Causation

Rise of Humanism as a Response to Behaviorism and Psychoanalysis

The humanistic movement in psychology emerged from a growing dissatisfaction with the dominant perspectives of the early 20th century. Psychologists objected to the pessimism and determinism of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis, which suggested all actions are driven by the unconscious. They also criticized the reductionism and deterministic core of behaviorism, which viewed human behavior as entirely controlled by genetics and environment. In contrast to these limited views, humanism developed to emphasize personal control, intentionality, and an innate predisposition for good.

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