The Humanistic Approach

What is the Humanistic Approach?

An approach to understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience and each person’s capacity for self-determination. Created by Carl Rogers and Abraham Marlow. Focuses on conscious experience rather than behaviour, personality responsibility and free will

Free will

Claiming that humans are self-determining and have free will. People are still affected by external and internal influences but are active agents, can determine their own development

Hierarchy of needs

Created by Maslow, one of his main interests was to see what motivates people. A five levelled hierarchal sequence in which basic needs need to be satisfied before reaching higher needs

What are the needs of the hierarchy?

Physiological needs - food, water, warmth, rest. Safety needs - security, safety. Belonginess and love needs - intimate relationships, friends. Esteem needs - prestige and feeling of accomplishment. Self-actualisation - achieving one’s full potential

Self-actualisation

The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one’s potential, becoming what you are capable of. Humanistic psychologists regard personal growth, feel contented with your achievements

Congruence

Carl Rogers argued that personal growth depends on congruence between an individual’s concept of self and their ideal self. Self concept is similar to ideal self

Incongruence

When the self concept and ideal self are very different. The gap is too big and self-actualisation isn’t possible, leads to lower self-worth

Conditions of worth

Conditions imposed on an individual’s behaviour and development that are considered necessary to earn positive regard from significant others

Unconditional positive regard

When a person is accepted for who they are or what they do

Conditional positive regard

When they are accepted only if they do what others want them to do

How to control incongruence

Client-centred therapy (counselling) to reduce the gap between ideal self and self-concept