Humanistic Theory

In the 1950s, psychologists began to develop a theoretical outlook unlike behaviorism and psychoanalysis. Humanism arose as a response to these leading forces in psychology but found its origins in classical and renaissance philosophy that underlined self-realization, that is, the ability of a human to reach his/her full potential and develop psychologically, intellectually and ethically. The development of humanism was also bolstered by similar philosophical movements in Europe, such as developments in phenomenology and existentialism.
Humanistic Theory emphasizes on the whole person. It adopts a holistic approach to human existence and pays special attention to such phenomena as creativity, free will, and human potential. Maslow wanted to

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs people have a natural desire to be good and are driven to achieve. If an Individual does not fulfill or satisfies his or her needs then psychological problems begin to develop. Two behaviors that can be influenced to develop according to this theory are Depression and Anorexia Nervosa.
When an individual has satisfied his or her physiological and safety needs according to the hierarchy of needs the person must now focus on satisfying their Love and Belonging needs. However, when an individual does not successfully satisfy this need they can become depressed. Major depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (n.d.) can be defined as “severe symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, study, eat and enjoy life. An episode can occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often a person has several episodes.” A person may experience persistent sadness, anxiousness, feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex. However persons with depressive illnesses do not go through the same symptoms. The severity, incidence, and duration of symptoms differ

People with anorexia have an extreme fear of gaining weight, which causes them to sustain an extremely low weight by starving themselves or exercising too much. An anorexic person usually has a distorted self-perception, constantly worries about food, refuses to eat, impaired memory and refusal of recognizing the seriousness of the disorder. Physical signs of the disorder may vary; these are excessive weight loss, irregular periods in women, thinning hair, dry skin, swollen hands and feet, bloated or upset stomach, low blood pressure, lethargic and abnormal heart beats. Individuals who are anorexic usually have difficulty dealing with psychological stress.
Anorexia can also lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior and depression. People with anorexia have a distorted body image. Anorexia also includes the persons’ emotions. The disorder is an effort to deal with the cultural ideals of body image and beauty. By adhering to these ideals they regulate their intake of food and their weight. Anorexic people think that their personal worth is based on how thin they