humanistic approach

paper 2

give 2 strengths of the approach

P - promotes pos. image of human condition

E - freud saw humans as slaves to past + claimed all exist somewhere between “common unhappiness and absolute despair”

E - humanistic psychology offers optimistic alternative as it believes in free will + sees all people as basically good

P - holistic (idea that subjective experience can only be understood by looking at the whole person)

E - contrasts approaches (e.g. biological - reduces everything psychological to biological, behaviourist - reduces everything psychological to association + reinforcement)

E - gives humanistic approach more validity by considering meaningful human behaviour within real world contect

L(/counter) - reductionist = more scientific, humanistic = short on empirical evidence

give 1 weakness of the approach

P - unrealistic + overly idealised look on human nature

E - critics argue human beings aren’t inherently growth orientated as theories suggest + fails to recognise capacity of self destructive + pessimistic behaviour

E - view that personality directed by innate potential for growth + assumption that all problems stem from blocked self-actualisation = oversimplification

L - suggests that encouraging people to focus on own self development may be unrealistic + inappropriate in modern day

whats the correct arrangement of maslows hierarchy of needs from bottom - top of hierarchy?

physiological → safety → love/belongingness → esteem → self-actualisation

define self actualisation

• people’s desire for self fulfilment (purpose/meaning in life);to achieve full potential/best self

what did Abraham Maslow do?

create the hierarchy of needs

what did carl rogers do?

shaped modern day counselling therapy

define self image

how you see yourself right nowd

define ideal self

who you want to be

define self esteem

self worth

define (in)congruence

• cong. - when self image + ideal self overlap/ do match

• incong. - when self image + ideal self dont overlap/ dont match

define unconditional positive regard

when parents love + accept kids regardless of behaviour; unconditional

define conditions of worth

when standards are placed on kid by parents that'll make them feel unaccepted unless achieved; could cause low self esteem → incongruence + blocked self actualisation

talk about rogerian therapy/counselling psychology

• aka - client centred therapy

• person receiving therapy called client instead of patient to avoid them sounding sick

• client as expert, therapist as guide

• effective therapy = unconditional pos. regard, empathetic, genuine

free will

• necessary for self actualisation

• full conscious control over destiny

• we make personal choices + are active agents