Final answer:
The humanistic personality theorist lecturing at the school will advocate the concept of self-actualization, highlighting the humanistic psychology perspective. This theory focuses on the growth potential and innate goodness of individuals, contrasting with psychoanalytic and behaviorist views.
Step-by-step explanation:
The school lecture by a humanistic personality theorist is likely to emphasize the idea that humans are striving toward self-actualization. This concept, central to humanistic psychology, refers to the achievement of our fullest potential. Unlike Freud's psychoanalysis, which emphasizes the libido, or behaviorism, which sees humans as reactive to their environment, humanism believes in the inherent goodness and growth potential of individuals.
Abraham Maslow, a pioneer of this theory, found that healthy, creative, and productive people, such as Einstein and Roosevelt, exhibited qualities such as openness, compassion, and self-acceptance. These individuals exemplify the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which is self-actualization. Carl Rogers, another significant humanistic theorist, highlighted the importance of self-concept, describing it as the thoughts and feelings one has about oneself and emphasizing congruence between the real self and the ideal self, being nurtured by unconditional positive regard.
In the context of humanistic psychology, your school's guest speaker is expected to discuss how humans inherently strive to realize their personal growth and fulfillment, stressing free will, self-determination, and positive human potential.