humanistic approach: Flashcards
Assumptions (AO1)
Every person has their own unique way of perceiving and understanding the world, and the things they do only make sense in this light. Therefore, the aim of this approach is not objectivity as the other approaches; its aim is to understand people’s subjectivity. According to this approach, people are self-determining, which means that they have free will they can make choices about the way they think and act. These choices are not determined by biological or other external factors.
Self-actualisation (AO1)
All people have an innate tendency towards growth and the fulfillment of their potential; they have the desire to become everything that they are capable of – self-actualization.
However, according to Maslow, people also have needs that must be met for self-actualization to be possible. The basic needs, e.g., food and water, have to be satisfied before the higher ones.
According to Rogers, people could only self-actualize if they had a positive view of themselves (positive self-regard). This can only happen if they have unconditional positive regard from others – if they feel that they are valued and respected without reservation by those around them (especially their parents when they were children).
However, most people don’t perceive the positive regard of others as being unconditional. They tend to think they will only be loved and valued if they meet certain conditions of worth. These conditions of worth create incongruity within the self between the real self (how the person is) and the ideal self (how they think they should be or want to be).
Self-actualization is only possible if there is congruence between the way an individual sees themselves and their ideal self (the way they want to be or think they should be).
If there is a large gap between these two concepts, negative feelings of self-worth will arise that will make it impossible for self-actualization to take place.
Evaluation (AO3)
It has given rise to a new way of looking at people’s needs; for example, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is widely used in health and social work as a framework for assessing clients’ needs.
Client-centered therapy is widely used in health, social work, and industry. This therapy has helped many people overcome difficulties they face in life, which is a significant contribution to improving people’s quality of life.
The approach uses non-scientific research methods. As its aim is to understand people’s subjectivity, it uses methods that yield qualitative data, such as unstructured interviews or participant observations. These are difficult/ impossible to replicate, and the interpretation of the data is influenced by researcher bias.
It proposes a positive view of human nature. However, it could be argued that this might not be very realistic when considering everyday reality, such as domestic violence and genocides.
Furthermore, the approach’s focus on meeting our needs and fulfilling our growth potential reflects an individualistic, self-obsessed outlook that is part of the problem faced by our society rather than a solution.
The approach is holistic as it does not try to break down behaviors into simpler components, e.g., Stimulus and response – Increases validity when compared to other explanations like the behaviorist approach.
The approach is non-determinist as it recognizes free will, but its position on this topic is somewhat incoherent as, on the one hand, it argues that people have free will but, on the other hand, it argues that our behavior is determined by the way other people treat us (whether we feel that we are valued and respected without reservation by those around us).
The approach recognizes both the influence of nature and nurture. Nurture is the influence of experiences on a person’s ways of perceiving and understanding the world, and nature is the influence of biological drives and needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).
Cultural bias – Personal growth would be associated with individualist cultures as collectivist cultures such as India emphasize community and interdependence – The approach is a product of the cultural context within which it was developed, and an emic approach is more appropriate.
