humanistic approaches 1

Dr. Kate Bailey Information

  • Lecturer: Dr. Kate Bailey

  • Room: B10, School of Psychology

  • Email: kate.bailey@nottingham.ac.uk

  • Course: PSGY1009: Psychological Approaches to Therapy

  • Lecture Title: Humanistic-Existential Approaches 1

Introduction

  • Thinking exercise: Reflect on Freud’s approach based on Block 2 teachings and rate his view on human nature and scientific approach.

Questions and Learning Outcomes

  • Key Features: Describe the core principles of Humanistic philosophy.

  • Person-Centred Approach: Outline Rogers’ ideas and key concepts regarding human nature.

  • Healthy vs. Maladaptive Behaviors: Explain how Rogers' model distinguishes between the two.

  • Therapeutic Goals & Conditions: Describe the aims of Person-Centred Therapy (PCT) and the essential conditions for a successful therapeutic relationship.

  • Critiques: Consider evaluations regarding the Person-Centred approach.

Humanistic vs. Existentialism

Core Characteristics

  • Humanism:

    • Focus on natural human potential and self-actualization.

    • Challenges: Failure to be one's true self.

  • Existentialism:

    • Importance of personal freedom and responsibility.

    • Focus on perceiving one’s limitations and the realities of existence.

    • Challenges: Struggles with creating personal meaning in life.

Abraham Maslow's Contribution

  • Viewpoint: Maslow's humanism as the 'Third Force' in psychology.

  • Motivation Types:

    • Deficiency Motivation: Basic needs that, when unmet, can lead to dysfunction.

    • Growth Motivation: Needs that expand one’s potential.

  • Hierarchy of Needs:

    • Levels:

      • Physiological Needs: Food, water.

      • Safety Needs: Security, stability.

      • Love & Belongingness: Acceptance by others.

      • Esteem Needs: Recognition and competence.

      • Self-Actualisation: Realization of personal potential.

Carl Rogers and Person-Centred Approach

Key Details

  • Background:

    • Birth: Illinois, U.S.A.

    • Initial ambition: minister

    • 1951: Introduced 'Client-Centered Therapy', regarded as foundational in psychotherapy research.

View of Human Nature

  • Freudian Perspective: Pessimistic, focusing on sexual drives leading to negative behaviors.

  • Rogers' Perspective: Humans are essentially good, driven by an actualizing tendency promoting productivity.

Actualising Tendency

  • Defined as the singular motivating drive to realize potential.

  • Present in all living beings, directing towards wholeness and fulfillment (Rogers, 1977).

  • Maintenance vs. Growth: Behavior aims to maintain life functions and pursue growth.

Organismic Valuing

  • Concept: Identifies perceptions of self through evaluation of experiences.

  • Infancy:

    • Maintains/enhances (actualizing) experiences prioritized.

    • Non-actualizing experiences are rejected.

  • Subjectivity governed by individual’s phenomenal field.

Experience and Awareness

  • Emphasis on personal expertise and validation of self-experience over external authorities.

  • Awareness represents experiences; inaccuracies may result in defensive mechanisms.

Self/Self-Concept

  • Comprises perceptions of qualities, values, and relationships.

  • The flexibility of self-concept influenced by social interactions.

Conditions of Worth

  • Positive Regard:

    • Unconditional: Valued as one is.

    • Conditional: Valued based on behaviors conforming to external expectations.

  • Reliance on conditional regard can lead to conditional self-regard and obstruct organic valuing processes.

Healthy vs. Maladaptive Development

  • Factors:

    • Positive regard essential for self-actualization.

    • Conditional regard from others may lead to maladjustment.

    • Self-regard classification into conditional/unconditional impacts functioning.

Mental Distress and Disorder

  • Incongruence: Mismatch between self-concept and actual experience leads to distress.

  • Defensiveness arises when internal experiences threaten the self-concept.

Person-Centred Therapy (PCT)

Goals

  • Rejects traditional medical models.

  • Empowers clients to set their own goals and take responsibility for growth.

  • Promotes an environment conducive to actualizing tendencies.

Therapeutic Process

  • Focus on therapeutic relationship; specific techniques are not key.

  • Emphasis on providing an environment where clients can flourish.

Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for PCT

  • Psychological contact between client and therapist needed.

  • Therapist must exhibit:

    • Genuineness (congruence),

    • Unconditional positive regard,

    • Empathic understanding of the client’s perspective.

Core Attitudinal Conditions

  1. Congruence: Authenticity from the therapist.

  2. Unconditional Positive Regard: Genuine valuing of the client.

  3. Empathy: Deep understanding and resonating with client’s experiences.

Evaluating Person-Centred Therapy

Challenges

  • Limitations regarding observable actualising tendency.

  • Criticism for overly optimistic views of human nature and vagueness in concepts.

  • Lesser research attention compared to other therapeutic approaches.

Strengths

  • Empirical support underscores the significance of empathy in therapy progress.

  • Highlights importance of self-concept in behavior guidance.

  • Approachable from diverse perspectives without imposing rigid standards.

Summary

  • Philosophical Foundations: Emphasis on free will, awareness, and personal responsibility.

  • Rogers’ Approach: Advocates for self-actualization through a supportive therapeutic relationship, focusing on congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard as vital components.