Is psychodiagnostic assessment humanistic?

The views of psychologists associated with the humanistic orientation in regard to psychodiagnostic assessment was examined. For the most part these theorists describe assessment as nonhumanistic. Their concerns about assessment were divided into five categories: that assessment is reductionistic; it is artificial; it does not pay attention to the examiner-patient relatinship; it judges people; it is overly intellectual. These concerns were elaborated and then responded to from a pro-assessment stance. Although these criticisms could be valid, their validity was said to reflect poor diagnostic practice rather than an inherent weakness in the assessment enterprise. As long as the examiner attempts actively to engage the patient in the assessment process and is aware of the interpersonal context of the test responses and behavior, then psychodiagnostic assessment is consistent with a humanistic orientation.