Humanistic Core Content

Who founded the humanistic approach

Maslow’s theory

Focuses of Humanistic Approach

Conscious experience rather than behaviour

Personal responsibility and free will rather than on determinism

Discussion of experience rather than on use of the experimental method

What theory’s does it reject and why

Behaviourist and psychodynamic because they are too dehumanising and deterministic

Assumptions of the Humanistic Approach

Humanistic theories emphasise that people have full conscious control over their own destiny eg… free will

Humans have an innate drive to achieve their max potential known as self actualisation

What is the main focus called

Focus on the self

Two basic needs

Feeling of self worth

Positive regard for other people

When do feelings of self worth develop

Childhood

How does self worth form

From interactions with parents and friends

State of congruence

When theres a similarity between a person’s ideal self and how they can perceive themselves to be in real life

What happens if our self concept and ideal self are close to eachother

Greater feelings of self worth and behaviour

Unconditional positive regard

Love and acceptance are given unconditionally and you are accepted for who you are

Conditional positive regard

Where someone is accepted only if they do what others want them to do

What does conditional positive regard lead to

Conditions of worth

Conditions of worth

Conditions which they believe must be in place for them to be accepted by others and see themselves positively

What needs to happen for personal growth to be achieved

An individuals concept of self needs to be equivalent or have congruence with their ideal self

What was Maslow interested in

What motivates people

Purpose of the hierarchy of needs

Emphasised the importance of personal growth and fulfilment and opened a door for later movements in psychology

What is represented at the bottom of the hierarchy of needs

Basic needs

What is represented at the top of the hierarchy

Advanced needs

Conditions of the hierarchy of needs

• each level must be fulfilled before you can move up to the next

• More basic the need, more powerfully it is experienced and the more difficult to ignore