Chapter 17
Humanistic Psychologies
1. The doctrine of learned ignorance applied to theology refers to
a. the importance of humility.
b. purposeful forgetting.
c. refusal to study anything that goes against dogma.
d. the discipline of knowing how not to talk and think of God.
Answer: d. the discipline of knowing how not to talk and think of God.
Rationale:
The doctrine of learned ignorance, as applied to theology, emphasizes the recognition of the
limitations of human understanding when contemplating the divine. It involves a disciplined
approach to acknowledging that human language and thought are inadequate to fully
comprehend the nature of God.
2. Humanistic psychologists were vocal in their criticisms
a. of behaviorism and psychoanalysis.
b. of structuralism and functionalism.
c. of behaviorism and Gestalt psychology.
d. of Gestalt psychology and psychoanalysis.
Answer: a. of behaviorism and psychoanalysis.
Rationale:
Humanistic psychologists critiqued behaviorism for its reductionistic focus on observable
behavior and psychoanalysis for its determinism and emphasis on pathology, advocating
instead for a more holistic and positive approach to understanding human behavior and
experience.
3. The humanistic viewpoint in psychology gained momentum in the
a. later 1970s.
b. late 1980s.
c. early 1930s.
d. 1960s.
Answer: d. 1960s.
Rationale:
The humanistic viewpoint in psychology emerged as a significant force in the 1960s,
challenging the dominance of behaviorism and psychoanalysis by emphasizing subjective
experience, personal growth, and self-actualization.
4. The philosophical orientation marked by concerns for the emotional, social, and
intellectual issues of life is
a. existentialism.
b. rationalism.
c. political science.
d. psychoanalysis.
Answer: a. existentialism.
Rationale:
Existentialism is a philosophical orientation concerned with the individual's experience of
existence, including questions of meaning, freedom, responsibility, and the nature of reality,
particularly in the face of life's uncertainties and absurdities.
5. The Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno believed that science fails when it
a. remains too general or fails to specialize.
b. does not adopt a coherent and rigorous methodology.
c. emphasizes emotion at the expense of reason.
d. allows specialization to block the larger vision.
Answer: d. allows specialization to block the larger vision.
Rationale:
Unamuno criticized science when it becomes overly specialized, leading to a narrow focus
that obscures the broader human experience and understanding. He emphasized the
importance of maintaining a holistic perspective that integrates various disciplines and
perspectives.
6. According to the Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno, the neglect of affect in a
philosophy
a. should guide the larger vision of a philosophy.
b. limits a philosophy to the use of models to explain behavior.
c. is a requirement of any coherent system of philosophy.
d. dooms a philosophy to failure.
Answer: d. dooms a philosophy to failure.
Rationale:
Unamuno argued that neglecting emotion and affect in philosophy leads to an incomplete
understanding of human nature and existence, ultimately resulting in the failure of
philosophical systems to address the full range of human experience and concerns.
7. According to Kierkegaard, we remain in the mode of the herd when we
a. reject rational and systematic conceptual schemes.
b. fail to study history.
c. reject truths imposed by the intellect.
d. fail to appropriate truth.
Answer: d. fail to appropriate truth.
Rationale:
Kierkegaard criticized conformity and the "herd mentality," arguing that individuals remain
in the mode of the herd when they fail to appropriate truth for themselves, instead relying on
external authorities or societal norms for their beliefs and values.
8. According to Kierkegaard, the aesthetic mode of existence ultimately leads to
a. optimism and a sense of well-being.
b. the terror of having known we have done wrong.
c. indifference, boredom, emptiness, and despair.
d. a profound sense of the irony of life.
Answer: c. indifference, boredom, emptiness, and despair.
Rationale:
Kierkegaard characterized the aesthetic mode of existence as one focused on immediate
pleasure and sensory experiences, which ultimately leads to a sense of emptiness and despair
as individuals fail to find lasting fulfillment or meaning.
