Humanistic Approach Flashcards
Humanistic psychology
Focuses on the importance of subjective experience and each persons capacity of self determination
When did the humanistic approach emerge?
1950s in the US
Free will
Humans can make choices and are not determined by internal biological or external forces
Self-actualisation
The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil potential
Heirarchy of needs
5-level hierarchy where basic physiological needs (hunger) need to be satisfied before higher psychological needs (self-esteem)
Self
The ideas and values characterising me and I
Congruence
When the self-concept and the ideal self broadly match
Conditions of worth
When a parent has boundaries and limits for their love of their children
Who were the founders of humanistic psychology?
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
Who created the idea of the hierarchy of needs?
Abraham Maslow
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of need, what is our main goal?
Self-actualisation
What must be met before we reach self actualisation?
Deficiency needs
What are the deficiency needs
- Psychological needs
- Safety and security
- Love and belongingness
- Self esteem
What type of need is self actualisation
A growth need
Personal growth
Developing and changing as a person, to be satisfied and fulfilled
Why was counselling developed
To reduce the gap between the ideal self and the self image
How does Carl Roger explain many of our issues e.g. worthiness
Unconditional positive regard
Unconditional positive regard
unconditional love from our parents
What are the strengths of the humanistic approach?
It does not attempt to break up behaviour and experience into smaller components -> reductionist
It is optimistic, sees people as good, in control of their lives, and working towards goals
What are the weaknesses of the humanistic approach?
Reductionist approaches may be more scientific, there are not many single variables to measure -> so it lacks empirical evidence
It maybe culturally biased towards western countries with individualist cultures, and doesn’t easily work for collectivist cultures, e.g. India
