Humanistic approach

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What are the main assumptions of the humanistic approach?

Free will, holism, the importance of subjective experience, an innate drive towards personal growth, and reservations about laboratory-based scientific methods.

What is free will?

The ability to make genuine choices rather than being entirely controlled by biological factors, reinforcement or unconscious forces.

How does the humanistic approach view human choice?

People are active agents who can make choices and take responsibility for their behaviour.

What is holism?

Understanding behaviour by considering the whole person rather than reducing it to separate parts.

What aspects of a person does a holistic approach consider?

Their thoughts, feelings, relationships and experiences, and how these interact.

Why do humanistic psychologists emphasise subjective experience?

They believe each person’s individual understanding and experience of the world is important for explaining their behaviour.

What is an idiographic approach?

An approach focused on understanding the individual and their unique experiences rather than primarily seeking universal laws of behaviour.

Why is the humanistic approach described as idiographic?

It emphasises each person’s unique subjective experiences.

What does the humanistic approach assume about personal growth?

Humans have an innate drive towards self-improvement and fulfilling their potential.

Why do humanistic psychologists question laboratory-based scientific methods?

They argue that subjective experiences and concepts such as self-actualisation are difficult to capture through objective measurement and controlled testing.

What are the five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, from lowest to highest?

Physiological needs; safety and security; love and belongingness; self-esteem; self-actualisation.

What is the first level of Maslow’s hierarchy?

Physiological needs, such as food, water and sleep.

What is the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy?

Safety and security, such as shelter, stability and protection.

What is the third level of Maslow’s hierarchy?

Love and belongingness, such as friendships, family and close relationships.

What is the fourth level of Maslow’s hierarchy?

Self-esteem, including confidence and respect from others.

What is the fifth level of Maslow’s hierarchy?

Self-actualisation: fulfilling one’s potential through personal growth and activities such as creativity.

What is self-actualisation?

Fulfilling one’s potential and developing one’s abilities through personal growth.

What is a strength of Maslow’s hierarchy as an explanation of motivation?

It recognises a range of human needs and that different needs may matter at different times.

What is a scientific limitation of Maslow’s hierarchy?

The hierarchy is difficult to test scientifically.

How does the order of needs present a limitation of Maslow’s hierarchy?

People do not always satisfy their needs in the fixed order proposed.

Why might Maslow’s hierarchy be culturally biased?

Its emphasis on individual self-actualisation may reflect Western, individualist values more than collectivist values.

What did Carl Rogers focus on?

The self-concept, the ideal self and the conditions needed for healthy personal growth.

What is self-concept?

How a person currently sees themselves.

What is the ideal self?

The person someone would like to be.

What is congruence in Rogers’ explanation of the self?

A close match between a person’s self-concept and ideal self.

How is congruence linked to psychological wellbeing?

A close match between self-concept and ideal self supports psychological wellbeing and personal growth.

What is incongruence?

A mismatch or large gap between a person’s self-concept and ideal self.

What are the possible consequences of incongruence?

Anxiety, low self-esteem and a reduced ability to self-actualise.

What is the difference between self-concept and ideal self?

Self-concept is how someone currently sees themselves; the ideal self is how they would like to be.

What is the difference between congruence and incongruence?

Congruence involves a close match between self-concept and ideal self; incongruence involves a mismatch.

Who developed client-centred therapy?

Carl Rogers.

What is another name for client-centred therapy?

Person-centred therapy.

What are the aims of client-centred therapy in these notes?

To reduce incongruence and conditions of worth, encourage self-acceptance and support personal growth.

What conditions does a client-centred therapist provide?

Unconditional positive regard, empathy, genuineness and a non-judgemental environment.

How does client-centred therapy aim to support personal growth?

It helps clients accept themselves and reduce the gap between their current self-concept and ideal self.

Why is holism a strength of the humanistic approach?

It considers the whole person and interacting influences, avoiding overly simple explanations of behaviour.

Why is the humanistic approach described as optimistic?

It views people as essentially good and capable of change and personal growth.

How does the optimism of the humanistic approach contrast with Freud’s psychodynamic theory?

The humanistic approach emphasises the capacity for positive growth, whereas Freud’s theory places greater emphasis on unconscious conflicts.

What is a practical application of the humanistic approach?

Rogers’ client-centred therapy, which has influenced counselling and modern person-centred therapy.

Why is practical application a strength of the humanistic approach?

Its ideas have been applied to helping people through counselling and therapy.

How can the emphasis on free will be a strength of the humanistic approach?

It encourages personal responsibility and choice, which can feel empowering for clients.

Why is a lack of scientific rigour a limitation of the humanistic approach?

Its central concepts are subjective and difficult to operationalise, measure objectively or test.

Which humanistic concepts can be difficult to operationalise?

Self-actualisation, congruence and unconditional positive regard.

Why might the humanistic approach be culturally biased?

It prioritises individual choice and self-fulfilment, which may not apply equally in cultures that prioritise group needs and obligations.

Why might the humanistic approach be criticised as too optimistic?

It can underplay the influence of genetics, early learning, poverty and other constraints on behaviour.

How can external constraints challenge the humanistic emphasis on free will?

Factors such as poverty can restrict the choices and opportunities available to an individual.

What is the criticism concerning the humanistic approach’s evidence base?

It has less support from controlled empirical research than approaches such as biological psychology or behaviourism.

What are four strengths of the humanistic approach listed in these notes?

Holism; optimism; practical applications in therapy; and an empowering emphasis on free will.

What are four limitations of the humanistic approach listed in these notes?

Lack of scientific rigour; cultural bias; excessive optimism; and a weaker controlled empirical evidence base.

How could you explain the practical application strength in an exam answer?

Rogers’ ideas led to client-centred therapy, showing that the approach has applications in counselling and supporting personal growth.

How could you explain the cultural bias limitation in an exam answer?

The approach emphasises individual choice and self-fulfilment, but collectivist cultures may prioritise group needs, limiting how widely its assumptions apply.

How could you explain the scientific rigour limitation in an exam answer?

Concepts such as self-actualisation are subjective and difficult to operationalise, making the approach harder to test objectively.

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