humanistic approach Flashcards
what are some assumptions of this approach (4)
Each individual is unique
Humans have freewill
Science should not be used to explain behavior
Humans should be viewed holistically (looking at something as a whole) and not reduced to parts
what is free will
the idea that humans are not controlled or predetermined by internal biological forces or external factors, they have a choice as to their actions and behavior
what does it mean for humans to be self- determining
they are active agents who make their own choices,
humans determine their own development and humans are in control of their own behavior
who came up with this approach
Maslow (1950s)
what 2 approaches did he reject and why
behaviorism because he had concerns with the lack of internal control of the model
rejected the psychodynamic approach as it was too deterministic
what is humanism
an approach that rejects anything that limits your capacity for free will or shape your own behavior
it emphasizes individual uniqueness
what does it mean by ‘subjective experience’
we have our own individual differences due to our uniqueness and this impacts how we interpret the world too
who came up with the core assumptions
Bugental (1967)
what are these core assumptions he produced (6)
we must study humans to understand humans not animals
only research areas useful to humans so then this can later be applied to us to make our experiences better
our internal experiences are important
free will is a powerful force
not great to study people in large groups (nomothetic)
humanists look at a person within their social context
what did Maslow produce
hierarchy of needs
what is self actualization
fulfilling ones potential
what do humanists see self actualization as and why
psychological growth
We achieve fulfilment and satisfaction in life only when can see that we have improved as a person, this is why it sits at the end
Maslow argued need to discover our own pathway for achieving happiness and from there we need to fulfil this potential.
draw out the hierarchy of needs on a whiteboard and check on sheet of paper in folder if u got it right
you can see what all the steps stand for
order of heirachy of needs from top to bottom
self actualisation
self esteemn
love and belonging
safety and security
physiological needs
what did rogers say
We should look at everything, every action or thought with a universal positive regard.
Good and bad are subjective
When dealing with a person you need to hold them in unconditional Positive Regard. People are good and we should expect their actions to be carried out with the best intent
what was his view on judging
In Rogers view no-one should never pass judgment on any individual, you don’t share the meanings that they hold, or see the world like they do. We do this we create problems with their sense of self.
In his view the individual is an ‘expert’ on their own action – not a researcher or a therapist.
what is actualizing tendency
an innate drive to grow that exists within all human beings. It is the motivational force that drives individuals to become more elaborated, integrated, and internally coordinated over time, leading to personal growth and development
this cannot be ‘achieved’ as it is a desire to grow and develop. Instead, we need to focus on what limits our ability to feel like we are growing.
Incongruence meaning
What Rogers believed the issue with most people’s mental health
mismatch or conflict between an individual’s self-image and actual experience. It is the difference between our ‘real self’ and ‘ideal self’
congruence meaning
when there is a consistency [matching] between how you see yourself [the perceived self] and the self you would like to be [the ideal self]
how can you shift this to lessen the gap and become consistent with your ideal gap
a more realistic awareness of who you are, or equally a more realistic set of aspirations for the ideal self.
The way to shift these beliefs is through unconditional positive regard, from loved ones, parents or if necessary, from a therapist.
conditions of worth meaning
when someone else frames your value, importance, or telling you how to act.
significant others can use your behavior as a gateway for inclusion, acceptance, or love. He argued that psychological issues are a direct result of these conditions.
e.g choose a career or university course to make their parents happy as they want to close gap between the ideal version of themselves (how they think they should be) and the real version of themselves (how the person acc is)
what type of therapy did Rogers find
counselling
what type of approach (general meaning of approach not like behaviorism or something) does counselling take
Person-centred approach to therapy - client led
what did rogers make counselling about
implemented positive model of ideal mental health. [Jahoda]
allowed for a movement of non-medical practitioners to work with and support those with complex needs or mental ill health
what are the 4 principles of counselling
Unconditional Positive Regard
Non-Judgmental Attitude
Disclosure
Reflection
Unconditional Positive Regard meaning
Without unconditional positive regard, the client will not disclose certain information, could feel unworthy, and may hold onto negative aspects of the self.
the therapist’s attitude must portray complete acceptance, nonjudgment, and support toward the client, regardless of what the client says or does.
Non-Judgmental Attitude meaning
Rogers believed that people see their mistakes and knowing what needs to change even if they may not initially admit it. He also believed that by judging a person, you are more likely to prevent disclosure.
disclosure meaning
Disclosure refers to the sharing of personal information. Rogers believed that in order for the client to disclose, the therapist must do the same. In modelling openness, you get a better insight from the client.
Reflection meaning
In reflecting a person’s words in back to them the client feels listen to and understood. This then allows them to rehear their own thoughts presented in a different way. Rogers argued that beliefs become more real once they are presented back to them by someone else.
2 strengths of humanism (1 study)
Harter et al. (1996) discovered that teenagers who feel they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain their parents’ approval end up not liking themselves. The researchers found that adolescents who create a ‘false self’, pretending to be the kind of person their parents would love, are also more likely to develop depression and a tendency to lose touch with their own true self.
The real-world effects of the acceptance of humanist counselling therapies
Millions of people have benefited from this approach
It has had a massive impact on several domains such as
Education
Mental health care. [DIHM]
limitations of humanism
it represents an overly idealised and unrealistic view of human nature. People are not as good or as growth-oriented as humanistic theories suggest, and the approach does not recognise people’s capacity for self-destructive behaviour.
The assumption that all problems arise from blocked self-actualisation is an oversimplification, so encouraging people to focus on their own self-development, rather than on situational forces, may not be appropriate.
holistic view meaning
looking at things as a whole
Humanistic psychology takes a holistic view of individuals, considering their thoughts, feelings, and experiences as interconnected. It looks at the whole person rather than reducing them to behaviors or unconscious drives. This holistic perspective is particularly useful in fields like therapy, where understanding the person in their entirety is crucial for effective treatment.
