Approaches - Humanistic

Question 1

what is humanistic psychology

Answer 1

• understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience and each persons capacity for self determination

Question 2

what is free will

Answer 2

• notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by internal biological or external forces
• active agents

Question 3

what is self actualisation

Answer 3

• desire to grow psychologically and to fulfil one’s full potential

Question 4

what is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 4

• five levelled hierarchal sequence in which basic psychological needs must be satisfied before higher psychological needs
• physiological needs
• safety and security
• love and belongingness
• self-esteem
• self- actualisation

Question 5

what is congruence

Answer 5

• aim of Rogerian therapy
• self-concept and ideal self are seen to match

Question 6

what are conditions of worth

Answer 6

• when a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children

Question 7

what is client centred therapy

Answer 7

• for personal growth to be achieved the individuals concept of self must be congruent with the ideal self
• if too big a gap exists the person experiences incongruence and no self-actualisation
• many issues we experience as adults have roots in childhood due to a lack of unconditional positive regard

Question 8

what are the strengths of the humanistic approach

Answer 8

Not reductionist
- rejects attempts to break up behaviour and experience into smaller components
- advocate holism
- subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person

Positive approach
- bring the person back into psychology

Question 9

what are the limitations of the humanistic approach

Answer 9

Western cultural bias
- may be culturally - biased
- readily associated with the individualistic culture not collectivist

Limited application
- little impact on psychology
- loose set of abstract ideas