9. The ethical mode of existence, according to Kierkegaard, may collapse into
a. indifference, boredom, and despair.
b. a self-righteous attitude.
c. religious or political fanaticism.
d. a profound sense of irony.
Answer: c. religious or political fanaticism.
Rationale:
Kierkegaard warned that the ethical mode of existence, characterized by adherence to moral
principles and societal norms, may collapse into religious or political fanaticism when
individuals become rigid and dogmatic in their beliefs, losing sight of genuine ethical
responsibility.
10. According to Kierkegaard, _____ is marked by a sensitivity to one's contingency and
complete dependence on God.
a. the aesthetic mode of existence
b. the ethical mode of existence
c. the religious mode of existence
d. the neurotic mode of existence
Answer: c. the religious mode of existence
Rationale:
Kierkegaard considered the religious mode of existence to involve a profound awareness of
one's existential condition, including one's dependence on God, and a commitment to a
personal relationship with the divine, which provides the basis for genuine freedom and
fulfillment.
11. Heidegger used the term _______ to refer to those conditions or forces that do not yield
easily to human effort.
a. factuality
b. throwness
c. Dasein
d. Mitwelt
Answer: b. throwness
Rationale:
"Throwness" is a concept in Heidegger's philosophy that refers to the inherent conditions or
circumstances that individuals find themselves thrown into at birth, such as historical,
cultural, and existential factors that shape their existence beyond their control.
12. Heidegger referred to his method of understanding the way we exist or our being in the
world as
a. psychoanalysis.
b. logotherapy.
c. analytic anthroponomy.
d. daseinsanalysis.
Answer: d. daseinsanalysis.
Rationale:
Heidegger's method of understanding human existence, or Dasein, is called daseinsanalysis,
which involves an existential analysis focused on the unique ways individuals experience and
interpret their existence in the world.
13. Phenomenology as a philosophical movement refers to
a. appearance.
b. a method for discovering what is given in experience.
c. the study of common human errors.
d. the study of illusions.
Answer: b. a method for discovering what is given in experience.
Rationale:
Phenomenology is a philosophical method concerned with the rigorous description and
analysis of subjective experience as it is given to consciousness, aiming to uncover the
essential structures and meanings inherent in human experience.
14. _______ is commonly regarded as the founder of phenomenology.
a. Edmund Husserl
b. William James
c. Martin Heidegger
d. Soren Kierkegaard
Answer: a. Edmund Husserl
Rationale:
Edmund Husserl is considered the founder of phenomenology for his development of the
philosophical method and his work on the systematic exploration of consciousness and
subjective experience.
15. Which of the following best describes the position of phenomenology regarding the use
of models in psychology?
a. Animal models are acceptable because animals can feel, machine models, however, are
unacceptable.
b. All models are regarded as helpful in one way or another.
c. Computer models are especially valuable because such models may give us insight into the
nature of cognitive processes.
d. Since the phenomena of consciousness are not like anything else, models are only
approximations and can be dehumanizing.
Answer: d. Since the phenomena of consciousness are not like anything else, models are only
approximations and can be dehumanizing.
Rationale:
Phenomenology maintains that the phenomena of consciousness are unique and cannot be
fully captured by models or analogies derived from other domains, as such models may
oversimplify or distort the richness of human experience.
16. Which of the following best describes the position of phenomenology regarding
reductionism in psychology?
a. Reduction is necessary in every field of psychological study.
b. What is given in experience should be broken down into component parts for study.
c. What is given in experience should be studied exactly as it appears.
d. Reduction is an effective research strategy that should be employed when possible.
Answer: c. What is given in experience should be studied exactly as it appears.
Rationale:
Phenomenology advocates for studying subjective experience exactly as it presents itself
without reducing it to component parts or attempting to explain it solely in terms of
underlying mechanisms or structures.
