5. Humanistic Approach Flashcards
outline the humanistic approach:
1. assumption
Humanistic psychology developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow argues all human behaviour can be explained in terms of free will.
This does not mean that people are not affected by internal or external influences, but we are active agents who have the ability to consciously choose how to behave and determine our own development.
As a result, Rogers and Maslow reject general scientific models of human behaviour, arguing we are all unique and psychology should therefore take a person-centred approach.
INCLUDING:
(2) Self actualisation and Maslow hierarchy of needs
(3) The self, congruence and conditions of worth
(4) The influence on counselling psychology
why did Maslow develop the hierarchy of needs
as a way for employers to get the best out of their employees by understanding their needs
outline the humanistic approach:
2. self actualisation and Maslows hierarchy of needs
humanistic psychologists regard personal growth as an essential part of what it is to be human and it is argued that we all have the drive to realise our true potential (or to ‘self-actualise’)
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a five-levelled sequence in which basic physiological needs such as hunger and then safety needs must be satisfied before we can achieve love and belonging followed by higher psychological needs such as esteem and then self-actualisation.
Maslow believed the more basic the need, the more powerfully it is felt.
Also, not everyone will achieve self-actualisation due to barriers preventing people from realising their potential.
order of maslows hierarchy of needs
- physiological
- breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion - safety
- security of: body, employment, resources, morality, family, health, property - love/belonging
- friendship, family, sexual intimacy - esteem
- self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others - self-actualisation
- morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts
what is self actualisation
in Maslows hierarchy of needs, self actualisation is the highest level of psychological development, where personal potential is realised and achieved
concerned with psychological growth, fulfilment and satisfaction in life
eg, morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice. acceptable if facts
outline the humanistic approach:
3. The Self, Congruence and Conditions of Worth
Rogers argued that for personal growth to be achieved an individual’s concept of self (the way they perceive themselves) must be broadly equivalent to, or have congruence with, the ideal self (the person they want to be).
If too big a gap exists between the two ‘selves’ the person will experience a state of incongruence and self-actualisation will not be possible due to the negative feelings that arise from incongruence.
Another key aspect of personal growth relates to the way we think others perceive us.
Rogers argued that when we have low self-esteem, this might be explained by a lack of unconditional positive regard (or unconditional love) from our parents during childhood or from significant people in our lives.
If a parent or significant person sets boundaries or limits on their love, called ‘conditions of worth’, by claiming ‘I will only love you if…’ etc, this stores up problems for the person in the future.
Therefore, an individual’s psychological problems may be seen as a direct consequence of their conditions of worth.
what is meant by concept of self
the way an individual perceives themself
what is meant by ideal self
the person and individual wants to be
what is meant by congruence
the perceived self is in alignment with the ideal self
this means that self-actualisation can be achieved
what is meant by incongruence
the perceived self is in disalignment with the ideal self
this means that self-actualisation cannot be achieved
what is meant by conditions of worth
a lack of unconditional positive regard (or unconditional love) from our parents during childhood or from significant people in our lives.
If a parent or significant person sets boundaries or limits on their love, called ‘conditions of worth’, by claiming ‘I will only love you if…’ etc, this stores up problems for the person in the future.
Therefore, an individual’s psychological problems may be seen as a direct consequence of their conditions of worth.
outline the humanistic approach:
4. The influence on counselling psychology
Rogers believed that, with non-directive counselling, people are able to solve their own problems in constructive ways, and move towards becoming a more fully functioning person.
Therapists show empathy and provide unconditional positive regard for their ‘clients’, expressing acceptance regardless of the attitudes the client expresses.
By doing this, the therapist can help dissolve the client’s conditions of worth and enable them to become more true to themselves whilst reducing the level of incongruence between the self-concept and the ideal self.
The client-therapist relationship is important and it is key that therapists can make their clients feel accepted, safe and comfortable, to the client will be honest.
They can then realise potential barriers to becoming congruent and work with the therapist to remove them.
This client-centred approach achieves this by focusing on present problems rather than dwelling on the past.
Evaluate the humanistic approach:
Strengths
P: practical applications.
E: although humanistic psychology may have little real-world application compared to the other approaches, it has revolutionised counselling.
E: eg, in the UK and US many counsellors use the client-centred approach and similar ideas have been used in education, health and social work.
L: has contributed to real world psychology and developed successful therapies
P: largely based on research using non-experimental methods.
E: Rogers argued that the requirements of experimental methods make it impossible to verify the results of counselling, advocating more qualitative methods like interviews. But many argue this makes it hard to evaluate his ideas. E: eg, without experimental evidence we can never be sure whether counselling causes the changes seen in the person.
L: the approach may lack objectivity (very subjective) and cause and effect can’t be established
P: not reductionist
E: avoids reducing human behaviour down to the activity of specific variables such as biological (internal or environmental (external) factors.
E: eg, humanistic psychologists argue that people can only be understood by considering the whole person.
L: unlike the other approaches, humanistic psychology does not over-simplify complex behaviours which require a more holistic explanation.
Evaluate the humanistic approach:
Limitations
P: unscientific
E: the approach focuses on ideas that are not observable and measurable and cannot be tested in controlled conditions
E: the self, ideal self, congruence, and incongruence cannot be scientifically observed and measured
L: not supported by truly empirical evidence, therefore lacks internal validity
E: however, humanists would argue that human behaviour can’t be studied scientifically as we are unique individuals
P: can be criticised for its rejection of determinism
E: suggests our behaviour is the result of our own free will with individuals seen as active agents with the ability to consciously choose how to behave. But this may ignore the role of factors outside of our control (e.g. biological factors).
E: eg, twin studies have shown that genes seem to play a role in many aspects of human behaviour (e.g. mental illness such as schizophrenia).
L: may put too much pressure on individuals (victim-blaming) and many would argue a more reasonable position would be more of a ‘middle-ground’ between free will and determination (eg soft determinism)
E: although, it may have some deterministic elements: suggests whether you can self actualise depends on conditions of self worth given by others
the value of humanism
- focused on a person centred approach, offering a positive and empowering understanding of human behaviour
- gave an appreciation of free will and how individuals can shape their own behaviour (rejects determinism)
- contributed Maslows hierarchy of needs which is used in everyday life eg schools, workplace, hospitals
- co tributes client centred counselling which is still used today eg reducing conditions of worth to achieve congruence
- influential in inspiring a focus on understanding individuals above scientific models and we should look at humans as unique (idiographic)
