5.7 Humanistic psychology

Question 1

What approach in psychology is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs a part of?

Answer 1

Humanistic psychology

Question 2

What are the five tiers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, in order of most basic first.

Answer 2

Physiological needs
safety
love/belonging
esteem
self-actualisation

Question 3

list some of the physiological needs associated with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Answer 3

breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion

Question 4

list some of the safety needs associated with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Answer 4

security of body, of employment, of resources, of the family, of health, of property, of morality

Question 5

list some of the love/belonging needs associated with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Answer 5

friendship, family, sexual intimacy

Question 6

list some of the esteem needs associated with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Answer 6

self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others

Question 7

list some of the self-actualisation needs associated with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Answer 7

morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of fact

Question 8

list three basic assumptions of the humanistic approach.

Answer 8

behaviour is under our conscious control, i.e we have free will and are able to act at one’s own discretion
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and self actualization: everybody want to be truly happy
congruence (self and ideal self) and conditions of worth.
Focus on the self - a feeling of self worth, unconditional positive regard.

Question 9

when looking at the humanistic approach, nature and/or nurture?

Answer 9

Both.
Nature: Makes various assumptions about human nature, e.g our drive to self actualize.
Nurture: however, it also recognises the problems in achieving self-actualization that arise from our experiences and upbringing e.g our conditions of worth and positive regard

Question 10

when looking at the humanistic approach, scientific or nonscientific? (methods and theories; explain)

Answer 10

humanistic psychology mostly rejects the use of the scientific method.
humanistic psychologists argue that scientific research methods are derived from and suited for the natural sciences, but are not appropriate for studying the complexities of human consciousness and experience.

Question 11

when looking at the humanistic approach, determinism or free will?

Answer 11

Free will:
Behaviour is determined by our own free will. Humanistic psychologists such as Maslow and Rogers believed that people exercise choice in their behaviour, rather than being at the mercy of outside forces such as biological predispositions or reinforcement history.

Question 12

when looking at the humanistic approach, reductionism or holism?

Answer 12

Holism:

Focuses on understanding all aspects of human experience and interactions

Question 13

positive evaluations/strengths of the humanistic approach?

Answer 13

Maslow’s hierarchy was linked to economic development (e.g Hagerty)
Research support for conditions of worth (e.g Harter et al.)

Question 14

negative evaluations/limitations of the humanistic approach.

Answer 14

Humanistic research methods produce data that is mostly correlational
The humanistic approach represents an overly idealised and unrealistic view of human nature
Cross-cultural evidence that in some cultures the needs in Maslow’s hierarchy appear in a different order (Nevis)

Question 15

define conditions of worth

Answer 15

conditions imposed on an individual’s behaviour and development that are considered necessary to earn positive regard from significant others

Question 16

what is meant by the term congruence

Answer 16

if there is similarity between a person’s ideal self and self image, a state of congruence exists.
a difference represents a state of incongruence

Question 17

define free will

Answer 17

the ability to act at one’s own discretion, i.e. too chose how to behave without being influenced by external forces
people have full conscious control over their own destiny

Question 18

what is the hierarchy of needs

Answer 18

the motivational theory proposed by Abraham Maslow, often displayed as a pyramid.
the most basic needs are at the bottom and higher needs at the top

Question 19

define humanistic

Answer 19

refers to the belief that human beings are born with the desire to grow, create and to love, and have the power to direct their own lives

Question 20

define self

Answer 20

our personal identity, used synonymously with the terms self image and self concept

Question 21

define self actualisation

Answer 21

a term used in different ways
Rogers used it as the drive to realise one’s true potential
Maslow used it to describe the final stage of his hierarchy of needs

Question 22

basic assumptions of the humanistic approach…

Answer 22

stresses the importance of free will and conscious control over our own destiny
Maslow interested in what could go right rather than what could go wrong
hierarchy of needs - most basic needs at the bottom, higher needs at the top
people reaching self-actualisation experience it through peak experiences, Rogers used this term to describe a fully functioning person
feelings of self worth develop in childhood as result of interactions with parents
state of congruence exists when similarity between persons ideal self and how they perceive themselves to be
conditions of worth arise when people experience conditional rather than unconditional positive regard
problems a product of person’s conditions of worth, therapist provides unconditional positive regard to help person self-actualise

Question 23

evaluate humanistic psychology

Answer 23

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs linked to economic development
research support for conditions of worth, e.g. Harter et al.
humanistic research methods produce data that is mostly correlational
the humanistic approach represents an overly idealised and unrealistic view of human nature
cross-cultural evidence that in some cultures needs appear in a different order (Nevis)