Humanist Approach

Question 1

Assumptions

Answer 1

1. Entirely self-determined
2. Was are active agents to have ability to determine development
3. Reject laws that try to establish general laws about behavior as each person is individual

Question 2

Self-actualisation

Answer 2

1. Innate desire to achieve full potential
2. Highest level of hierarchy of needs
3. All lower levels must be met before self-actualisation
4. Emphasis on personal growth: becoming more goal-oriented

Question 3

Outline congruence

Answer 3

1. For personal growth to be achieved , self must be equivalent to ideal self
2. If too big a gap exists then the personal will experience incongruence and will create negative feelings of self worth

Question 4

What’s the purpose of client centred therapy

Answer 4

1. To reduce gap between self and ideal self
2. Suggested low self esteem is a result of conditional love as a child
3. Parents who set ‘conditions of worth’
4. Role of therapist to offer unconditional positive regard

Question 5

Not reductionist

Answer 5

1. Does not break up the human experience into smaller components like other approaches
2. Holism: have to look at whole experience
3. More positive

Question 6

Limited application

Answer 6

1. Although revolutionised counselling it has it a limited impact on psychology as a whole
2. Lacks evidence and is a set of abstract concepts

Question 7

Positive approach

Answer 7

1. Promotes a positive image of the human condition
2. Approaches such as psychodynamic much less positive
3. Much more refreshing

Question 8

Cultural bias

Answer 8

1. Many of the concepts focus on autonomy
2. Individualist
3. Collectivist cultures may not agree this is good

Question 9

Untestable concepts

Answer 9

1. Concepts such as self-actualisation are untestable under experimental conditions
2. Lacks empirical evidence to support theory