Approaches Booklet 5: Humanistic Approach

Question 1

What are the overall assumptions of the humanistic approach?

Answer 1

-All individuals are unique
-Everyone has free will
-People should be viewed holistically
-The scientific method is not appropriate to measure behaviour

Question 2

Why does the humanistic approach not approve the scientific method?

Answer 2

Because human behaviour is subjective and we can’t measure objectively, for example a persons thoughts and feelings play huge importance

Question 3

What are the different sections of AO1 for the humanistic approach?

Answer 3

-Free will
-Self actualisation
-Hierarchy of needs
-Focus on the self
-Congruence
-Conditions of worth
-Influence on counselling

Question 4

What is free will?

Answer 4

Free will is the idea that we have choices in how we act, separating the intention of the individual from what has been created by other causes, we are self-determining and free from influences

Question 5

What is the importance of free will in terms of the legal system?

Answer 5

Free will allows us to hold criminals responsible for their actions, stating they have responsibly through the ability to all choose right and wrong. Therefore free will creates the moral structure providing foundation for criminal justice system.

Question 6

What is humanistic approach also referred to? (because of it’s consideration of free will)

Answer 6

The person centred approach

Question 7

What is self actualisation?

Answer 7

An innate drive to achieve our full potential, and if we achieve this potential it is self-actualisation, achieving this potential leads to an ultimate feeling of well-being and satisfaction

Question 8

Do we all achieve self actualisation?

Answer 8

No, only some people achieve it but we all feel the drive to work towards it

Question 9

Who was Maslow and what did he do?

Answer 9

He was an American psychologist who in 1940-1950 developed a hierarchy as a way for employers to get the best out of their employees by understanding needs

Question 10

What were the foundations of Maslows beliefs that created the hierarchy?

Answer 10

-That a person could achieve self-actualisation through a series of stages
-These are the five basic needs that a person has to meet
-If the need before has not been met, then you cannot achieve the higher needs

Question 11

What are the 5 stages of the hierarchy? in descending order?

Answer 11

-Self-actualization
-Self-esteem
-Belonging - love
-Safety
-Physiological needs

Question 12

Is your stage on the hierarchy permanent?

Answer 12

No, you may fall down in stages during moments of your life - If a persons relationship became abusive it would reduce them down to stage 2 for example

Question 13

Who suggested the “focus on self” what were these two focuses ?

Answer 13

A psychologist named Carl Rogers suggested that there is:
-The perceived self
-The ideal self

Question 14

What is the perceived and ideal self?

Answer 14

Perceived self - Self concept, the self that you feel you are, similar to self-esteem and is affected by it. Lowe self-esteem will create poor self-concept, maybe even distorted
Ideal self - The self you wish to be, who you aspire to be and often isn’t what you are but what you aim to be

Question 15

What is congruence?

Answer 15

Congruence is a requirement for someone to achieve self-actualisation, it’s where the perceived self and ideal-self become the same or very similar, becoming more consistent

Question 16

The greater the gap between someones ideal self and perceived self, the greater the…

Answer 16

Incongruence

Question 17

How can someone achieve congruence?

Answer 17

By closing the gap between ideal self and perceived self, with positive healthy views of themselves / a more realistic ideal self

Question 18

What is unconditional positive regard?

Answer 18

Where a person is loved by another without any expectations in return, it is important for a person to achieve congruence

Question 19

What will happen if someone is given unconditional positive regard?

Answer 19

They will develop a healthy sense of self-worth, recognising their abilities and difficulties

Question 20

What is client-centered therapy?

Answer 20

-Developed by Carl Rogers, it emphasizes the client-therapist relationship making it key that therapists make the client feel comfortable and accepted
-The client is encouraged to develop positive self-regard and overcome incongruence
-unconditional positive regard helps the client overcome barriers towards congruence#
-Praised for focusing on present rather than past (psychodynamic approach)

Question 21

What are the evaluations of the humanistic approach?

Answer 21

😀Isn’t reductionist (holistic view)
😀Practical application (Business settings)
😔Vague and difficult to test (abstract ideas)
😔Contradicted by biological (can’t explain complex mental illnesses)
😔Not relevant to all cultures (individualistic/collectivist cultures)