17. According to Maslow, a _____ psychology emphasizes methodology, techniques,
orthodoxy, and measurement, whereas a _____ psychology would be open to a variety of
methods.
a. behavioristic . . . psychoanalytic
b. means-centered . . . problem-centered
c. problem-centered . . . means-centered
d. methodological . . . goal-oriented
Answer: b. means-centered . . . problem-centered
Rationale:
Maslow distinguished between a means-centered psychology, which focuses on methodology
and techniques, and a problem-centered psychology, which is open to various methods and
approaches aimed at understanding and addressing psychological issues.
18. Which of the following is the correct order in Maslow's need hierarchy?
a. physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness, self-esteem, and self-actualization
b. safety needs, biological needs, needs for erotic love, needs for acceptance, selfactualization
c. dominance needs, erotic needs, hunger and thirst, religious needs, self-actualization
d. religious needs, physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness, procreation, selfactualization
Answer: a. physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness, self-esteem, and selfactualization
Rationale:
Maslow's hierarchy of needs proposes that individuals must satisfy physiological needs (e.g.,
food, water), safety needs (e.g., shelter, security), belongingness and love needs, esteem
needs (e.g., self-esteem, recognition), and self-actualization needs (e.g., personal growth,
fulfillment) in sequence, with each level building upon the previous one.
19. Along with the cultural anthropologist Ruth Fulton Benedict, who provided the
inspiration for Abraham Maslow’s idea of a self-actualizing personality?
a. Albert Einstein
b. William James
c. Max Wertheimer
d. Elenore Roosevelt
Answer: c. Max Wertheimer
Rationale:
Max Wertheimer, a Gestalt psychologist, influenced Maslow's concept of self-actualization
through his emphasis on holistic perception and the organization of experiences into
meaningful wholes. While Benedict influenced Maslow's cultural anthropology studies,
Wertheimer's psychological insights contributed to Maslow's understanding of human
motivation and development.
20. According to Maslow, “B-love” is
a. essentially erotic.
b. joyful and non-possessive.
c. neurotic.
d. possessive or even selfish.
Answer: b. joyful and non-possessive.
Rationale:
Maslow differentiated between "B-love," which is characterized by genuine joy, selflessness,
and lack of possessiveness, and "D-love," which may be neurotic, possessive, or selfish. "Blove" represents a healthy, non-egocentric form of affectionate attachment.
21. Maslow argued the psychology should study
a. neurotic individuals.
b. healthy and successful people.
c. biological and computer models.
d. rigidly empirical data.
Answer: b. healthy and successful people.
Rationale:
Maslow advocated for a positive psychology approach that focuses on studying
psychologically healthy and self-actualized individuals to understand human potential and
optimal functioning. This approach contrasts with traditional psychology's focus on
pathology and dysfunction.
22. The Leibnizian tradition, according to Allport, is marked by
a. an emphasis on an active intellect.
b. belief in the so-called “blank slate” hypothesis.
c. its similarities with S-R psychologies.
d. a strong deterministic bias.
Answer: a. an emphasis on an active intellect.
Rationale:
The Leibnizian tradition, influenced by the philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz,
emphasizes the notion of an active intellect, suggesting that individuals play an active role in
shaping their perceptions, thoughts, and experiences, rather than being passive recipients of
environmental stimuli.
23. The Lockean tradition in psychology is most consistent with
a. Gestalt psychology.
b. S-R behavioristic psychologies.
c. existentialism.
d. Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
Answer: b. S-R behavioristic psychologies.
Rationale:
The Lockean tradition, named after the philosopher John Locke, aligns with S-R behavioristic
psychologies, which prioritize observable behaviors and environmental stimuli as
determinants of behavior, while downplaying the significance of internal mental processes.
24. The idiographic orientation in psychology emphasizes
a. statistical abstractions.
b. individual experience.
c. abnormal behavior.
d. paranormal phenomena.
Answer: b. individual experience.
