Approaches in Psychology (Humanistic)

Question 1

What are the three key features of the humanistic approach?

Answer 1

1. Focuses on the person as a whole
2. Assumes all people are good and driven to achieve their full potential
3. Assumes all behaviour is caused by free will

Question 2

What are the 5 levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 2

Highest
5. Self actualisation
4. Need for esteem; achievements and gaining respect
3. Need for love and belonging
2. Need for emotional, psych and econ. safety
1. Physiological survival needs
Lowest

Question 3

What are some problems with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 3

• It’s a westernised concept; individualist cultures encourage individual growth, no group mentality, capitalist systems
• Assumes everyone can self-actualise: but only educated and wealthy people have all of the opportunity

Question 4

What are the characteristics of self-actualised people?

Answer 4

1. Strong self-awareness
2. Full acceptance of themselves and others
3. Ability to deal with uncertainty
4. Strong sense of creativity

Question 5

What did Rogers claim?

Answer 5

Self-actualisation depended on people’s self image and the way they’re treated by others: in particular, Rogers emphasised that the closer someone’s ideal image was to their actual (extent of congruence), the more self-actualised a person was.

Question 6

How are conditions of worth and unconditional positive regard related to congruence?

Answer 6

Conditions of worth are set for a person, the person’s ideal self is different to their actual self = incongruence

Unconditional positive regard, love and acceptance received for behaviour = congruence

Question 7

What does person-centred therapy aim to achieve?

Answer 7

PCT aims to create congruence in the client’s life by encouraging self-value.

Question 8

What did Gibbard and Hanley find about the efficiency of PCT?

Answer 8

70% of participants showed a significant improvement in mental health after PCT

Question 9

What are two strengths of the humanistic approach?

Answer 9

• Very holistic and treats each individual as unique - this means that PCT therapy developed from the approach is likely to work for more people (Gibbard and Hanley 70%) - increases the amount of societal applications
• Research using this approach is more useful - generates a lot of qualitative data, rich in detail - could lead to alternative perspectives and lead to new theories being developed

Question 10

What is a weakness of the humanistic approach?

Answer 10

• Approach lacks objectivity - its based on feelings and subjective reports which are difficult to test scientifically - lowers scientific credibility