Personalities Theory Paper

Humanistic psychotherapies (Person-Centered, Gestalt, Existential, etc.), for all intents and purposes, are a type of "dynamic" therapy, as they focus on the internal motivations of human experience. Where humanistic theories differ hugely from the more popular psychodynamic theories (Object Relations, Ego Psychology, Self Psychology, etc.) is in the conviction that every human being possesses the natural potential for growth. As such, the purpose of humanistic therapy is to assist removing that which is blocking the persons growth. It is also the assumption of most humanistic therapists that people know what's best for themselves, not the therapist.

Most psychodynamic therapies are more dogmatic in their beliefs about human behavior. The focus is far more on the relationship patterns experienced during development, and how these have affected a persons’ capacity to relate and cope in the world. The psychodynamic theory teaches that people have three levels of awareness, which are the conscious, preconscious, and the unconscious. Psychodynamic therapist believe our own thoughts and feelings affect our actions   The humanistic theory would say, we have personal choice a person has decided how he/she will behave around other people. The humanistic theory is based on a persons’ interpretations of what is happening in the here and now. The humanistic theory allows a person to express himself without having to look at the past although in some instances it may go there. The Psycho-dynamic, with its intra-psychic predisposition, would probably blame something hidden in the unconscious for our behavior around other people. The psychodynamic theory centers on the past experiences of a person. The psychodynamic theory also uses psychoanalysis, dream interpretation, free expression and tools such as stones, paper and pencils, painting. The psychodynamic theory concentrates on looking at childhood experiences and normal or abnormal development in social and sexual... [continues]

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