Humanistic Approach

Key assumptions of humanistic approach?

-Advocates free will

-All individuals are unique and can reach self-actualisation

-Behaviour should be explained holistically (using many different approaches)

-Scientific models and general laws of human behaviour rejected

-Person-centred approach

What is Maslow's Hierarchy of needs?

Physiological needs —> Safety and security—> Love and belonging —> Esteem —> Self-actualisation

What are examples of physiological needs?

breathing, food, sleep, homeostasis

What are examples of safety and security?

Security of: body, employment, resources, morality, family, health

What are examples of love and belonging?

friendship, intimacy, family, sense of connection

What are examples of esteem?

self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others

What are examples of self-actualisation?

morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts

What are deficiency needs?

physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem

What is the growth need?

self-actualisation

Acronym for Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Pretty Seagulls Love Eating Seeds

Who was Carl Rogers?

Founder of humanistic approach to psychology

Ideal self definition

The person you want to be

Actual self definition

The person you are

Congruence definition

When self concept and ideal self are matching

Aim of Rogerian therapy?

To help client achieve congruence

Conditions of worth (CoW) definition

Requirements that are placed on us- parents place limits/boundaries on love of child (opposite of unconditional love)

Counselling psychology definition

Rogers' client-centred therapy is an important form of modern-day psychotherapy, leading to the general approach of counselling which is widely used today

If a client is incongruent...

... the self-image is different to ideal self, with only a little overlap. Self-actualisation will be difficult

If a client is congruent...

... the self-image is similar to ideal self, with more overlap. This person can achieve self-actualisation

Strengths of humanistic approach?

-Real world application (helps people solve their own problems in constructive ways)

-Research supports it (teens who felt they had to act a certain way to gain approval were more likely to develop depression)

-Not reductionist (views a person as a whole rather than breaking them down. Believes subjective experiences shape people)

Weaknesses of humanistic approach?

-Cultural bias of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (ideas of self-actualisation and individual freedom= more readily associated with Western cultures than collectivist cultures like India or China)

-Unscientific and difficult to test (no evidence, makes evaluation very difficult)

Key features of Rogerian therapy?

-Therapist must have genuinity, transparency and authenticity

-Non-judgemental caring

-Genuine desire to empathetically understand client's experience, and communicate with them

-Client led

-Active listening

Problems with Rogerian therapy?

-Cannot help everyone

-Requires life experience for true empathy

-Narcissistic people will not benefit

-Not morally right ti unconditionally love some people

-Requires client co-operation