Humanistic Approach

Question 1

Who are the 2 humanists in the humanistic approach ?

Answer 1

Carl Rogers
Abraham Maslow

Question 2

What are the assumptions of the humanistic approach ?

Answer 2

Every individual is unique - we are all different so should be treated as such. We shouldn’t generalise groups (ideographic)

Free will- humans are self determining, the approach acknowledges that we have constrains on free will such as social rules, laws and morals

People should be viewed holistically- we shouldn’t just look at one aspect of an individual as what might be affecting the individual might be missed

The scientific method is not appropriate- the scientific approach try to develop general principles of behaviour and generalise but humanists disagree as humans are unique. Similarly, the scientific method is too objective and ignores the subjective experiences of people

Question 3

Define self actualisation

Answer 3

The innate tendency to reach one’s full potential and improve yourself. It is the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. For example, someone who has reached self-actualisation will experience morality and creativity. It is subjective

Question 4

What is Maslow responsible for creating ?

Answer 4

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

Question 5

What’s the order of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs ?

Answer 5

Self - actualisation
Self-esteem
Love and belonging
Safety and security
Physiological needs

Question 6

Explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 6

The first 4 are responsible for Deficiency needs and self-actualisation is a growth need.
- To self actualise you have to meet all the needs in the hierarchy
- you can’t reach self actualisation without fulfilling the deficiency needs

Question 7

What did Roger talk about ?

Answer 7

How we view ourselves is essential in determining whether we reach self actualisation. We have 3 selves that play a role in this

Question 8

What does Roger identify as your 3 Selves ?

Answer 8

1. Perceived self - view yourself - List A
2. Ideal self - Who you are aiming to be - List B
3. Real self - The person who you actually are

Question 9

Define perceived self in rogers 3 selves

Answer 9

How your view yourself and capable you believe you are. It is similar to self esteem as if someone has a low self esteem they will have a low perceived self (self-concept) and will have a distorted view on how capable they are

Question 10

What does congruence mean ?

Answer 10

When your ideal self and perceived self are similar

Question 11

What does incongruence mean?

Answer 11

When the ideal self and perceived self are not similar

Question 12

What does Rodger say if the gap between the ideal self and perceived self is too big ?

Answer 12

If too big of a gap exists between these selves then they experience a state of incongruence and self actualisation isn’t possible

Question 13

What are the 2 basic needs that a person needs?

Answer 13

1. Positive regard from others
2. Positive self worth

Question 14

What does Roger mean by conditions of worth?

Answer 14

standards put on someone by a significant other which they believe they must meet if they are to be accepted by others

Question 15

What is conditions of worth also known as ?

Answer 15

conditional positive regard

Question 16

What is meant by conditional?

Answer 16

When an individual is only accepted when they do what you expect them to do

Question 17

What is meant by unconditional?

Answer 17

When an individual is accepted for who they are, not what they do

Question 18

How does a conditional positive regard develop?

Answer 18

Parents conditional love

Question 19

What effects can a parent having conditional love have on their child?

Answer 19

It can damage their self concept especially if they fail to meet the conditions placed on them therefore incongruence is likely to occur
This makes it harder to achieve congruence and therefore self actualise

Question 20

What did Roger say is an important part of achieving congruence?

Answer 20

unconditional positive regard

Question 21

What is unconditional positive regard?

Answer 21

When a person is loved simply for who they are

Question 22

How does unconditional positive regard helps an individual achieve congruence?

Answer 22

It boosts their self-concept which allows them to see themselves more as their ideal self which mean its easier to self actualise

Question 23

What type of therapy can provide unconditional positive regard ?

Answer 23

Person-centred therapy

Question 24

What 3 things does Roger think an effective therapist should provide the client with?

Answer 24

1. Genuinness
2. Empathy
3. Unconditional positive regard

Question 25

Describe person- centred therapy

Answer 25

Aim:
increase the individuals feelings of self-worth, reduce the level of incongruence between the self-concept and ideal self, help the individual become fully functioning

It focuses on present problems rather the dwelling on the past
Best applied to ‘mild’ psychological conditions such as anxiety

Question 26

Give 3 reasons why humanism uses non-scientific methods

Answer 26

Subjective conscious experience: Rogers and Maslow focus on a persons subjective perception and understanding of the world as objective view is less important

Animals : They believe humans are fundamentally different to animals because humans are capable of thought, reason and language

Dehumanising: They reject the scientific approach to psychology because they saw it as dehumanising and unable to capture the richness of conscious experience

Question 27

What are 2 strengths of the humanistic approach ?

Answer 27

Holistic (not reductionist)
Positive

Question 28

What are 2 weaknesses of the humanistic approach ?

Answer 28

Unscientific
Cultural bias