Humanisitic Approach

Question 1

Assumption of humanistic psychology

Answer 1

All human can determine their own behaviour and have free will

Question 2

Feature 1 free will

Answer 2

Humanism argues free will is possible

Human are self determining so behaviour is due to our choices and we can reject any internal or external influences

We have free will make choices to enable personal change and growth
So we are free to choose how we act

Question 3

Feature 2 self actualisation

Answer 3

All humans have need to achieve full potential, to become the best they can possible be

Maslow developed hierarchy of needs that person requires for survival and growth

More basic needs need to be met before higher needs can be achieved

We can move up and down hierarchy

Question 4

Hierarchy of needs

Answer 4

Self actualisation

Esteem needs
(Achievements/ self confidence)

Love/belonging
(Giving/recieving acceptance of love)
From friendships or relationships

Safety needs
(Home,job security)

Physiological needs
(Food,water)

Question 5

Feature 3 self and congurence

Answer 5

For person to achieve personal growth there needs to be a focus on the self

Actual self - who they actually are in moment of time

Ideal self - person we should / want to be

Question 6

When ideal self and actual self match what does this mean?

Answer 6

Congruence

Question 7

What does it mean when ideal self does not match up with actual self

Answer 7

Incongruence

Leading to low self worth

Poor psychological health

Anxiety

Question 8

Feature 4 conditions of worth

Answer 8

Expectations from childhood

Placed in us by others e.g parents or teachers

Only worth it / loveable if you act in a certain way

E.g you should… otherwise

Question 9

How to reduce incongruence

Answer 9

Counselling can help them deal with these
issues

As there therapist create an environment where person can feel unconditional positive regard

Therapist avoids making judgments and must be empathetic

Help resolve c.o.w and help clients toward self actualisation

Developing more realistic view of ideal self

Closing gap between self and ideal self enabling congruence

Question 10

Humanistic psychology on counselling
(person centred therapy/PCT)

Where is it looking?

Answer 10

Focus is on present problems more forward thinking to help client to reduce incongruence

Question 11

Who leads therapy in PCT?

Answer 11

Client is seen as expert in their own lives

Therapist offers empathy and genuiness

Question 12

Is PCT directive or non directive ?

Answer 12

Non-directive, where client is encouraged to exert free will and discover their own solutions to there problems

Question 13

Humanistic psychology Ao3
strength

Answer 13

Takes holistic approach to explaining behaviour

Takes into account how persons subjective experience would influence and explain whole behaviour

Whereas reductionist approaches such as behaviourism reduce complex human behaviour to a consequence of stimulas response association

Thus humanism is seen as a more valid way of understanding human behaviour in a real life context than the more reductionist alternative explanation

Question 14

Humanistic psychology Ao3 strength

Answer 14

Further strength of humanistic explanation of human behaviour is that it has practical applications

Principles of the theory that individuals have free will to choose their behaviour has revolutionised counselling techniques and has lead to treatments of pct

Pct can be used to treat abnormalities in the real world such as depression by

helping individuals achieve confidence and self actualise through empathy and unconditional positive regard

Thus humanistic explanation of human behaviour is an important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people IRL

Question 15

Humanistic psychology Ao3 strength

Answer 15

Bound by culturally relativism

Many concepts of humanism such as self actualisation and personal growth are associated with indivualistic western cultures

Collectivist cultures such as India emphasise needs of community

Meaning they don’t necessarily aim to self actualise

Thus it’s possible this approach does not apply universally and is limited to western cultures

Question 16

Humanistic psychology Ao3 strength

Answer 16

Takes positive stance to explain human behaviour as the approach argues for free will

Suggested individuals choose behaviour and can reject external and internal influences

E.g an individual choices in life affect whether they self actualise

Seen as a more positive approach to understanding human nature compared to more deterministic theories such as the biological approach that argues behaviour is controlled by internal influences such as genes

Therefore humanism may be seen as a more positive explanation of human behaviour