Humanism Flashcards
What are the four evaluation points for humanism?
1) Holistic approach
2) Practical applications
3) Cultural relativism
4) positive stance
AO3: holism
A strength of the humanistic approach to explaining human behaviour is that it takes on a holistic approach. It takes into account how a persons subjective experience could influence and explain their behaviour. Whereas reductionist approaches such as behaviourism reduce complex human behaviour into simple basic units of stimulus, response and association. Therefore humanism is seen as valid way of understanding human behaviour in a real life context compared to reductionist alternative explanations.
AO3: Practical applications
A strength of the humanistic approach to explaining human behaviour is that it has practical applications. The principles of the theory that humans have free will and can choose their own behaviour has revolutionised counselling techniques and has led to the treatment of Person Centred Therapy. PCT has been used to treat people in the real world such as depression by helping individuals achieve congruence and self actualise through empathy and unconditional positive regard. Therefore the humanistic approach to explaining human behaviour is an important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world.
AO3: Cultural relativism
A limitation of the humanistic approach to explaining behaviour is that it has cultural relativism. Many of the concept of humanism such as self actualisation and personal growth is associated with individualistic, western cultures. Collectivist cultures such as India emphasis the needs of community and working as a group meaning they don’t necessarily aim to self actualise. Therefore the humanistic approach to explaining human behaviour doesn’t apply universally and is limited to western cultures.
AO3: Free will
A strength of the humanistic approach to explaining human behaviour is that it has a more positive stance as it argues for free will. Individuals can choose their behaviour and neglect external and internal influences. For example an individuals life choices can affect whether they self actualise. This is a more positive approach compared to deterministic theories such as the biological approach that argues behaviour is controlled by internal influences such as genes. This makes the humanistic approach a more appropriate approach for explaining human behaviour compared to deterministic alternative explanations.
What is an assumption?
All humans can determine their own behaviour and have free will.
What are the four features?
1) Free will
2) Self actualisation
3) The self and congruence
4) Conditions of worth
AO1: Free will
Humanism unlike other approaches, argue that free will is possible. Humans are self determining and out behaviour is due to choices so we can reject internal or external motives such as genes or unconscious motives. We have free chill to make choices to enable personal growth and change so we are free to choose how we act.
AO2: Self actualisation
Humanism believes that all humans to achieve their full potential to be the best they possibly can. Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs which contains a range of needed needed for personal growth and survival. The more basic needs have to be met before higher needs are achieved.
The most basic needs are psychological needs that are required for survival e.g. food, water and sleep. Next are safety needs such as security of a job, home and good health. Next are love and belonging which is linked to giving and receiving love and acceptance such as having friends and family. Next is esteem needs which is seeking respect from other, self confidence and achievement. The highest level is self actualisation. This isn’t a need because of something we are lacking but for personal growth. We aim to fulfil our full potential and this will change through our lives. We can move up and down hierarchy if needs are lost.
AO1: The self and congruence
Humanism argues that to achieve personal growth there needs to be a focus on the self. Roger created the concept of the self and the ideal self.
The self is how we view ourselves in terms of what I am and and I can do. The self concept comes from our own experiences of the world and how significant people treat or view us. The ideal self refers to how we feel we should be or who we want to be. Congruence occurs when’s there’s a match between the perceived self and the ideal self. This will enable a person to achieve personal growth and achieve their goals. When there’s a mismatch between the self and the ideal self we are in a state on incongruence which leads to low self worth and poorer psychological health.
AO1: Conditions of worth
Incongruence stems from childhood when parents or significant others place limits on their loves (approving if specific conditions have been met). These conditions of worth influence the person in their development as they may only accept themselves or be happy when these expectations set by other or even themselves have been met. This increases the gap between the self and the ideal self leading to low self esteem.
Outline the influence of humanistic psychology on counselling.
Psychoanalysis focuses on the past such as childhood trauma whereas was PCT focuses on present experiences and problems and uses more forward thinking to reduce incongruence. In psychoanalysis the therapist is the expert and interprets the clients dreams and experiences whereas in PCT the client is seen as the expert in there own lives and conditions. The therapist offers empathy and genuineness to facilitate the clients growth. Psychoanalysis is directive and the therapist takes on the central role of directing the conversation to the problem whereas PCT is non-directive and the client is encouraged to exert free will and discover their own solutions to their problems.
How to reduce incongruence by counselling
Counselling can help the client deal with issues by creating an environment where the client feels unconditional positive regard. The therapist must accept the clients feelings and experience and must be empathetic and not judgmental. This helps solve conditions of worth and guides the client to self actualisation by creating a more realistic view of their ideal self in turn closing the gap between the perceived self and the ideal self enabling congruence.