Rationale:
The idiographic orientation in psychology focuses on understanding individual experiences,
behaviors, and characteristics in-depth, rather than seeking generalizations or statistical trends
across populations. It values the uniqueness and complexity of each person's psychological
makeup.
25. The nomothetic orientation in psychology emphasizes
a. statistical abstractions.
b. individual experience.
c. abnormal behavior.
d. paranormal phenomena.
Answer: a. statistical abstractions.
Rationale:
The nomothetic orientation in psychology prioritizes the development of general laws,
principles, and theories that apply across populations, often through the use of statistical
analyses to identify patterns or trends shared by groups of individuals.
26. _____ is well known for his work on prejudice, including his examination of social
factors and conditions that can reduce prejudice
a. Gordon Allport
b. Carl Rogers.
c. Abraham Maslow.
d. Soren Kierkegaard.
Answer: a. Gordon Allport
Rationale:
Gordon Allport was a psychologist renowned for his research on prejudice and intergroup
relations, particularly his investigations into the factors that contribute to the reduction of
prejudice and the promotion of positive social attitudes.
27. The founder of the person-centered approach to therapy is
a. Viktor Frankl.
b. Carl Rogers.
c. Abraham Maslow.
d. Soren Kierkegaard.
Answer: b. Carl Rogers.
Rationale:
Carl Rogers is credited as the founder of the person-centered approach to therapy, also known
as client-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and
genuineness in facilitating clients' self-exploration and growth within a therapeutic
relationship.
28. According to Carl Rogers, the greater the congruence between the _____ and the _____ ,
the greater the health.
a. superego . . . ego
b. umwelt . . . mitwelt
c. self . . . ideal self
d. social conditions . . . expectations
Answer: c. self . . . ideal self
Rationale:
Carl Rogers posited that psychological health is associated with congruence between an
individual's self-concept (self) and their ideal self, which represents their aspirations and
goals. Greater alignment between these two constructs fosters personal growth and wellbeing.
29. Unconditional positive regard, according to Carl Rogers, is
a. another term for “love at first sight.”
b. is marked by a belief in the intrinsic worth of the individual.
c. another term for conditional love.
d. an orientation that emphasizes the idea that love must be earned.
Answer: b. is marked by a belief in the intrinsic worth of the individual.
Rationale:
Unconditional positive regard refers to the therapist's unconditional acceptance, respect, and
nonjudgmental attitude toward the client, based on the belief in the client's inherent worth and
value as a human being, regardless of their behaviors or experiences.
30. Carl Rogers's view of human nature was
a. highly pessimistic.
b. moderately pessimistic.
c. neutral.
d. highly optimistic.
Answer: d. highly optimistic.
Rationale:
Carl Rogers held a highly optimistic view of human nature, believing that individuals possess
an innate tendency toward self-actualization and personal growth. He emphasized the
capacity for individuals to achieve psychological health and fulfillment through selfawareness, self-acceptance, and authentic self-expression.
31. The term logotherapy is associated with the work of
a. Carl Rogers.
b. Abraham Maslow.
c. Viktor Frankl.
d. Gordon Allport.
Answer: c. Viktor Frankl.
Rationale:
Logotherapy is associated with Viktor Frankl, who developed this existential therapy
approach based on the belief that individuals can find meaning in life, even in the face of
suffering and adversity. Frankl's experiences in Nazi concentration camps influenced his
development of logotherapy, as described in his renowned work "Man's Search for Meaning."
32. Name the person described in the following biography: “I was born in 1905 in Vienna
and earned an MD and a PhD from the University of Vienna. Several members of my family
were brutally murdered in Nazi concentration camps, but I managed to survive. The
experience inspired me to write my most famous book, Man’s Search for Meaning.”
a. Abraham Maslow
b. Alfred Adler
c. Viktor Frankl
d. Carl Rogers
Answer: c. Viktor Frankl
Rationale:
The description matches the life and experiences of Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist,
psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor who founded the existential therapy known as
logotherapy. His book "Man's Search for Meaning" details his experiences in concentration
camps and explores his philosophy of finding meaning in life.
