Humanist Approach Flashcards
what are the assumptions for the humanist approach?
-Human beings have free will and even though we are affected by internal and external influences, we are active agents who have the ability to determine our own behaviour
-The humanistic approach is an ideographic approach as it suggests that we are all unique, therefore psychology should focus on the study of subjective experience, rather belanour than general laws. This is referred to as the person-centred approach in psychology.
• reaching self actualisation is the main motivation of the human organism
What is the main ideographic research for the humanistic approach?
Case studies and unstructured interviews
what is free will?
-idea that humans are free to choose their own thoughts and actions therefore having an active role in controlling their behaviour.
-It views humans as self-governing therefore they are not acting in response to any external or internal pressures.
what did maslow create and what does this explain?
a hierarchy of needs which explains what motivates people
What our most basic need for?
for physical survival, and this will be the first thing that motivates our behaviour.
what happens once the first need satisfied?
Once this need is satisfied we can move on to the next level.
Moving up the hierarchy, the next level is safety and security, followed by love and belongingness, self-esteem and finally self-actualisation.
When is a person only able to progress through the hierarchy?
once the current need has been met.
What is self actualisation?
-The physiological growth need and represents the uppermost level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
-it is the desire to grow physiologically and fulfil one potential
What else is in a person self actualisation?
where a person is creative, accepting of other people and has an accurate perception of the world
What did maslow believe about self actualisation?
-that self actualisation is the aim of most people and that everyone will manage this due to important physiological barriers that may prevent a person from reaching their true potential (e.g. the ability to accept themselves and other people)
what is the self? (or self concept)
Refers to how we perceive ourselves as a person
what is the self? (or self concept)
Refers to how we perceive ourselves as a person
What are the components of the self?
Self-image
Ideal self
what is self image?
-How we see ourselves
what is self image important for?
Self-image is important for good psychological health. At a simple level, we might perceive ourselves as a good or bad person, beautiful or ugly. Self-image affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves in the world.
