Free Will, Self-actualisation & Maslow's Hierarchy

What is the humanistic approach?

An approach to understanding behaviour that emerged in the 1950s, largely as a result of the work of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. It emphasises the importance of subjective experience and each person’s capacity for self-determination.

• It became the ‘third force’ in psychology - alongside behaviourist and psychodynamic approaches

What did the humanistic approach concern itself with?

Explanations of ‘healthy growth’ in individuals.

• As opposed to the psychodynamic approach, which dealt with the ‘sick half’ of psychology

How does the humanistic approach differ from most other approaches in psychology?

It focuses on:

• Conscious experience rather than on behaviour

• Personal responsibility (belief that individuals are actively responsible for their own behaviour, thoughts, and personal growth)

• Free will rather than on determinism

• Discussion of experience (therapy; encouraging individuals to talk openly about their experiences, thoughts etc.) rather that the use of experimental method (being analysed, diagnosed, or conditioned)

What are the key assumptions of the humanistic approach?

• Each individual is unique

• Humans have free will

• Science (scientific methodology) shouldn’t be used to explain behaviour

• Humans should be viewed holistically and not reduced to their parts

• Psychology should study the individual case (idiographic) rather than the average performance of groups (nomothetic)

• People are motivated to self-actualise - people are good and have an innate need to make themselves (reaching full potential) and the world better

• No Animal studies - doesn’t tell us anything about the unique properties of humans

What is free will?

The notion that humans can make choices over their behaviour and aren’t determined by biological or external forces.

How is the belief of free-will in the humanistic approach a direct opposition to the behaviourist and biological approaches?

Because they see behaviour as a response to either internal biological processes or to external conditioning by the environment.

What is self-actualisation?

The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one’s potential - becoming what you are capable of.

What is the person-centred approach?

As active agents we are all unique, thus psychology should concern itself with the study of subjective experience rather than general laws.

• Which is why humanistic reject more scientific models that attempt to establish general principles of behaviour.

Who is Maslow and what did he believe?

One of the founders of the humanistic movement in psychology. One of his main interests was in what motivates people. He created a hierarchy of needs to show what motivates our behaviour.

• In order to achieve our primary goal of self-actualisation, a number of other deficiency needs must be first met

What is Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’?

A five-levelled hierarchical sequence.

• The first 3 levels are known as deficiency needs (D-needs)

• The top level is known as growth or being needs (B-needs)

• In order to self-actualise you must reach and be secure at each of the lower stages

• You don’t have to reach self-actualisation to be happy, but you must be moving towards it to be healthy

What are the five stages of Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’?

1. Self Actualisation (self-fulfilment need) - achieving one’s full potential, including creative activities

2. Esteem Needs (psychological need) - positive self-image, achievement, mastery of a skill, reputation, prestige and feeling of accomplishment

3. Belongingness and Love Needs (psychological need) - supportive network, e.g. intimate relationships, friends

4. Safety Needs (basic need) - security, protection, a degree of predictability, freedom from persecution, e.g. security, safety

5. Physiological needs (basic need) - all life-supporting, essential elements, e.g. food, water, warmth, rest

How does the psychodynamic reject attempts to break up behaviour and experiences into smaller components (reductionism)?

• Other approaches are reductionists, explaining behaviour through simple processes

• The humanistic approach is more holistic, arguing that behaviour can only be understood by considering the whole person and their subjective experience, giving it greater validity by considering meaningful human behaviour within its real-world context

How is the psychodynamic approach optimistic (strength)?

• Brings the person back into psychology and promotes positive image of the human condition

• Freud saw humans as slaves to their past and claimed all of us existed somewhere between common unhappiness and absolute despair

• Humanistic psychologists see all people as basically good, free to work towards the achievement of their potential, and in control of their lives

• Offers a refreshing and optimistic alternative to other approaches

What are the limitations of the humanistic approach?

May be culturally biased

• Many key ideas of the humanistic approach e.g. individual freedom, autonomy and personal growth, would be much more associated with individualist cultures such as the USA

• Countries with more collectivist tendencies emphasise the needs of the group and interdependence

• In such countries, the ideals of humanistic psychology may not be as important as in others (e.g. self-actualisation)

• It’s possible that this approach doesn’t apply universally and is a product of the cultural context within which it was developed

How have some writers accounted for cultural differences in their work of the humanistic approach?

For example, in a later development to his theory, Maslow did acknowledge that, for some people, needs may appear in a different order or may even be absent altogether. Therefore, indicating that some aspects of humanistic psychology could be applied to a variety of cultures.