33. A noogenic neurosis results from
a. the frustration of any basic drive.
b. the failure to find a sense of worth in life.
c. the frustration of the sex drive.
d. deficiency in vitamin B12.
Answer: b. the failure to find a sense of worth in life.
Rationale:
Frankl introduced the concept of noogenic neurosis in logotherapy, suggesting that it arises
from a lack of meaning or purpose in life rather than from biological or physiological factors.
It reflects an existential crisis characterized by a profound sense of emptiness or inner void.
34. Frankl argues that
a. life is without meaning.
b. there is a universal meaning of life that humans can discover.
c. there is a universal meaning of life, but humans cannot discover it.
d. individuals must find the meaning in their own life in their own circumstances.
Answer: d. individuals must find the meaning in their own life in their own circumstances.
Rationale:
Viktor Frankl argued that while life may inherently lack predetermined meaning, individuals
have the capacity to find or create meaning through their choices, experiences, and
relationships. He emphasized the importance of personal responsibility and existential
freedom in the quest for meaning.
35. The work of ______, with a focus on individual experience, can provide a basis for the
method of autoethnography, in which one studies one’s own experiences
a. Abraham Maslow
b. Alfred Adler
c. Viktor Frankl
d. Carl Rogers
Answer: c. Viktor Frankl
Rationale:
Viktor Frankl's existential insights, particularly his emphasis on individual experience and the
search for meaning in life, provide a theoretical foundation for the method of
autoethnography, which involves studying one's own experiences within a cultural or social
context.
36. According to psychologist Joseph F. Rychlak, psychology should be built on a model of
causality that
a. emphasizes correlation alone.
b. material and efficient causes exclusively.
c. includes material, efficient, formal, and final causes.
d. includes none of the above, Rychlak believes that causality is a philosophical term and, as
such, has no place in science.
Answer: c. includes material, efficient, formal, and final causes.
Rationale:
Joseph F. Rychlak advocated for a comprehensive model of causality in psychology that
encompasses material, efficient, formal, and final causes. This perspective integrates multiple
causal factors, including physical, environmental, intentional, and teleological influences, to
provide a richer understanding of psychological phenomena.
37. Basic human nature, according to third-force psychologies, is
a. self-serving and animal-like.
b. morally neutral.
c. naturally growth oriented.
d. sinful.
Answer: c. naturally growth oriented.
Rationale:
Third-force psychologies, including humanistic and existential approaches, view basic human
nature as naturally growth-oriented, emphasizing individuals' inherent drive toward selfactualization, personal fulfillment, and psychological growth. This perspective contrasts with
views that portray humans as inherently flawed or driven by base instincts.
38. Which of the following is NOT a legitimate criticism of humanistic psychology?
a. neglect of the hard work of systematic observation
b. some strands of humanistic psychology are affiliated with various countercultures and
spiritual-mystical groups
c. therapeutic procedures are suspect in terms of effecting real change
d. overly reductionistic
Answer: d. overly reductionistic
Rationale:
While criticisms of humanistic psychology may include neglect of systematic observation
and concerns about the effectiveness of therapeutic procedures, accusing it of being overly
reductionistic is not typically among them. Humanistic psychology emphasizes holistic,
person-centered approaches that value subjective experiences and individual uniqueness.
39. According to the text, the study of human strengths and virtues refers to a contemporary
discipline known as
a. positive psychology
b. phenomenology
c. first-force psychology
d. idiographic psychology
Answer: a. positive psychology
Rationale:
The study of human strengths and virtues is synonymous with positive psychology, a
contemporary discipline that focuses on understanding and promoting human flourishing,
optimal functioning, and well-being. Positive psychology investigates positive emotions,
character strengths, resilience, and factors that contribute to a fulfilling life.
Test Bank for A History of Psychology: Ideas and Context
Brett D. King, Wayne Viney, William Douglas Woody
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