Identify and evaluate 2 key assumptions (use other perspectives to make evaluative comments) of the humanistic perspective.

The two key assumptions of the humanistic perspective are that subjective experiences of individual are important, and that humans are different from animals. Humanists think that subjective experiences are extremely important because only the individual can explain the meaning of the behavior, and not its observer. This is what makes a person individual. They argue that no one is objective, therefore objective observers are meaningless. This assumption opposes the behaviorists who claim that behaviors are studied through observation, because a person’s mind cannot reveal any solid evidence, unlike physical observations. They assume that environment is the main influence of behaviors, not freewill.

The second assumption points out that human are different from animals. Humanists claim that human are far more intelligent than animals, and therefore will not share the same behaviors with animals under the same circumstance, because human are much smarter than animals. They criticize the behaviorists’ theories from observing behaviors of rats, dogs, and pigeons. Humanists don’t agree with building conclusion about human behaviors with evidences produced from animal experimentation. For example, Tolman’s behavioristic experiment on rats maze is an attempt to explain the behavior of living things in which the result is applied to human case. A humanistic assumption will argue that human might behave differently because they are capable of thinking more complexly in solving problem, therefore they don’t think what rats do can be applied to human.

~Daniel

2 assumptions of the humanistic perspective

The two key assumptions of the humanistic perspective are that behavior must be understood in terms of subjective experience ofd individual, and that they are not limited by either the past or present situation. Humanists think that subjective experiences are extremely important because only the individual can explain the meaning of the behavior, and not its oserver.. Besides, they say people act from their freewill, which is determined by past experience. They argue that no one is objective, therefore objective observers are meaningless. This assumption opposes the behaviorists who claim that behaviors are studied through observation, because a person’s mind cannot reveal any solid evidence, unlike physical observations. They say that environment is the main influence of behaviors, not freewill. I’m goin to sleep now…it’s already more than an hour of tomrrow…

~Daniel

3 Good Things

Although the past week had been horrible, I still manage to remember some good things that happened. My physics test grade was not as bad as I expected. I finished all seven of my physics write-ups a week before they are due, while some people just started, and there was no homework for English class for 2 classes in a row.

Physics had always been a nightmare for me, but I still manage to stick with it. I'm quite happy with the test grade because there are many people who got lower scores. In my physics class, the lab reports are probably the easiest type of grades to earn A's and B's, and so I'm quite proud that they are finally done after tremendous hard work every night for the whole week. For English, I really can't find anything else to say, although having no homework in English is always nice (overloaded with other subjects' work).

~Daniel

Our Experiment

Our psychology class now moves on to something fun. We evaluate the good things that are happening in our everyday life for about two months. There are may ways to do this: before bedtim, make a list of three good tihngs that had happened that day; do random act of kindess; do some online survey to point out psychological strengths in each of us.

We will keep doing this for about 2 months. Before the experiment we did the online survey, and we will redo the same test after 2 months to see how much we've changed. I think it's really interesting and entertaining.

~Daniel

Reactions to My 5 Strengths

The top 5 strengths in me are:
1. caution, prudence, discretion
2. modesty, humilidity
3. capacity to love and be loved
4. honesty, genuineness
5. kindness, generousity

The results are as I expected. I always try to be realistic, maybe too much that I often overlook the bright side of life. In class, i'm not known for my verbal activeness, but rather for the works handed in (not that they are always top scores, but they are definitely higher than oral presentations). I don't feel that I'm a special person, but my friend often compliment me for my modesty. I enjoy spending times and hanging out with my friends, and we seem to get along quite well. I value my honesty and genuineness. Most of the time I do favors for my friends, and I always feel good in doing so. I have friends who come to talk to me about their lives (ranging from Math investigation to secret crushes). None of the 5 strengths result surprise me at all.

~Daniel