Theoretical Views of Human
Nature and Causes ofAnxiety from Ethno-cultural
Perspective
Abdulrashid Garba, PhD,CCN, LPCN, FCASSON

Professor of Educational Guidance and Counselling,
Department of Education,
Bayero University, Kano – NIGERIA.
A Visiting Professor,
Center for the Study of International Cooperation inEducation (CICE),
Hiroshima University

Introduction• Humans are complex beings– Dynamic and unpredictable• To understand and help man:

– Predictions, hypotheses, suppositions, etc. are important• Empirical verification– Leads to theoretical formulations• Successful counselling practices are essentially– Theory based• A counsellor must take a theoretical stance– For objective decision-making on:•• predictions on clients’ behaviour,• how to treat them, and• how to respond on a moment-by-moment

Theory as conceptual framework• Theory in counselling is:– a road map– provides concepts about -• human development processes and• the therapeutic process• All counselling theories have five main components
1. Views of man– Notions, suppositions and beliefs on human nature

2. Causes of anxiety– The root cause of concern, problem or difficulty

3. Counselling process– Responsibilities of the counsellor/client

4. Expected outcome(s)– Likely behaviour change

5. Evaluation process– How to assess progress– Possible follow-ups

Theory as Value System• They involve a value system– A code or standard• With some persistence• And organization of a system of action• Values are central concepts in theories– Influence on the selection from available• Modes, means, systems•

Counsellor essentially deals with value problems– The closeness of the counsellor/client similarities thebetter

Multicultural Vs. Cross-cultural Approaches• Multicultural Counseling (MCC) recognizes that– theories were empirically validated on the theorists’value system•••••

RaceEthnicity
Social class
Gender, etc. andtherefore may not work well with people from other diverse groups• MCC holds that

– All helping methods (theories) exist within a culturalcontext.

• MCC presumably recognizes•.

– the differences among and within clients.
– how cultural factors affect one’s worldview.

Multicultural Vs. Cross-cultural• Cross-cultural counseling (CCC) recognizes– that culture impacts worldview, values, beliefs,behaviors, customs, etc.,• CCC occurs with differences in cultural heritageof the counselor and the client differ• Differences must be attended to if counseling isto be effective• BUT how?

Six Stages
In all counselling MCC, CCC or the so-called Value-freeCounsellingStage One:
Stage Two:
Stage Three:Stage Four:Stage Five:
Stage Six:

Relationship building
Assessment and diagnosis
Formulation of counseling goals
Intervention and problem solving
Termination and Follow Up
Research and/or evaluation

Schools of Therapeutic Approaches• Theoretical approach presents propositions– On the practice of counselling and therapy• A school of counselling is a grouping of different theoreticalapproaches– With similarities to one another in terms of characteristics• Between schools:– There are differences that distinguish them, and– are similarities among them

Schools of Therapeutic Approaches
Psychodynamic School: Proponents include:
Psychoanalysis of Sigmund FreudAnalytical Therapy of Carl Jung
Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler• Emphasis on– unconscious influences– Infantile impulses• Therapy aims to increase clients’ abilities to exercise greater
conscious control over their lives.
• Works with/through– Hypnosis– Analysis or interpretation of dreams– Transference, etc.

• ...

Schools of Therapeutic Approaches
The Humanistic School: Proponents include:
Person-centered Therapy of Carl Rogers
Gestalt Therapy of Fritz Perls• Based on a system of values and beliefs– Empathy, mutual respect, non-possessive warmth• Emphasizes on– qualities of humankind and– people’s abilities to develop their human potential– Clients’ abilities to experience their feelings– Self-actualization

Schools of Therapeutic Approaches
Cognitive Behavior School: Proponents include:
Cognitive therapy of Aaron Beck
Rational Emotive Therapy of Albert Ellis
Reality Therapy of William Glasser• Behaviour therapy focuses mainly on changing behaviour• Cognitive behaviour school broadens it to include how• Cognitive behaviour approach is problem specific– assesses clients and then– intervenes to help them to change ways that sustain their problems• Emphasizes on educating clients• On the realities of their thoughts

