Scribd
Upload
128 views2 pages

Humanistic Learning Theory

Humanistic learning theory focuses on facilitating student self-actualization and holistic growth. Theorists emphasize cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal development over knowledge accumulation alone. Effective learning environments demonstrate congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy according to Rogers. Such environments cultivate self-understanding, acceptance, interpersonal connection, and concrete skills and knowledge while promoting learner responsibility and whole-person development. Some students may initially struggle with this paradigm shift from traditional education models.

Uploaded by

Kevin Jonathan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
128 views2 pages

Humanistic Learning Theory

Humanistic learning theory focuses on facilitating student self-actualization and holistic growth. Theorists emphasize cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal development over knowledge accumulation alone. Effective learning environments demonstrate congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy according to Rogers. Such environments cultivate self-understanding, acceptance, interpersonal connection, and concrete skills and knowledge while promoting learner responsibility and whole-person development. Some students may initially struggle with this paradigm shift from traditional education models.

Uploaded by

Kevin Jonathan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Humanistic Learning Theory

Humanistic learning theory (person-centered theory)  the goal of education  facilitate students
development and self-actualization

Humanistic learning theorists  learning as the holistic growth of the person (cognitive, emotional,
and interpersonal domains)  focus less on accumulation of knowledge and more on how the
learner’s way of being in the world impacts the integration of skills and knowledge

Most humanistic learning theorists base their view of the educator–learner relationship on Rogers’s
(1957) three therapist-provided conditions for personality change: congruence, empathic
understanding, and unconditional positive regard

Rationale for Use of Person-Centered Learning Theory

The goal of facilitating relationships in a learning environment characterized by the person-centered


conditions of congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy is to provide learners with the
opportunity for the growth and development of the whole person

Some of the results of such a learning environment are a deeper understanding and acceptance of
oneself, a strong connection and openness to the experiences of others, and the development of
skills and knowledge to facilitate the growth of both the individual and society.

Objectives of a Humanistic Learning Environment

When educators provide the environment described above and students begin to take responsibility
for their own learning, certain results related to this self-actualization process can be expected. One
key outcome of the humanistic approach to learning is a deeper understanding of self (Dollarhide &
Granello, 2012), an important characteristic of a counselor. Increased self-understanding can lead to
deeper learning. Learning can be enhanced when adult learners are able to accept themselves as
they are while continuing to work toward growth (Knowles, 1959; Kunze, 2013). Similarly, Combs
(1982) indicated that highly self-actualized individuals tend to view themselves in a positive way
while honestly accepting their areas for growth, an attitude that leads to freedom to take more risks
in educational settings.

A humanistic learning environment also promotes a sense of care, acceptance, and respect toward
individuals in society as well as a connection to the human condition

Concrete knowledge and skills are an outcome in humanistic learning theory

Other Considerations in a Humanistic Learning Environment

Because application of humanistic learning theory requires a paradigm shift for both educators and
learners, some learners may struggle to feel comfortable with the idea that the educator’s
responsibility is to facilitate a learning environment and the learner’s responsibility is to pursue
growth (Mearns, 1997). Many learners have grown up in educational environments where
acquisition of knowledge was almost exclusively the goal of learning, and an educator who presents
them with a different way of learning may induce stress. However, person-centered and humanistic
learning theorists have emphasized that empathically helping students in the process of gaining self-
responsibility helps the whole person develop

Application of Person-Centered Learning Theory in Counselor Education

1. Teaching
2. Accountability

Challenges

Limitations

You might also like