Humanism

Question 1

What does humanism focus on?

Answer 1

The individual as a whole - they believe the individual inherently good and that they are driven to achieve their full potential

Question 2

How does humanism differ to other areas of psychology?

Answer 2

Unlike other areas it takes into account the feelings of an individual whereas other approaches just look at observable behaviour. This approach treats everyone like they are unique.

Question 3

What does the word idiographic mean?

Answer 3

The approach focuses on the individual

Question 4

What does humanism deem the cause of behaviour?

Answer 4

A persons subjective feelings and their thoughts about themselves especially how they can become better people and learn new things

Question 5

Why does humanism disagree with other approaches?

Answer 5

It disagrees with determinism and that all behaviour can be reduced to a cause and effect. They instead view people as having free will where people can choose how they behave- they are a rational and conscious being

Question 6

Why is free will important?

Answer 6

It motivates people to achieve their full potential

Question 7

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 7

A hierarchy to show how human needs can be categorised and prioritised. Maslow unlike other psychologists looks at how people can become better people

Question 8

What is stage 1?

Answer 8

Physiological needs- you source the food, water, shelter and sleep you need to stay alive

Question 9

What is stage 2?

Answer 9

Need for safety- at this level you strive to feel physically, psychologically and economically

Question 10

What is stage 3?

Answer 10

Need for love and belonging- at this level you consider affection, acceptance and belonging to be most important

Question 11

What is stage 4?

Answer 11

Need for esteem- At this level you are focused on achievement and gaining respect from others

Question 12

What is stage 5?

Answer 12

Self-actualisation- you realise you fullest potential, you’ve become the best you are capable of being

Question 13

What is Maslow’s view on people and his hierarchy?

Answer 13

Most people spend their whole lives trying to get to the final stage, but hardly anyone ever gets their. You must progress through each stage.

Question 14

What is are 2 weaknesses of humanism?

Answer 14

It is a western approach- western attitudes are more concerned with the individual rather than the social group
Humanism assumes that everyone can self actualise where it may only be that the most intelligent people can

Question 15

What are the characteristics of self actualisation?

Answer 15

A strong sense of self awareness
A fully accepting view of themselves
The ability to deal with uncertainty and the unknown
A strong sense of creativity

Question 16

How can self actualisation be measured?

Answer 16

Using peak experiences- times where the person feels wonder or euphoria towards the world around them. After these experiences people often feel inspired.

Question 17

What does Maslow HON fail to explain?

Answer 17

Why some people who have self actualised deprive themselves of the basic human needs e.g. mother Theresa and food

Question 18

What was Aronoff’s study?

Answer 18

He looked at fishermen and cane cutters. Cane cutters were paid depending on the how much the whole group cut. Fishermen worked individually and got paid for their own work. Fishermen earned more. They were assessed on Maslow’s HON. Fishermen were higher on the pyramid suggesting they had found security and safety.

Question 19

Evaluation of Aronoff’s study?

Answer 19

High ecological validity- natural investigation

Only one culture studied- British culture- can it therefore be generalised

Question 20

How does Rodgers agree with Maslow?

Answer 20

He agrees with self actualisation and the belief that people are inherently good and motivated to reach their fullest potential

Question 21

Why does Rodger disagree with Maslow?

Answer 21

He doesn’t believe that the route to self actualisation was as strict as Maslow suggested. Rodgers thought that people moved towards self actualisation as a result of their own thoughts and how people treat them

Question 22

What does Rodger believe about blockages?

Answer 22

That if your path to self actualisation is not blocked you will develop in a psychologically healthy way. Blockages such as living in a difficult environment can lead to psychologically problems.

Question 23

What does Rodgers believe that people have a need for>

Answer 23

To be regarded in a good light by others and to be shown love affection and respect. This is specific to children who seek approval from their parents. They’ll be psychologically more happy if they get approval from their parents and not if displeased.

Question 24

What is self concept?

Answer 24

How a person views themselves

Question 25

What are the 2 parts to self concept?

Answer 25

Unconditional positive regard

Conditions of worth

Question 26

What is unconditional positive regard?

Answer 26

Where a person gets affection and support no matter what there behaviour is like

Question 27

What are conditions of worth?

Answer 27

This is where approval and affection is given as a result of behaving in a particular way. This helps people fit in to society but Rodgers claims it can prevent people from self actualisation as people may focus on keeping others happy rather than their individual needs

Question 28

What is Rodger’s problem of incongruence?

Answer 28

This is when their is a mismatch between a person self concept and ideal self.

Question 29

How do you deal with the problem of incongruence>

Answer 29

Client-centred therapy- the therapy focuses on the client and they are in charge of what is talked about and it is their responsibility to solve their own problems. The client makes the patient aware of their thoughts- they can do this carefully by rephrasing patient’s words and repeating back to them

Question 30

How does unconditioned positive regard link to client-centred therapy?

Answer 30

The patient gets support and affection no matter what so that the client comes to value themselves

Question 31

What is Gibbard’s study?

Answer 31

He looked at 700 people in 5 years who were having client-centred therapy for mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. A questionnaire was used to measure the extent of the condition before and after therapy . 70% of participant showed improvement after therapy regarding their mental health

Question 32

What are the strengths of humanism?

Answer 32

Very positive approach which states that people are thriving to be better
Free will is a major part- not a deterministic approach- deterministic approaches are not effective in establishing complex nature of behaviour
The approach treats people like an individual and doesn’t reduce them down to a cause and effect
Research gathers qualitative data which is rich in detail- Rodgers recorded many of his therapy sessions so they could be analysed
Counselling approaches are effective - used in real life

Question 33

What are the weaknesses of the humanistic approach?

Answer 33

There is less emphasis on the role of genes than the biological approach
Lacks objectivity- based on subjective reports so it becomes hard to test in a scientific way- self actualisation is hard to measure
As it is idiographic it is impossible to generalise the approach to everyone making it less scientifically credible
Some key concepts are vague and poorly defined - this means that empirical research cannot be conducted
Practical application of UPR by teachers helps student realise their full potential