The humanistic approach in psychology considers that individuals form their personality independently through their actions, which they perform using the freedom of choice. Because all people are unique, this approach assumes that everyone must follow their own path to self-development (Psychology Explained, 2016). Meanwhile, the sociocultural approach focuses on the person’s ethnicity, culture, and gender as significant factors in personality formation. The importance of a person’s interaction with external groups and their influence on the personality is highlighted.
The main contrast between these two perspectives is the central role of personality formation. Whereas the humanist perspective focuses on the individual himself, the sociocultural perspective focuses on a set of particular conditions or variables rather than the individual himself (King, 2022). In the example given in this assignment, both perspectives will be concerned in order to find the best solution to the problem.
With the humanistic approach, the psychologist should work with the child on a trusting basis. A friendly therapeutic relationship and the professional’s creation of a safe environment are crucial to obtaining a positive result from the psychologist’s work. The reason of the situation may be the dependence on other people’s opinions, which formed the child’s dislike of himself (King, 2022). John needs to calm down and, with the help of the counselor, understand that drinking alcohol and misbehaving in school do not make him masculine and have nothing to do with masculinity at all.
From a sociocultural perspective in psychology, the lack of external influence and the specificity of ethnicity can cause the child’s behavior. Left to himself, with his mother constantly at work and his father absent, John became hardened and self-offended. In the sociocultural approach, the psychologist has to work with him as a teacher, a man, and an older brother. Therefore, it is desirable to involve a male specialist of the same ethnicity when choosing this approach. If the child misinterprets the concept of masculinity, it is necessary to demonstrate and explain it by being an example.
References
King, L. A. (2022). Experience psychology (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Psychology Explained. (2016). Psychology’s modern perspectives[Video]. Yutube. Web.