The Behaviorist and Humanist Approach: Motivated Personality
Introduction
The personality of an individual is one of the most crucial aspects to take note of in understanding human behavior in the field of psychology. In most common sense, personality is the sum total of all behaviors, values, actions, and perceptions of an individual, which distinctly differs a person from another individual. It is an important element in the development of an individual, being a social entity in the community.
However, to further understand one’s personality, a number of theories in psychology can be used as basis. Depending on the perception of the individual, understanding one’s personality lies on the type of psychological approach to be used. This paper discusses two concepts related to the development of human behavior, namely, motivated and personality, with an emphasis on the definition, similarities, and differences of both terms. The concept of motivated personality would also be discussed, with reference to two theories, namely, behaviorist and humanist approach. Behaviorist theorist, , and Humanist theorist, would also be referred to in the discussion. Conclusion of the essay would emphasize on what psychological approach would best describe the concepts involved.
Behaviorist Approach vs. Humanist Approach
It has been reported that the behaviorist approach, or behaviorism, the study of observable behavior (2006), involves looking at a person’s external behavior rather than attempting to discern the mental activity or mental models that a person has ( 2003). This approach relies on the science of behavior, and understands that mentalistic concepts could only be measured through subjective methods such as introspection (2006), or self-realization or contemplation, using cognitive processes, including examination, thinking, and reasoning. In addition, this approach strongly emphasizes that an individual is a mechanical organism, and holds little concern of an individual’s capacity or ability to think and judge independently of external stimuli, thus, not thinking and responding only to stimuli (1993).
attacked the predominant tendency to define psychology as the study of consciousness, and argued that psychology should be regarded as a purely objective experimental branch of natural science ( 2006). He adopted the concept of conditioning of Ivan Pavlov to explain that behavior is dependent on the relationship that exists between stimuli or events in the environment, and responses of animals or any muscular action, activity and behavior (2006). For , personality is an individual’s actual and potential assets (total assets) and actual and potential liabilities on the reaction side (1971). In this regard, the personality of a particular individual may be completely described in terms of one’s reactions. This definition of personality emphasizes the fact that it is not defined or described entirely by one’s responses to other individuals, but also by the responses of other individuals make, being the person as their stimulus ( 1971). As such, the totally of one’s characteristics, including physical characteristics, quality of voice, language, responses, and social reactions are being regarded as a stimulus for other individuals, and pertain to the person’s total personality.
Aside from the definition of personality, also provided his definition of the concept of motivation. It has been reported that since the study and the popularization of the term, it has been described both activation and direction were regarded as its key components. However, the study of emphasized the unobservable facts must not be under the study of psychology. This had a significant effect in the study of motivation, being an unobservable behavior. This led to the study of rewards and reinforcements, and the view that motivation is an antecedent condition that instigates behavior (2003). Behavior was viewed as automatic or reflexive to a stimulus rather than cognitive or intentional; thus, the focus of the behaviorists was on learning rather than motivation (2007), and in this regard, behaviorists such as came to study the nature of learning, which emphasizes on one’s response over a stimulus (2007). This view of still emphasizes the view of the behaviorists of the behavior of human beings as animals, exhibiting animal instincts, rather than a thinking individual, being the argument of the humanists.
Contrary to the argument of the behaviorists is the humanistic approach, which emphasizes that the school of behaviorism was insufficiently satisfying in human terms to explain personality and distinctly human motives, and argued that behaviorism and psychoanalysis emphasize the animal aspect of human behavior at the expense of human aspects (1999). For humanists, it is not the animalistic urges that explain personality, but it is the ability and capacity of humans for self-awareness, choice, responsibility, and growth. In this regard, an individual can control his or her animalistic urges, as each individual is unique, whole, and has an interpretation of reality (2006).
For , the essence of personality is wrapped up in the self-concept, which is an organized set of perceptions about one’s abilities and characteristics. He believes that it comes primarily from social interactions, particularly the interactions of an individual with his or her parents, friends and community (2006). In this regard, emphasizes the development of personality through social interaction. In addition, presents an unusual theory of personality, and establishes the person-centered theory of personality. According to , in understanding one’s personality, two aspects of the person must be taken note off, namely, the organism and the self. The organism refers to the focal point of all experiences, which are defined from the person’s own point of view and involves everything that could be experienced, while the self pertains to what a person is and wants to be, and one’s relationship with the environment. His theory of personality emphasizes the involvement of the organism and the self with self-actualization, which is defined as the single goal toward which a person strives. In this regard, the values of a person are attached only to the positive activities that the person believes to be used for his or her self-actualization ( 1985). In this regard, it can be perceived that in order to achieve self-actualization, different experiences, needs, and values must be given significance in the life of a specific individual. Aside from this theory of personality, also provided a definition for the concept of motivation. For , the human species has one basic tendency and striving, and that is to actualize, maintain, and enhance the experiencing organism. This behavior promotes and preserves the life of an individual, and as well, as develop and transcend its previous limits ( 1998). From this definition of motivation, it can be understood that for , the motivation of an individual or any organism is to strive for its survival and sustenance. It emphasizes the fact that one’s motivation lies on his or her desire to preserve and sustain his or her life, with the use of any means. This serves to support his theory of personality that it is being shaped by the society, thus, one’s motivation may also be supported and fulfilled by the society he or she belongs to.
