What is the Humanistic perspective in simple terms?
Humanistic psychologists believe that an individuals behavior is connected to his inner feelings and self-image. The humanistic perspective centers on the view that each person is unique and individual and has the free will to change at any time in his or her lives. The humanistic perspective suggests that we are each responsible for our own happiness and well-being as humans. We have the innate (i.e. inborn) capacity for self-actualization which is our unique desire to achieve our highest potential as people. Cognitive Psychology revolves around the notion that if we want to know what makes people tick then the way to do it is to figure out what processes are actually going on in their minds. The cognitive perspective is concerned with “mental” functions such as memory, perception, attention etc. For example, both human brains and computers process information, store data and have input an output procedures. This had led cognitive psychologists to explain that memory comprises of three stages: encoding (where information is received and attended to), storage (where the information is retained) and retrieval (where the information is recalled). It is an extremely scientific approach and typically uses lab experiments to study human behavior. Behaviorism is different from most other approaches because they view people (and animals) as controlled by their environment and specifically that we are the result of what we have learned from our environment. Behaviorism is concerned with how environmental factors (called stimuli) affect observable behavior (called the response). The behaviorist approach proposes two main processes whereby people learn from their environment: namely classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Classical conditioning involves learning by association, and operant conditioning involves learning from the consequences of behavior.
What do those who use the cognitive perspective mean that "the thought comes before the feeling"? How does it differ from the psychodynamic perspective?
Something triggers the feeling and this must be brain activity which can be seen as thought although I can generate a feeling of left brain inner-happiness without any conscious thought juts by shifting left in my head, any thought is then logical/positive I do this using EGMi which is very advanced CBT.If we learn to think positive psychodynamics then we are increasing left brain use and this generates positive feeling more inner-happiness the further left we shift, inner-happiness is really my only emotion now I have very few right brain anxiety based emotions a life of semi-bliss.
Are emotions like anger, happiness and sadness a choice? One often hear about controlling anger as though it was a choice. Are all emotions a choice? Can one choose to be happy instead of sad?
You know something, I really have a love-hate relationship with this idea where you choose your emotions.Happiness a choice.Sadness is a choice.Anger is a choice.I get it you know? Your well-being is your responsibility. Your emotions are entirely up to you to how you want to use them. You can’t blame anyone else.I mean, it’s probably right since all the life coaches, gurus, experts, entrepreneurs, hippies and all the other people who seem to love life for no apparent reason say so, right?But yo… come on man…Can we just fuck all of that for a second?Happiness may be our choice, but it certainly wasn’t the kid’s fault who was born of shitty parents who decided to abuse him when young.Sadness may be our choice, but sometimes, we can’t control it! Give us a damn break. Somebody just died!Anger may be my choice, but I didn’t do a damn fucking thing to deserve to be disrespected by assholes all around. I’d like an apology. Is that unreasonable?Know what I mean?At this point, I know all y’all life coaches, gurus, experts, entrepreneurs, hippies and all the other people who seem to love life for no apparent reason are gonna be like, “Oh no no, you just can’t control the world. Happiness is a choice. You have to…”Whatever, just, whatever, okay?So are emotions really a choice?Yes, and no.It’s my choice for I know I am fully in charge and hence have the power of my own life.And no, it’s also not my choice. Because shit happens.It’s as simple as that.Give me a damn break, okay?Just once, I’d like to love myself enough such that I am going to blame the fuck out of the idiots around me instead of myself.Let them learn and be punished for once.Then go about your day and do whatever it is you want.Cause fuck it, it’s not your fault sometimes.If you want a real take on happiness and not something so woo-woo, check out my free book: 12 Things Happy People Don’t Give a Fuck About!
Can a person feel happy and sad at the same time, or are these feelings mutually exclusive?
Earlier, when I used to write a funny answer, the upvotes to views ratio used to be 1:10 (10%) or more.Now, when I write any funny answer, the ratio reaches very low.I am happy because Quorans have now understood that Humor isn't as appealing as Knowledge. Knowledgeable answers should get the deserved upvotes, which is more than 10%. Humorous answers are destroying the purity of Quora. Also, many of those users, who had followed me for my humourous answers have either unfollowed or stopped acknowledging my answers.I am sad because, Boriya bistar baandne ka time aa gaya. (It's time to leave)Just then,“Stop this bullshit,” someone says from behind.Me: Who the hell are you?“Reality”Me: What?Reality: You're saying all this to cover up the fall in your humor and creative content. Right?Me: *embarrassed* Someone take the mic from this guy.Reality: .. Earlier when you used to write good content, it got the deserved upvotes ratio. Accept your mistakes, and start giving the content your followers expect from you..Me: *Takes out gun* Stop this lecture or I'll shoot!Reality: And Humourous answers are destroying the purity of Quora? Your whole Quora career is standing on this Humor thing and you only, are using such sentences? Shame on you!Humour: Et tu, Namit? (Namit, even you?)Me: *angrily* Enough! Hindu or Muslim?Reality: Hindu! Why do you ask?*Shoots Reality**Reality dies**Cremates the dead body and leaves for Haridwar**Immerse ashes in the Ganga**Reaches back home**Reality is standing in front of me”Me: …….Reality: You can't get away from the reality!
Do you think being aware of cognitive biases and looking for how confirmation biases and conservatism biases have played a role in ones life and decisions make it more difficult to be happy?
Only if the happiness you are experiencing is primarily based on your biases. On the other hand if your actions that lead to unhappiness as well as patterns of thought that make you miserable is based on a faulty understanding of your reality, then an enquiry into the biases might help you become happier.