Final answer:
Personality, according to the humanistic perspective, is shaped by each individual's choices and the pursuit of personal growth, emphasizing free will and self-determination.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the humanistic perspective, personality reflects an individual's choices and strivings for personal growth. Humanistic psychologists like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers focused on healthy individuals' growth potential, arguing that everyone strives to become self-actualized. They proposed that individuals have an inherent desire to be the best person they can be, emphasizing free will and self-determination.
This perspective serves as a reaction to the determinism of psychoanalysis and the perceived reductionism of behaviorism, asserting that previous perspectives did not fully capture the depth and possibilities of human experience. The humanistic approach is inherent to theories such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Rogers's concepts of the self, which highlight the importance of fulfilling innate needs and achieving one's fullest potential - self-actualization.