Similarity and Differences of the Concepts
The previous discussion emphasizes on the different definition and perception of the concept of personality on the two approaches. For the behaviorist approach, the behavior or personality of an individual is seen as an animalistic response to stimuli, thus, not having the ability or capacity to think, but only to react. For the behaviorists, the personality and behavior of human beings can be observed using positive reinforcements or rewards and negative reinforcements or punishments. Through such reinforcements, the personality of an individual is being shaped or molded, thus, determining its response in the environment. suggests that one’s personality can be observed through stimuli and responses, as it envelops one’s ability and capacity to exhibit responses and obtain responses from other individuals. On the other hand, for the humanists, the personality and behavior of human beings emphasize on one’s ability or capacity to become aware of ones’ self, of making choices, of fulfilling responsibilities and needs, and of growth and development. For the humanists, such as , one’s personality is being developed through social interactions, including the family, friends, the community, and the society.
The difference between the definitions of personality emphasize the fact that the behaviorist approach focuses on the animalistic characteristic of human beings, while the humanist approach focuses on the uniqueness of human beings, which emphasizes on one’s intellectual, psychological, emotional and social capacity. Another difference is that emphasizes on the different reactions individuals may express, while stresses on the internal realization of individuals, which may be based from their experiences. However, similarities can also be recognized for both approaches. One similarity is the fact that both theorists of personality recognize the nature of human beings to respond, whether internally or externally. recognizes the ability of human beings to respond to stimuli (external), while recognizes the ability of human beings to fulfill internal needs (internal stimuli) through becoming a social person. Another similarity of the two theories of personality is the emphasis on the involvement of other individuals in the process of personality development. emphasized the involvement of other individuals in expressing responses, while stressed the involvement of other individuals to be contributory to the experiences of human beings. Nevertheless, the differences of the two concepts are evident, and view the concept of personality in two different lights.
Aside from the concept of personality, both and have different definitions and explanations regarding motivation. The main difference of the theory of motivation of over the theory of motivation of is that emphasizes on the existence of rewards and punishments, being the primary motivation of individuals, as being the primary characteristic of animals of being driven entirely by stimuli. This is entirely different with the argument of , who stressed that the motivation of an individual comes from his or her intention to achieve self-actualization through survival. Another difference of the two theories of motivation is that failed to recognize the ability and capacity of individuals to use cognitive processes in order to become motivated. only recognized the ability of individuals to respond to stimuli, as they are motivated to respond to a specific stimulus. On the other hand, recognized the ability and capacity of individuals to use cognitive processes, as an individual becomes motivated based on the different experiences he or she was able to obtain from the environment. Self-actualization in this regard is an important concept, as ’ theory of motivation emphasizes the ability of individuals to assess and evaluate their capability to respond to stimuli based on necessity and experience. From such differences lies the similarity of both theories of motivation, which is becoming motivated through internal and external factors. emphasized that human beings are being stimulated by a stimuli, which are necessarily both internal and external the individual. Internal stimuli include hunger, thirst and sex, while external stimuli include food, water, and mate. For , a person is motivated to exhibit a response, as it is triggered by a stimulus. Similarly, self-actualization, as being argued by can be achieved through the accumulation of experiences of the individual, which can be done with the support and involvement of other individuals. This means that indirectly, points out that both internal and external factors affect the motivation of individuals, as internal factors refer to the fulfillment and the actualization of the person, while external factors refer to the experiences one is able to have through social interactions. In this regard, both theories of motivation stress the characteristic of human beings to be social individuals.
Conclusion
From the discussion, it can be deduced that significant differences in terms of explanation and perception of human behavior are being expressed based on the two psychological approaches referred to, namely, behaviorist and humanist approach. The behaviorist approach sees personality and motivation as based on animal instincts of individuals, thus, both personality and motivation are influenced and observed using positive and negative reinforcements. On the other hand, the humanist approach emphasizes on the fact that human beings are social beings, and one’s personality and motivation are dependent on one’s uniqueness, experiences and social responses.
In this regard, I believe that the best definitions for both concepts, motivation and personality, were emphasized by the humanists, specifically by . This is because recognized the ability of individuals to focus not only their ability to respond to stimuli, but he recognized the ability of individuals to respond to stimuli using mental, psychological, and emotional processes. Such responses are based on our ability to assess different experiences and situations, using our biological, psychological, physical, and emotional constructs. I believe that human beings must not be regarded and perceived as having animal instincts alone, because what makes one unique and distinct from the rest of the society is one’s ability and capacity to think, reason out and feel depending on the situation at hand. Each individual is different from the rest of the society, not only in terms of biological and physical construct, looks, and preferences, but also in terms of psychological, mental, and emotional constructs. As such, I believe that the ’ theories of personality and motivation were able to emphasize on such differences, thus, recognizing that one individual is unique from the other.
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