If conditions are very positive then we cannot but help to grow.
Rogers Self theory
The most important concept is Self: Self is that part of us that defines who we are. There is a) the real self and b) the ideal self (who you want to be). Everything in your phenominal world is compared to self. Is it congruent or incongruent with your self concept. Incongruent experiences lead to bad feelings such as anxiety. You can change your self concept in response to incongruence or distort your interpretation of the phenomenon.
Development of self concept.
Kids want 'positive regard' from parents. Kids need to determine their "conditions of worth" which are brought into self concept.The secret to success is to minimize your kids conditions of worth. Give them "unconditional positive regard". This does not mean you need to accept all behaviours.
Genuiness: tell the child when they are bad.
empathic understanding: parent must understand child's point of view.
The above three points are the basis for Rogers theory.
Maslow
Heiarchy of needs: There are two categories of needs a) basic needs (physiological and safety) and b) higher order needs (Belongingness and love, esteem, and self actualization. One criticism of MHN is that only 1% of the population meets self actualization needs.
Assessment: Interview people. Rogers: Q-Sort (given cards such as "I act kindly to strangers" and sort into different piles from -strongly like me- to -strongly unlike me- both as your percieved self and your ideal self.)
Social Cognitive Approach
Overview: It's a blending of behavioural approach and cognitive approach.
Bandura (living legend in psychology). He said that personality is a function of behaviour, environment, and "person factors (eg cognitive). There's the concept of "reciprocal determinism"
Personal factors: Cognitive (belifs, attitudes, and expectations).
Example of reciprocal determinism. If you have high expectations of accademic success (person factor), this will compell you to study hard (behaviour factor), which will lead to you getting good grads (environment factor) which reinforces your high expectations of success.
The above cycle suggests 'modellign theory': behave like a successful person and you will become a successful person.
More Person factors:
Locus of control: the belief in how much control you exercise in your life. internal LOC vs external LOC. People with internal LOC are better able to deal with stress. Internal LOC is associated with higher levels of achievement. External LOC is associated with higher incidence of depression.
Learned helplessness: Selyman did an experiment with a dog and an electrified floor.
Attributional style (aka explanatory style).Optimistic vs Pessimistic. optimists are associated with higher grades (when corrected for past grades) also optimisits associated with lower levels of depression and higher physical health after middle age but not before.
