NEW DEADLINE Demonstrate your understanding of a humanistic view of the person. How has this understanding been changed or enhanced by the literature on social, contextual and neurological influences on development?

Humanistic View of the Person Author’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Code and Name Professor’s Name Date Humanistic View of the Person The humanistic perspective as a reaction came into being in psychology during the 1950s and 1960s against the dominating schools of psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Various humanist psychologists, including Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, and Rollo May, condemned the deterministic and reductionist views of human nature as proposed by psychoanalysis and behaviorism (May 1979). They stressed the inborn potential for constructive development and self-realization in all people (Rogers, 1975). The humanistic perspective plans to see the human experience as a whole, emphasizing an individual's personal perceptions, values, and ambitions. This outlook treats humans as autonomous agents endowed with free will, in contrast to the view of humans as passively formed by their environment or unconscious drives. Thesis statement: While the humanistic approach focuses on the development of potential inherent in all human beings, research on social, contextual, and neurological factors tells us that development is subject to various competing influences. Balancing the viewpoint means that humanistic ideals should be combined with knowledge of contextual forces that influence developmental processes. What the humanistic point of view does for psychology is enormously important because it recognizes the human personality's dignity and the human person's freedom and responsibility. Yet, Maslow's theory has pointed out that it negates the social, cultural, economic, and biological contexts that have had much to say regarding development (Acevedo, 2018). Over the past few decades, a vast outpouring of research has laid particular focus on the rich body of environmental factors that jointly or in very loose alliances give formation to human evolution. By narrowing it down to the principles of humanistic psychology and the outcomes of study findings on contextual influences, an acceptably generalized view of the developing person can be achieved. In this essay, I will discuss the humanistic tradition by summarizing its main principles and proponents. It will then summarize the leading research that discusses social, neurological, and other contextual effects on development (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2007). Last, it will advance an integrative, ecologically cognizant developmental perspective that reconciles human agency and multidimensional environmental impact Humanistic View of the Person The humanistic view emerged as a reaction to the shortcomings of the festering psychological paradigms of psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Humanistic philosophers found these systems painted a picture of human nature deterministic and dehumanizing. The main foundations of psychoanalysis are that it focuses on the unconscious influences of personality and early childhood experiences. Behaviorism perceives man as a response to conditioning factors. On the other hand, humanistic psychology focuses on the study of the entire person, knowing that this is where consciousness experience comes in free will, spirituality, and the human's potential (Tudor, 2017). Humanistic psychology prioritizes the subjective significance of human life – the thoughts, emotions, values, aspirations, and a person's future visions. It was dissimilar to behaviorism, which placed more interest in observable behavior, and psychoanalytical psychology, which highlights the unconscious drives. Humanistic theorists of self-depicted human beings as equally active beings with the capacity for self-consciousness, alternatives, and accountability. This needed the conception of humans as passive reactors to conditioning or unconscious conflict (Acevedo, 2018). The viewpoint of humanistic psychology accommodated a belief that every human being is genetically predisposed to self-actualization – the complete actualization of their creative faculties. When the conditions are right, people will always be driven to be better and aspire towards more significant achievements. Humanistic thinkers highlighted human free will and self-determination. They also addressed spiritual aspects of human existence, transcending naturalistic paradigms. Person-centered therapy was actualized by Carl Rogers, which has emerged among the techniques on human actualization. Maslow gave a hierarchy of human needs that apex self-actualization. Rollo May studied existential undercurrents of human living (Acevedo, 2018). The humanistic principles were applied in therapy through experiential therapies, student-centered education focused on growth, and humanistic management practices. Social Influences on Development Attachment theory focusing on attachment patterns formed with caregivers during early childhood helps us to understand the importance of such early attachment relationships for socio-emotional development. Research has also frequented the cause-and-effect interrelations of the styles of parents and results obtained by children (Ainsworth et al., 2015). For instance, authority-oriented parenting is connected to independence and efficacy compared to eventually relatively permissive or restrictive parenting. Vast research describes the negative impact of poverty, abuse, discrimination, and other traumatic stressors on development. Such experiences can limit cognitive, affective, and social functioning. It emphasizes social interventions that aim at preventing trauma. The ecological model conceived by Urie Bronfenbrenner encompasses microsystems, mesosystems, ecosystems, and macrosystems that, as a whole, ensure human development. It becomes clear that people are intrinsic in multilayered environmental situations. Children learn attitudes, behaviors, and emotional reactions by observing them and imitating them, incredibly influential models like parents and peers. Others' social reactions encourage and discourage behaviors (Mak & Iacovou, 2019). Social interactions are critical for cognitive development because, during this interaction, the component acquires skills and can emerge through dialogue with mentors. It is contrary to the views of development as the individual discovery process. It is social influences research that is illustrative of the interpersonal setting required in formulating a self-concept, morals, emotions, and other developmental outcomes. Healthy development requires nurturing relationships and communi...