Approaches- Humanistic Psychology

Question 1

What does humanistic psychology focus on?

Answer 1

The person as a whole

Question 2

What do humanistic psychologists believe?

Answer 2

That all people are inherently good and that they’re driven to achieve their full potential

Question 3

How is humanistic psychology different from other approaches?

Answer 3

It take into account the feelings of the individual rather than just their observable behaviour

Question 4

Why is humanistic psychology an idiographic approach?

Answer 4

It focuses on studying the individual rather than producing general rules which come from summarising a group of people

Question 5

What does humanistic psychology assume?

Answer 5

That a person’s behaviour is caused by their subjective feelings and their thoughts about themselves especially about how they can become better people and learn new things

Question 6

Is humanistic psychology based on determinism or free will?

Answer 6

Free will

Question 7

How does humanistic psychology suggest that people are motivated?

Answer 7

To use their own free will to allow them to reach their fullest potential

Question 8

What did Maslow come up with?

Answer 8

The hierarchy of needs

Question 9

What are the levels in the hierarchy of needs?

Answer 9

1. Physiological needs
2. Safety needs
3. Love and belongingness needs
4. Self-esteem needs
5. Self-actualisation

Question 10

What is at the physiological needs level?

Answer 10

Basic things that you need for life

Question 11

What is at the safety needs level?

Answer 11

Strive to feel safe physically, psychologically and economically

Question 12

What is at the love and belongingness needs level?

Answer 12

Need to consider affection, acceptance and belonging

Question 13

What is at the self-esteem needs level?

Answer 13

You’re focused on achievement and gaining respect from others at this level

Question 14

What is at the self-actualisation level?

Answer 14

When you realise your fullest potential

Question 15

What did Maslow claim about moving up the hierarchy?

Answer 15

You must satisfy lower needs before moving to the next level

Question 16

What does Maslow state about self-actualisation?

Answer 16

We spend our lives trying to reach it but few actually get there

Question 17

What is a strength of humanistic psychology?

Answer 17

Real life application

Question 18

What is a weakness of humanistic psychology?

Answer 18

It is quite a westernised concept

Question 19

What are 4 characteristics of self-actualisation?

Answer 19

• Strong sense of self-awareness
• Fully accepting view of themselves and others for who they are
• Ability to deal with uncertainty and the unknown
• Strong sense of creativity

Question 20

What did Rogers claim?

Answer 20

All people are inherently good and they’re motivated to achieve their fullest potential

Question 21

How did Rogers differ to Maslow in view of self-actualisation?

Answer 21

Rogers thought that people move towards self-actualisation depending on their own thoughts about themselves and the way that they’re treated by others

Question 22

What is the self-concept?

Answer 22

How people see themselves

Question 23

What is the ideal self?

Answer 23

How people would like to be

Question 24

What is unconditional positive regard?

Answer 24

Where the person gets affection and support no matter what their behaviour is like

Question 25

Why is unconditional positive regard important?

Answer 25

We need it to have a positive self-concept

Question 26

What are conditions of worth?

Answer 26

Where approval and affection is given as a result of behaving in a certain way

Question 27

When will a person experience congruence?

Answer 27

If they have unconditional positive regard and then receive love and acceptance for their behaviour

Question 28

What did Rogers believe that people’s psychological problems were caused by?

Answer 28

Incongruence

Question 29

What is incongruence?

Answer 29

When there is a mismatch between someone’s self-concept and their ideal self

Question 30

What was the therapy proposed by Rogers?

Answer 30

Client-centred therapy

Question 31

What is client-centred therapy?

Answer 31

The client is in charge of what is talked about and it’s their responsibility to eventually solve their own problems

Question 32

What is the therapist’s job in client-centred therapy?

Answer 32

To try and make the client aware of their thoughts, actions and behaviours

Question 33

How can the therapist make the client aware of their thoughts?

Answer 33

By carefully rephrasing the client’s sentences and repeating them back

Question 34

How is unconditional positive regard, genuineness and empathy important in client-centred therapy?

Answer 34

The therapist is supportive of the client no matter what with the aim that the client will come to value themselves

Question 35

What are 5 strengths of humanistic psychology?

Answer 35

• Very positive approach
• Free will is less restrictive than determinism
• Treats people as individuals and takes the whole person into account
• Gathers qualitative data which is rich in detail
• Counselling techniques been shown to be effective

Question 36

What are 3 weaknesses of humanistic psychology?

Answer 36

• Places less emphasis on factors such as genetics
• Lacks objectivity so hard to measure
• Idiographic so less scientific