Schools of Therapeutic Approaches
Postmodern School: Proponents include:
Solution-focused Behaviour Therapy of Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg
• The postmodern therapist adopts a social constructionist viewpoint– that existence is contingent upon how people process and construct
information• People’s experience of emotions depends on the names that they give tothem• People’s beliefs about their relationships affect how they interpret thereactions of others and how they respond to them
• It does not focus on the past, but instead,– focuses on the present and future.
• The therapist/counselor uses respectful curiosity– to invite the client to envision their preferred future and– then therapist and client start attending to any moves towards it• SFBT believes that change is constant– helps clients to construct vision of a preferred futureViews of Human Nature
and Causes of Anxiety••••

Who or what is a human being?
view of human nature of spiritual tradition
current scientific view is rather pale
The twofold view
– body and a non-bodily factor (the soul, spirit)• The threefold view
– Body, soul, spirit• The fourfold view– sensation, feeling, thinking and intuition– body-mind-soul-spiritPsychodynamic School
Psychodynamic School
Theorist

Views of Human Nature

Causes of Anxiety

SigmundFreud Humans are completely controlled  Failure of the integratingby instincts
componentsof Man is not a master of his destiny
personality
 Man is driven by irrational forces,unconscious motives, biologicaldrives

Alfred Adler

 Human is inferior, helpless, and  Attempt to overcome
dependent
physical weakness
 Birth order determines personality  Striving for perfection
characteristics

Humanistic School
Humanistic School
Theorist
CarlRogers

Fritz Perls

Views of Human Nature
Causes of Anxiety
 Man is both self-preserving and  Denialsocial Incongruence Not basically sinful Essentially positive Human being work for wholeness Losing contact withtheand completeness in life.
 Man is composite of interrelated
environment/resour
ce in itparts
 Conflict between the topdog (what one thinks one
should do) and theunderdog (what onewants to do).

Cognitive Behavioural School

Cognitive Behavioural School
Theorist
Albert Ellis

Views of Human Nature
Causes of Anxiety
 People are both rational and  Irrational thinking andirrational, sensible and crazybeliefs
 Humans are not controlled by  Cognitive distortions
instincts – by reasoningAaron Beck  Man’s internal communication is accessible to introspection
 Beliefs have highly personal meaning 

negative or automatic
thoughts
Poorr/ship
betweenthoughts and emotions

Limitations of Counselling Theories• All counselling theories carry the psychological equivalent ofhealth warnings.
• They can be used for ill as well as for good
• The following are some potential disadvantages of theories– Restriction of focus Vs. Integration– Therapist rigidity Vs. Client’s orientation– Depowering clients Vs. Human freedom– Supporting the status quo Vs. Being a change agent

The Message• Counsellors have the main challenge of– Being conversant with the people and environment– Knowledgeable about variety of theoretical orientations– Tremendous social skills• Success is contingent upon:– Recognition of dignity and worth of the human person– Understanding of clients socio-cultural milieu and belief systems– Less rigid more professional flexibility• Is there any single theory that can provide that?
• How can we be socially and culturally sensitive counsellors?

Eclecticism• It is a synthesis and combination of so many theoreticalstances• Narrow Meaning:– Selection between directive and non-directive approaches– represents a middle status between the two extremes• Wider Meaning:– Selecting what is applicable to the client from a wide range oftheories, methods and practices.

• Justification is based on the very recent theory– There is no proof that any one approach works better thanothers• The counsellor must be equally familiar with many theories• He is able to pick and choose at whim

Creating One’s Own Theoretical Approach• Creating one’s own counselling theory is both a– subjective process of making sense of the present challenge– An objective way of helping• How can you evolve a personal theory?
• How can you make yourself a better theorist?

Thank you for Listening