What is the main focus of humanistic psychology?

Humanistic psychology primarily emphasizes the importance of personal growth and self-fulfillment. This perspective emerged as a response to the limitations of behavioral and psychoanalytic approaches, focusing instead on the individual’s subjective experience and inherent potential. Humanistic psychologists, such as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, believed that people are inherently good and have the capacity to realize their own potential when provided with the right conditions, such as unconditional positive regard and a supportive environment.

This approach values self-awareness and personal development, encouraging individuals to strive for self-actualization—a process of becoming the most that one can be. By promoting the idea that individuals are capable of making conscious choices, humanistic psychology seeks to empower people to take responsibility for their actions and to pursue meaningful lives. Such an emphasis on personal growth elevates individual experiences and feelings to central importance in understanding human behavior and enhancing well-being.