[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on Humanistic Perspective
Psychology is the study of more than the mind, and of less than the mind. It is the science of behavior, much of which is ‘mindless’. Humanistic psychology tries to tell it not like it is, but like it ought to be. It seeks to bring psychology back to its source, to the psyche, where it all began and where it finally culminates. But there is more to it than that. Humanistic psychology is not just the study of ‘human being’, it is a commitment to human becoming.
Humanism is a philosophical movement that emphasizes the personal worth of the individual and the centrality of human values. The Humanistic approach rests on the complex philosophical foundations of existentialism, and emphasizes the creative, spontaneous and active nature of human beings. This approach is very optimistic and focuses on noble human capacity to overcome hardship and despair (Arbib, 1985).
Over the past two years, I have rekindled connections within the Jewish community. I have become a more active learner of women's and immigrant history. I know many people view affiliations with ethnic or community groups as separatist, "self-segregating," or even elitist, but I disagree. My knowledge of myself and my position within the Jewish and women's communities has made me a better leader, has enriched my personal relationships, and has made me a better student.
Recently, the creation of an Asian American Studies program became an issue at the University of Maryland. I realized during the many student protests, when leaders of the Black, Jewish, and Latino student communities marched with Asian American students in favor of the Asian American Studies program, that this was not only an Asian issue. A lack of access to knowledge about one's own people's role in building the United States is an incredibly disempowering experience. As a Jew....................
