Final answer:
The basic assumption of humanistic therapies is that individuals possess the innate capacity for personal growth and self-actualization. This approach was shaped by figures like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, who believed in the human potential for fulfillment and the importance of self-determination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic assumption of humanistic therapies is that individuals have the capacity for personal growth and self-actualization. This contrasts with the perspectives that human behavior is primarily determined by unconscious conflicts or by environmental reinforcements. Humanistic psychology, developed as a "third force" in the field, emphasizes the intrinsic potential for growth and fulfillment within every person.
Pioneers like Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers were instrumental in shaping this approach. Maslow's hierarchy of needs underscores the importance of personal growth leading up to self-actualization, which forms the apex of human needs. Meanwhile, Rogers' client-centered therapy highlights the need for unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathy to facilitate an individual's self-growth. Humanistic therapies are grounded in the belief in human potential and self-determination.