humanistic approach

introduction

The humanistic approach emphasises the study of the whole person (holism), assumes that behaviour is connected with self image and that humans have the will and the responsibility to be happy and self-actualise.

Basic assumptions:

• Free will

• Idiographic methods (seeing people as unique)

• Rogers and Maslow

• Anti-scientific (humans shouldn’t be seen as numbers or generalised when examining cause of behaviour)

• Self-actualisation (drive to be the best they can be)

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

1. Basic needs have to be satisfied first

2. The higher you go, the more difficult needs become to satisfy as the needs become psychological rather than physical

3. Maslow argued that many never reach self-actualisation

Rogers

Rogers believed that all humans have positive potential and the self should be considered when treating problems (same as Maslow).

He suggested self-actualisation was only possible if people had congruence between their 3 selves:

• Self-concept — the self you feel you are (self-esteem)

• Ideal self — self you wish to be, who you are aiming towards or who you may already be

• Real self — who you actually are, not what you think you are

In order to be happy, your self-concept needs to match your real self and your ideal self, then you can self-actualise. This is called congruence.

Congruence is also believed to be dependant on having unconditional positive regard.

• Unconditional positive regard — love and acceptance (usually from parents) is unconditional and you are accepted for who you are, not what you do, and your mistakes don’t change their opinions

  • People who are able to self-actualise are likely to have received this from others, which is why they have a positive self-concept

• Conditional positive regard/conditions of worth — there are requirements that the individual feels they need to meet in order to be loved like having to behave in ways approved by others (i.e they need to achieve something to be loved and respected, instead of getting it naturally for who they are)

  • People who have received conditional positive regard are not able to self-actualise as easily

counselling

Key aspects:

• Comfort — therapists make clients feel comfortable and accepted

• Unconditional — ensure client feels unconditional positive regard so they can be as honest and open as possible, aiming to achieve congruence

• Barriers — helping client realise the potential barriers to becoming congruent, so that therapist can remove them

• Subjectivity — each therapy is different to another as humanistic psychologists see individuals as unique, subjective to client’s needs