Approaches - Humanistic Psychology Flashcards
What is the humanistic approach?
An approach to understanding behavior that emphasizes the importance of subjective experience and each person’s capacity for self-determination.
What is free will in humanistic psychology?
The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.
What is self-actualization?
The desire to grow psychologically and fulfill one’s full potential—becoming what you are capable of.
What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
A five-leveled hierarchical sequence in which basic needs (such as hunger) must be satisfied before higher psychological needs (such as esteem and self-actualization) can be achieved.
What is meant by the ‘self’ in humanistic psychology?
The ideas and values that characterize ‘I’ and ‘me’ and include perception and valuing of ‘what I am’ and ‘what I can do.’
What is congruence in Rogers’ theory?
The aim of Rogerian therapy, where the self-concept and ideal self are seen to broadly accord or match.
What are conditions of worth?
When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love for their children; for instance, a parent saying to a child, “I will only love you if you study medicine” or “… if you split up with that boy.”
What is client-centered therapy, and what did Rogers argue about it?
Rogers developed client-centered therapy to help reduce the gap between the self-concept and ideal self. He argued that adults often experience problems like low self-esteem due to childhood conditions of worth.
What is one evaluation point for humanistic psychology?
Not reductionist: Humanistic psychology rejects attempts to break up behavior into smaller components, unlike behaviorism and psychodynamic approaches. It emphasizes studying the whole person and human experience in real-world contexts.
What is another evaluation point for humanistic psychology?
Limited application: While the approach has revolutionized counseling techniques and is useful in motivation (e.g., in the workplace), its impact on mainstream psychology is limited, as it lacks sound evidence and is more descriptive than scientific.
What is a positive aspect of humanistic psychology?
Positive approach: It is praised for seeing people as basically good, free to work toward achieving their potential, and being in control of their lives, promoting a refreshing alternative in psychology.
What is a critique of humanistic psychology?
Untestable concepts: Ideas such as self-actualization and congruence are difficult to measure and lack empirical evidence, leading to criticism for being unscientific.
