Approaches - Humanistic Approach

Question 1

AO1

Answer 1

• Free will – the notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by internal biological or external forces
• Hierarchy of needs – a motivational theory proposed by Maslow, often displayed as a pyramid of needs. The most basic needs are at the bottom and must be met for the individual to progress to meeting higher needs at the top
• Self-actualisation – the desire to grow psychologically and fulfil ones full potential which can be shown through Maslow’s research
• Self – our personal identity used synonymously with the terms “self-image” and “self-concept”
• Congruence – the match/consistency between the perceived self and the ideal self
• Conditions of worth – these are conditions that significant others put upon the individual and they must achieve these if they are to be accepted and loved. When an individual receives unconditional positive regard they develop conditions of worth.

Question 2

AO3

Answer 2

• A strength of the humanistic approach is that it is not reductionist
• For example, the humanistic approach rejects attempts to break up behaviour and experience into smaller components
• This is a strength as the humanistic approach believes that subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person
• However, it can be argued that, unlike behaviourism, the humanistic approach, there are relatively few concepts that can be broken down to single variables and measured, showing that humanistic psychology is short on empirical evidence to support its claims
• Despite this, the approach may have more useful as it considers meaningful human behaviour within its real world context
• Thus increasing the validity of the humanistic approach
• A strength of the humanistic approach is that it links to economic development in society, as well as personal growth.
• For example, Hagerty (1999) found that there was a relationship between economic growth and measure of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in 88 different countries across a 34 year period. This suggested that countries that were low down on the hierarchy (in terms of their needs) were in the early stages of economic development.
• On the other hand, Psychologists have disputed Humanistic Psychologists view of human nature, arguing that it is an unrealistic and oversimplified view of human development and growth.
• However, as the initial strength argues, Maslow’s theory within Humanistic Psychology has been successfully applied to other areas of society, and not just individual development. This was further evidenced in the idea that when economic development became advanced, self actualisation became important.
• This supports the use of Humanistic Psychology having wider implications within psychology to explain trends in development
• Thus increasing the validity of the approach
• Another strength of the humanistic approach is that it is optimistic
• Humanistic psychologists have been praised as they brought back the person into psychology and promote a positive image of the human condition, unlike Freud who saw human beings as slaves to their past and claimed rhat all of us existed somewhere between ‘common unhappiness and absolute despair’.
• This is a strength as it shows that the humanistic approach sees all people as basically good, free to work towards the achievement of their potential and in control of their lives compared to other approaches
• However, it can be argued that the humanistic approach has relatively little impact on psychology or little practical application in the real world compared to other approaches, decreasing its effectiveness as an approach
• Despite this, humanistic psychology offers a refreshing and optimistic alternative to other approaches
• Thus increasing the validity of the approach

Question 3

free will

Answer 3

the ability to act at one’s own discretion e.g. choose how to behave despite or in the absence of influence from internal or external forces

Question 4

hierarchy of needs

Answer 4

a motivational theory proposed by Maslow, often displayed as a pyramid of needs. the most basic needs are at the bottom and must be met for the individual to progress to meeting higher needs at the top

Question 5

Self actualisation

Answer 5

the desire to grow psychologically and fufill one’s potential

Question 6

self

Answer 6

our personal identity used synonymously with the terms “self-image” and “self-concept”

Question 7

congruence

Answer 7

the match/consistency between the perceived self (how you see yourself) and the ideal self (the self you would like to be)

Question 8

unconditional positive regard

Answer 8

when the love an acceptance given by others is unconditional
the individual is accepted regardless of who they are or what they say or do. conditional regard is when they are loved and accepted only if they meet certain conditions of worth

Question 9

conditions of worth

Answer 9

these are conditions that significant other put upon the individual and they must achieve these if they are to be accepted or loved. when an individual receives conditional positive regard they develop conditions of worth