Austin Fontaine 
Megan Novelli In many ways humanistic psychology appeals to me, but none more so than the interest shown by Maslow for “the other half.” I just find that whole idea so brilliant and even though I may never have thought of it, it is very much so in line with the way I feel. I’m a sucker for success stories, I yearn to be a success story. Even if people fail, watching people valiantly rail against seemingly insurmountable odds will get me every single time. I can’t help it. Thus, finding out everything we can about those who are healthy, stable people and examples to the world around them is an appealing idea to me in every way.
I also think it is interesting that we have such a propensity to focus on the negative. Perhaps it is out of fear. I remember reading Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen and one of the most vivid parts of the book to me is when postulates that the first thing people think about in response to a person having psychological issues is the likelihood of something similar happen to them. Perhaps that is a satisfactory explanation, we gawk at those who have messed up to make us feel like we could never end up that way. Maybe we’d all be more likely to be success stories if we spent that energy watching those who did it right.
Ian Robertson
11:05 pm, 11.18.10
I share your interest in Maslow and his focus on the psychology of those who are not actually “sick.” It seems like such a simple idea, to focus on the positive in a profession that primarily focuses only on psychological problems (clinical psychology is the largest subfield). His ideas and theories have so many uses and are very pragmatic. And I agree that perhaps we as a society do focus too much on the negative, which is why humanistic psychology is still popular. It offers an optimistic view of man in a world that so often negative in the way it views itself. And while humanism has perhaps too optimistic of an outlook, it acts as a good counterbalance to the rest of psychology’s pessimism.
Morgan Myer
4:26 pm, 11.21.10
I have always wanted to do research on positive psychology- maybe look at what people who are really enjoying life are doing right. Because I feel like although research on how to treat schizophrenia is important, it does not apply to the majority of people by any means. So it would be great to have psychology help the everyday man.
Jason Herrington
6:31 pm, 11.21.10
I agree with you that we tend to focus on the negative too much. I think that humanistic psychology brings some good things to the table, just not everything that I think is beneficial. I lean more towards a behaviorist type of view but then one must be careful to not blame everything on outside individuals and nothing on the patient. I think that it boils down to the idea that each school has something that cab be brought to the table just as every school brings about problems. I also think that different schools are helpful for different patients.
Michelle Nix
8:15 pm, 11.21.10
There are so many situations in which someone wills themselves out of a terrible situation. They give themselves the drive and the positive attitude they need to improve their lives in one way or the other. I agree that as a society, we often focus on the negative. I think that is why “success stories” are such a big deal. Society feeds us the negative side, so when a pro-athlete discusses growing up in poverty we stand up and cheer. We love seeing stories of people rising to the top from the pit they were thrown into. If we had more of an optimistic view like that of positive psychology, maybe we would see even more “success stories.”
Jordan Johnson
6:03 am, 11.22.10
I agree as well. I believe positive psychology is the key to success in developing a full and happy personality. I also agree that the cons should be looked at in any given situation. The positive should definitely be the main focus but ignorance is never the key as im sure you agree. Along with positive psychology i think it is equally important to get patients to live in the now, not the past or the future. Again those thing should be thought about every once in a while but the focus should be on the present. I believe third force psychology goes hand and hand with the use living in the now and with these ideas working together it would be a success story.