4.2.1 humanistic approach Flashcards
humanistic approach
Every individual is unique. Believes we are all different and we should be treated as such. No point in trying to generalise to groups.
Free will. A core assumption is that we have free will. Means we have the ability to chose what we do and we are in control of our behaviour. Does acknowledge we have constraints on our free will in that there are social rules, laws and morals that have to be followed.
People should be viewed holistically. Argue there is no point in looking at 1 aspect of an individual. If 1 part is only ever focused on then much of what could be causing the problem could be missed.
The scientific method is not appropriate to measure behaviour. Doesn’t describe itself as scientific. Argues the scientific method tries to be too objective and yet humans are subjective in the way they think and behave.
humanistic approach and free will
Is difficult to prove but proof isn’t important for humanistic psychology.
Believe we should consider the subjective experience of an individual and in most circumstances a person will feel that they have chosen a course of action. This to humanist psychologists prove the existence.
humanistic approach and self-actualisation
Believes everyone has an innate drive to achieve their full potential. The achievement of the full potential is a state called self-actualization.
Carl rogers and Maslow believe individuals self-actualize in their own way.
When achieved, it can be described as the ultimate feeling of well-being and satisfaction.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
The drive to achieve full potential means that we are all working through these needs in an attempt to self-actualize.
The state of self-actualization is not permanent and if all 5 needs don’t remain in place, an individual can move out of the state until of the needs are back.
focus on the self
The self concept- the self that can be described as the self you feel you are. Is similar to self esteem
The ideal self- the self you wish to be. Is who you are aiming towards becoming.
The real self- the person you actually are.
congruence
Rogers said that to achieve self-actualization, it is necessary for a person to be congruent. This means that ideal self and actual self are the same. It can be achieved if they are very similar. Is difficult to achieve and therefore means that many people do not realise their true potential and do not become self-actualized.
Believed an important part of achieving congruence is ‘unconditional positive regard’, which means at some point, someone has to be loved for who they are by someone else. They need to be accepted without proviso. Can come from anyone.
role of the conditions of worth
Cconditions of worth are requirements that the individual feels they need to meet to be loved. Are called conditional positive regard.
Uconditional positive regard is total acceptance received from another person
influence on counselling psychology
1 of the major influences of this approach is the therapy that has developed. Carl Rogers has developed his client-centered therapy based on it. If the client feels like they can say what they want, then they can be honest and this honesty is important in realizing physical barriers to becoming congruent.
