Humanistic Approach

Question 1

Humanistic psychology

Answer 1

Focuses on the importance of subjective experience and each persons capacity of self determination

Question 2

When did the humanistic approach emerge?

Answer 2

1950s in the US

Question 3

Free will

Answer 3

Humans can make choices and are not determined by internal biological or external forces

Question 4

Self-actualisation

Answer 4

The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil potential

Question 5

Heirarchy of needs

Answer 5

5-level hierarchy where basic physiological needs (hunger) need to be satisfied before higher psychological needs (self-esteem)

Question 6

Self

Answer 6

The ideas and values characterising me and I

Question 7

Congruence

Answer 7

When the self-concept and the ideal self broadly match

Question 8

Conditions of worth

Answer 8

When a parent has boundaries and limits for their love of their children

Question 9

Who were the founders of humanistic psychology?

Answer 9

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Question 10

Who created the idea of the hierarchy of needs?

Answer 10

Abraham Maslow

Question 11

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of need, what is our main goal?

Answer 11

Self-actualisation

Question 12

What must be met before we reach self actualisation?

Answer 12

Deficiency needs

Question 13

What are the deficiency needs

Answer 13

1. Psychological needs
2. Safety and security
3. Love and belongingness
4. Self esteem

Question 14

What type of need is self actualisation

Answer 14

A growth need

Question 15

Personal growth

Answer 15

Developing and changing as a person, to be satisfied and fulfilled

Question 16

Why was counselling developed

Answer 16

To reduce the gap between the ideal self and the self image

Question 17

How does Carl Roger explain many of our issues e.g. worthiness

Answer 17

Unconditional positive regard

Question 18

Unconditional positive regard

Answer 18

unconditional love from our parents

Question 19

What are the strengths of the humanistic approach?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What are the weaknesses of the humanistic approach?

Answer 20

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