topic 6 - the humanistic approach

assumptions of the humanistic approach ( free will , SA , maslow’s HON )

• Free will:

• we have free will meaning that we are in control of our own behaviour

• there are constraints on free will - there social rules , laws and morals that restrict whether we actually act upon our free will

• free will cannot be objectively measured - not an issue for humanistic psych

• believe in subjectivity - even a feeling of choice is enough evidence

• everyone is unique

• we are all different and should be treated as such

• no point in trying to generalise to groups as there are may differences within the groups

• people should be viewed holistically

• no point in looking at one aspect on an individual - if one part considered than much of what could be affecting them might be missed - example ( if someone is stressed about work life - focused on in therapy - problems in their home life could be overlooked)

• don’t believe in assessing childhood in therapy - think that the whole life process should be considered ( different to psychodynamic approach)

• method of investigation

• doesn’t describe itself as scientific

• argue that scientific methods are too objective and that humans are subjective in the way they think and behave

• methods applied by humanistic approach - unscientific ( interviews )

self actualisation

• everyone has an innate drive to achieve their full potential - known as self actualisation

• peak state of existence that any individual can attain

• roger and Maslow - individuals self actualise in their own way and that it is unique to them

• following theories they suggest to achieve self actualisation - hierarchy of needs , the self and congruence

• when self actualisation is achieved it can be described as the ultimate feeling of well being and satisfaction - although we all have the drive we do not all achieve it

maslow’s hierarchy of needs

• self actualisation can achieved in stages based on the needs that humans have

• humans are motivated by needs beyond those of basic biological survival

• self actualisation - morality , creativity , acceptance , meaning and inner potential , experience and purpose

• self esteem - confidence , achievement , respect of others , needs to be a unique individual

• love and belonging - friendship , family , intimacy , sense of connection

• safety and security - health , employment , property , family , social stability

• physiological needs - breathing , food , water , shelter , clothing , sleep

• this order is fixed and if the first need is not met then all of the other needs cannot be fulfilled

• drive to achieve full potential means we are all working through these needs in attempt to self actualise

• state of SA is not permanent and if all the five needs do not remain in place an individual can move out of the state

Evaluations for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

• ❌ Weakness

• Point:
  One weakness of Maslow’s hierarchy is that it assumes needs must be satisfied in a strict, fixed order.

  Evidence/Example:
  For instance, some students are able to achieve high academic success despite lacking emotional security or a stable home environment.

  Explain:
  This suggests that motivation and achievement can still occur even when lower-level needs, such as safety and belonging, are not fully met. Therefore, the hierarchy does not always reflect real-life learning experiences.

  Link:
  As a result, the validity of Maslow’s hierarchy is questioned, and its usefulness in understanding motivation in educational settings is limited

❌ Weakness (PEEL):
Point: Another weakness of Maslow’s hierarchy is that it is culturally biased, as it reflects Western, individualistic values.
Evidence/Example: The idea of self-actualisation focuses on personal growth and individual achievement, which is not a priority in collectivist cultures where community and family needs are seen as more important.
Explain: This means the theory does not apply equally across different cultural backgrounds, limiting its relevance and fairness in diverse educational settings.
Link: As a result, the hierarchy may lead to misunderstandings or misjudging students’ needs, reducing its overall usefulness in explaining motivation globally.

✔ Strength (PEEL):
Point: A strength of Maslow’s hierarchy is its practical applications, particularly in education.
Evidence/Example: For example, schools often provide breakfast clubs, counselling, and a safe environment to meet students’ basic and emotional needs before focusing on academic achievement.
Explain: By addressing these foundational needs first, educators can create a supportive environment that allows students to focus better and reach their full potential.
Link: This shows that, despite some limitations, Maslow’s theory is a valuable tool in shaping inclusive and student-centred teaching.

The self congruence and the role of conditions of worth

• The self - rogers

• this can be described as how you perceive yourself as a person

• ideal self - the self you wish to be who you are aiming towards becoming - i wish i was able to…

• actual self - person you actually are - difficult self to demonstrate as the subjective experience that is so important in humanistic psychology means that everyone will report this differently - This is the way a person perceives themselves in the present moment — “who I think I am right now.”

• perceived self - the self concept - the self you ‘ feel ‘ or believe you are similar to self esteem and can distort how capable someone feels they are meaning people have a distorted view of themselves

• to reach self actualisation a person must be fully functioning , this means they have the opportunity to strive for self actualisation and are doing so , this means that any environmental or internal barriers overcome.

