It is not things in themselves that trouble us, but our opinions of things.

Change your thoughts and you change your world."

I do not react to some absolute reality, but to my perception of this reality. It is this perception which for me is reality.

Awareness is everything!Conscious experience is all that matters

The past is only important if it affects your thoughts and feelings now

Even if reality exists, it doesnt matter

Note how different from other approachesTraitGeneticPsychodynamic

Humanistic PsychologyThe study of the mind is different than any other science

The mind is aware!The mind is attempting to understand the mind

AwarenessExistentialismThe cs mind has a sense of existence

PhenomenologicalThe phenomenon of experience

HumanisticThis phenomenon is uniquely human

Phenomenological, Humanistic, and ExistentialismFree will

Awareness

Meaning

Responsibilities of free will

The object of study are human beings

Free WillPrevious approaches

CS experience is personalityThe UCS mind does not matterThe past does not matter

Only times these do matter is if you let themGordon Liddy example

AwarenessWhat does it feel like to exist?

UmweltSenses you feel as a biological organismMitweltFeelings related to social experiencesEigenweltFeelings when you think of your own existence

What would you have been like if you. . .

Were born to an extremely wealth family?

Were born to an extremely poor family?

Were born in North Dakota in 1952?

Were born in England in 1500?

Thrown-nessThe circumstances into which you happened to be born

What time period do you think it is most difficult to find a sense of meaning?

MeaningModern times

Why are you here?What should you be doing?

AngstExistential anxiety

What to do?Lucky mud

Free choice must not blow your chance to find meaningNot a true meaning, but a personal meaning

Authentic ExistenceCome to terms with your existenceLife is shotYou will dieYou are in control of your choices find meaning

Still not a happy existenceLife is shotYour will dieMeaning is only an illusion

Bad FaithAvoid Angst

Stop worrying about the problems of existence

Bad FaithProblems

1) Living a lieMight as well just be the unlucky mud

2) Still will not be happy

3) Still making a choiceChosen not to chose is a choiceMan is condemned to freedom

Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers. . . the most wonderful miracle in the world took place. .

Subjective ExperiencesInner reality more important than objective reality

Inner experiences

Conscious experiencesExperiences that can be verbalized or imaginedUnconscious experiencesExperiences that cannot be verbalized or imagined

Self-Actualizing TendencyInnate motive toward fulfillment of our potentials

EvidenceRat and human studiesEvolution

Innate goodness

So why do people do bad things?

Infants perceive their experiences as reality

Uninhibited by the evaluations of others

All behavior directed toward satisfying need for SA

Organismic Valuing ProcessSA is the criterion used to make judgments of worth

As we get older. . . .

Start to experience a need for positive regardSatisfying the needs for others satisfies this need

True self

True self

Social selfCreated through contact with others

True self

Social selfPrevents us from getting into touch with our true self

True self

Social selfLeads to conditions of worth

So why do people do bad things?Social self hinders movement toward SA

Not behaving like true self causes anxiety

Anxiety causes defense mechanisms

So why do people do bad things?Psychotic

Positive DevelopmentAvoid conditions of worth

Unconditional positive regard

Congruence between true self and experiences

Fully Functioning PersonOpen to experience

Characterized by existential living

Trust their organisms

Are creative

Live rich lives