp. net/poc/view_doc. php? type=doc&id=9714&cn=353. Gergen, K. (1997). Social theory in Context: Relational Humanism. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www. swarthmore. edu/SocSci/kgergen1/web/page. phtml? id=manu9.