A sense of wellbeing - congruence

• definition - a healthy sense of wellbeing is established if an individual maintains a reasonable consistency between ideal self and actual behaviour - known as congruence

• the greater the gap between the ideal self and the actual self the greater the incongruence

• incongruence can lead to low self worth and maladjustment

• defence mechanisms (distortion , denial , blocking ) can stop the self from growing and changing and widen the gulf between our ideal self and true self

unconditional positive regard and conditions of worth

• rogers believed that an important part of achieving congruence is unconditional positive reward

• this means that someone has to be loved for who they are by someone else

• this can be partners , other family members , therapist

conditions of worth

• requirements an individual believes that they must have to be loved - these can be real or perceived

• this would create conditional positive reward

• example - child who is constantly told by their parents to get good grades may strive to this and feel unloved if they don’t get them

The influence of the humanistic approach on counselling psychology

• therapy works by identifying the mismatch between the perceived self and the ideal self - the primary route is to try and increase the clients perceived self to close the gap to their ideal self

• overall goal is to improve someone’s self worth

• focus is much more directed to current problems rather than issues from the past

• paraphrasing is used by the counsellor

Focus on the Self and Congruence

• Rogers believed psychological problems arise from incongruence between the actual self (who we are) and the ideal self (who we want to be).

• Counselling aims to reduce this gap and help clients achieve greater congruence, improving self-worth and wellbeing.

Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR)

• Rogers argued that many problems come from conditions of worth (feeling valued only if we meet others’ expectations).

• In therapy, the counsellor provides UPR (acceptance without judgement), helping clients feel valued and free to explore themselves honestly.

3. Empathy

• Counsellors aim to deeply understand the client’s experiences from their perspective.

• This reflects the humanistic assumption that subjective experience is central.

Genuineness (Congruence in Therapist)

• The counsellor must be authentic and real, not acting as a distant “expert.”

• This creates a safe, trusting environment where the client feels comfortable opening up.

. Holistic Approach

• The counselling process considers the whole person (thoughts, feelings, behaviours, relationships) rather than just symptoms.

• This links to the humanistic principle of holism.

self-Actualisation

• Counselling supports clients in moving towards their potential and achieving self-actualisation.

• Therapy is not just about fixing problems, but about fostering personal growth and fulfilment.

client centred therapy

• Client-Centred (Non-Directive) Therapy

  • Unlike psychoanalysis or CBT, the therapist does not “lead” or give advice.

  • The client is seen as having free will and the capacity for self-healing.

  • The therapist’s role is to facilitate self-discovery rather than prescribe solutions.

evidence for client centred therapy

• Elliot (2002) - meta analysis of 86 studies - humanistic therapies were shown to produce a significant improvement in clients especially when compared to when no therapy

  was taken

• Gibbard and Hanley - 70% of participants showed significant improvements after taking part in a client centred therapy - this was a 5 year study

evaluation of the humanistic approach

• ✔ Strength

• Point: A strength of the humanistic approach is that there is research evidence supporting its concepts.
  Evidence/Example: For instance, Harter et al. found that adolescents who experienced conditional positive regard from their parents — feeling loved only when they met parental expectations — were more likely to develop low self-esteem.
  Explain: This supports Rogers’ theory that a lack of unconditional positive regard can lead to incongruence between the self-concept and the ideal self, hindering personal growth and preventing self-actualisation.
  Link: Therefore, this provides valuable empirical support for a central element of the humanistic approach, increasing its validity.

• ✔ Strength :
  Point: Another strength of the humanistic approach is its practical applications in counselling and therapy.
  Evidence/Example: For example, Carl Rogers’ client-centred therapy is widely used in modern counselling and focuses on providing clients with unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuineness to help them achieve personal growth and self-actualisation.
  Explain: This therapy has been shown to be effective in helping individuals deal with issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and relationship problems by encouraging them to explore their own feelings in a safe and supportive environment. Humanistic principles therefore lead to real-life improvements in mental health and wellbeing.
  Link: This demonstrates that the humanistic approach has made a lasting and valuable contribution to psychology through its influence on therapies and personal development.

• ❌ Weakness :
  Point: A weakness of the humanistic approach is its lack of scientific rigor.
  Evidence/Example: Concepts such as self-actualisation and unconditional positive regard are difficult to measure and quantify scientifically, making it harder to assess the effectiveness of client-centred therapy.
  Explain: This lack of empirical evidence undermines the reliability and validity of humanistic therapy, as studies in this field often fail to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship between therapy and improvements in mental health.
  Link: Therefore, the humanistic approach is too subjective and lacks the scientific foundation necessary for it to be fully accepted within mainstream psychology.

❌ Weakness (PEEL):
Point: The humanistic approach overemphasises internal factors like personal growth and neglects external influences.
Evidence/Example: Rogers believed individuals are inherently good with potential for self-actualisation, but this ignores social, cultural, and environmental factors that can limit growth.
Explain: For example, poverty can prevent someone from achieving self-actualisation, making the theory overly idealistic and less applicable in real-life situations.
Link: This means the approach provides an incomplete explanation of behaviour, limiting its usefulness in understanding people in challenging circumstances.