Approaches (again)

Question 1

Humanistic Psychology

Answer 1

• Humanistic psychology: developed in 1960s in response to other psychology approaches that focused on negative/pathological aspects of human behaviour, instead humanism focuses on personal growth
• Free will: humanistic psychologists suggest that whilst there are laws and constraints on our behaviour, our actions are not determined by cause and effect relationships (biological or environmental). We ultimately consciously choose our behaviours freely
• Self actualisation: the point at which an individual has met their full potential. Humanists believe everyone has the capability and motivation to work towards this goal
• Maslows hierarchy of needs: suggests that before satisfying the need for self actualisation, the individual must meet more basic needs (physiological, safety needs, love+belongingness, esteem, self actualisation)
• Focus on the self: rogers suggests that each person has a self concept and an ideal self. Congruence is how close one’s self concept and ideal self are. If there’s a big difference (incongruence) then self actualisation cannot be achieved
• Conditions of worth: the requirements an individual feels they need to meet in order to be loved (real or imaginary). Conditions of worth stops self actualisation
• Humanistic counselling: rogers client centred therapy attempts to help the client achieve congruence and provides unconditional positive regard (opposite of conditions of worth). The client is the “expert” responsible for solving their own problems

Question 2

Humanistic Psychology (evaluation)

Answer 2

• concepts such as “self actualisation” are not clearly defined (operationalised) so are not measurable, or open to scientific study, however humanists reject the scientific method in the study of human behaviour suggesting it’s not possible to study humans objectively
  + takes a holistic view of studying humans, considering all factors when attempting to understand individuals, using ideographic methods such as case studies (arguably a more valid approach but less reliable)
• could be an example of cultural bias, individualistic western cultures prioritise individual success and achievement. In collectivist cultures group success is more important. Humanistic psychologists may view individuals from collectivist cultures as less able to self actualise, therefore in some way inferior
  + humanist theory is positive, suggesting strategies for significant personal growth and positive change at any stage in life. A distinction from more deterministic approaches seeing behaviour as set in childhood or biology

Question 3

Behaviourism

Answer 3

• The behaviourist approach was developed in attempt to make psychology more scientific by using highly controlled experiments, criticised earlier attempts to study internal mental processes, sees mind as a “black box”