Humanist approach Flashcards
What are the key assumptions of the humanistic approach
- every person is unique
- each person is a rational and conscious being- people have free will
- humans should be viewed as a whole and not reduced to component parts. must be looked at from a holistic perspective
- scientific methods isnt a valid way to study human behaviour as it is too objective - humans are subjective
What is freewill
our ability to choose how to behave
- a person is responsible for their own behaviour
What is self actualisation?
every person has an innate tendency to try to self actualise
- the attempt to achieve their full potential
- feeling of satisfaction and completeness
What is personal growth
developing and changing to become fulfilled
- essential and is the path to self actualise
Why may everyone not achieve self actualisation
process is unique to each individual and there may be physical and psychological factors that prevent them
What did Rodger suggest to achieve self actualisation
you must be fully functioning and overcome any barriers
What are the characteristic of a fully functioning person
- open to experience
- lives existentially
- trusts feelings
- creative
- fulfilled life
Why did Maslow suggest a hierarchy of needs?
he thought in order to reach self actualisation a number of other needs must be met first
each stage mist be successfully achieved before moving onto the next
What happened if only of the lower levels on the hierarchy are no longer met
an individual will cease to be self-actualise
- self actualisation isn’t permanent
What is the order of the heirarchy of needs
- Phycological needs
- Safety needs
- Belongingness and love
- Esteem
- Self actualisation
What are the 3 selves
- self concept
- ideal self
- real self
Why do we have 3 selves
Rodger suggested we must integrate our 3 selves in order to self actualise
What is the self concept
the person you perceive yourself to be
- based on life experiences and whether you’ve experiences conditions of worth and unconditional positive regard
What is the ideal self?
The person you wish to be (goals ambitions etc)
The real self
the person you actually are
- your actual skills and abilities as well as your limitations
What is Rodgers theory of congruence
in order to self actualise a person must be congruent
this means your 3 selves should all be similar
How can you achieve congruence
close the gap between your self concept ideal self and real self
What was Rodgers theory of conditions of worth
assumed all individuals needs unconditional positive regard as its essential to the development of a well adjusted adult
What is conditional positive regard
a parent who limits their love for their child
- this can encourage an individual to have a negative self-concept
What is person centred therapy
non directive and client is encouraged to discover their own solutions in a non judgemental therapeutic setting
How do therapist help patients become congruent in therapy
by treating them with unconditional positive regard they didn’t receive in childhood to help them gain self worth
What are strengths of the humanist approach
- contribution to psychology
- practical applications
What are limitations of the humanist approach
- no scientific method
- exaggerates free will
- cultrally biased
