Humanist Approach Flashcards
What are 2 assumptions of the humanistic approach
That we have free will
We are able to self actualise
What is the humanistic approach
Emphasises the whole person and their personal subjective experiences, its suggests that humans are inherently good and motivated to fulfill their potential through personal growth and self actualisation
What is the self concept
The term to describe our ideas and values we have about ourselves, including perceptions of our abilities
What is the ideal self
The perception of the best version of ourselves
What is incongruence
When there is a large gao between our ideal self and our actual self concept, therefore negative feelings lead to low self worth and self esteem, so we are unable to achieve self actualisation
What is congruence
When there is little to no gap between self and ideal self, so we are able to progress up the hierarchy and achieve self actualisation
What is self actualisation
The innate desire we have to become the best version of ourselves through personal and psychological growth, like achieving our full potential
What is rogers ideas of therapy
Rogerian therapy aims to reduce the gap between ideal self and actual self by focusing on the clients feelings and experiences as a whole, increasing the likelihood of achieving congruence and self actualisation. Allows clients to explore their thoughts freely
What are conditions of worth
The standards people feel the need to achieve to feel valued or accepted by others, often shaped by socialising or parenting
How are conditions of worth created
Created early in life through interactions with caregivers and significant others, they develop through conditional positive regard, internalisation of external standards and reinforcement by social and cultural influences
When individuals receive love and acceptance when they meet certain expectations
How can conditions of worth be fixed
Therapeutic support - self centred therapy to explore true feelings and thoughts
Rebuilding self concept - accepting own feelings and building genuine self concept that isn’t shaped by external standard
Healthy and positive relationships - engaging in healthy relationships so offer a more positive environment free from unachievable standards
Evaluation: not reductionist
It views individuals as whole beings rather than breaking them down into more simplistic models. Humanism recognises the complexity of human experiences including the influence of emotions, relationships and personal growth, as seem by Maslow’s hierarchy. Allowing for a more comprehensive understanding
Evaluation: limited application to real world and others
Due to its emphasis on specific people as a whole, it collects subjective data on personal growth and experiences, making it less effective when addressing mental health issues on a larger population as it requires more structure. Also doesn’t provide specific techniques or methodologies for practitioners, making it more challenging to apply in clinical settings
Evaluation: untestable concepts
This approach often relies on subjective experiences like feelings, which makes it difficult to quantify scientifically. The lack of supporting empirical evidence makes it challenging to make hypotheses or conduct experiments to validate these concepts
When was the humanistic approach developed
1960s
