HUMANIISTIC APPROACH

Key concepts of the humanistic approach

• Individuals have free will

• Behaviour is best understood through individuals unique subjective experience

• The approach is holistic

free will

The ability to make meaningful choices about their lives

“personal active agents”

People are responsible for creating their own futures

five parts of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

• Physiological needs

• Safety needs

• Love and belonging

• Esteem needs

• Self-actualisation

physiological needs according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

The basic biological survival needs, food, water, shelter

safety needs according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

The need to feel physically and psychologically safe, free from threat, pain and danger

love annd belonging according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

The need for social connection, affection, and sense of belonging to a group

esteem needs according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

The desire to feel respected and valued

self actualisation according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Realising one’s full potential, the most complete and authentic version of oneself

How rare is self-actualisation?

1-2%

self-concept (actual self)

How individuals currently perceives themselves

ideal self

Who individuals aspire to be, the version of themselves they want to become

congruence

When self-concept and ideal self are closely matched, individuals fella a sense of psychological wellbeing

incongruence

A gap between self-concept and ideal self, the greater the gap the more psychological distress

kind of therapy thacan be used to achieve congruence

Client-centred therapy

conditions of worth

the standards or expectations that individuals believe they must be in order to gain love and approval and positive regard from significant others

happens when conditions of worth aren’t met

An individuals self-esteem is negatively affected, incongruence is likely to increase creating a barrier to self-actualisation

unconditional positive regard

Showing complete, support and acceptance of a person just as they are without judgement