Humanism - Evaluation

2 strengths of humanism

Holistic

Portrays postive image of human condition

Strength of humanism - Holistic

P: Humanism aims to be holistic

E: Argues subjective experience can only be understood by considering whole person

C: Approach has more validity coz considers behaviour in context

Strength of humanism - Portrays a positive image of human condition

P: Portrays a positive image of the human condition

E: Humanism psychologists praised for promoting positive image of human condition - free will + control of own lives

C: Humanism offers an optimistic approach to behaviour opposed to psychodynamic which suggests humans as slaves to their pasts

2 limitations of humanism

Western cultural bias

Untestable concepts

Limitation of humanism - Western cultural bias

P: Humanism has a western cultural bias

E: Many ideas of concept such as freedom and personal growth only work in individualistic cultures like western. collectivist cultures wouldn't emphasise same characteristics

C: Humanism can't be applied to other cultures

What type of culture is western?

Individualistic

What type of culture can't humanism be applied to?

Collectivist cultures

Limitation of humanism - Untestable concepts

P: Untestable concepts

E: Ideas like self-actualisation and congruence are vague and abstract

C: Humanism lacks empirical evidence

Why doesn't humanism have empirical evidence?

Has vague untestable concepts

What type of evidence doesn't humanism have to back it up?

Empirical