the humanistic approach

what does the humanistic approach focus on?

conscious experience, personal responsibility & free will

who developed the humanistic approach and when?

carl rogers & abraham maslow in the 50s

what do humanistic psychologists believe about free will?

people are able to make significant personal choices and have full conscious control of their own destiny

what is maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

the motivational theory often presented as a pyramid with the most basic needs at the bottom and the higher needs at the top

what is the order of the hierarchy of needs?

• self-actualisation

• esteem

• love/belonging

• safety

• physiological

what is self-actualisation according to maslow?

when individuals are creative, tolerant with an accurate perception of the world around them once all other needs have been met

what are peak experiences?

moments of extreme inspiration and ecstasy during which people can leave behind all doubts, fears an inhibitions

what is the self?

our personal identity, how we perceive ourselves

what two basic needs does rogers say people have?

• positive regard from others

• feeling of self-worth

what is congruence?

a state that exists when there is similarity between a person’s ideal self & self-image

how does congruence affect self-worth?

more congruence = higher self-worth

what are conditions of worth?

conditions imposed on an individual’s behaviour & development that are considered necessary to earn positive regard from significant others

how do humanistic therapists work?

they act as ‘guides’ t help people understand themselves and enable their potential for self-actualisation, providing unconditional positive regard

what are the strengths of the humanistic approach?

• maslow’s hierarchy is linked to economic development - countries in early economic development only meet lower needs

• research support for conditions of worth - teenagers have worse self-worth who feel they need to fulfil parents conditions of worth (Harter)

what are the limitations of the humanistic approach?

• humanistic research methods are unscientific - hard to evaluate

• unrealistic - people are not inherently good & goal orientated

• maslow later acknowledged the hierarchy of needs may be absent or in a different order in different cultures