Humanistic Approach

Question 1

What are the four parts of HA (AO1)

Answer 1

• Free will
• Maslows hierachy of needs
• Self actualisation
• The self, congruence and conditions of worth

Question 2

What is free will?

Answer 2

Humanistic approach claims humans are self-determining and have free will. They are still affected by external and internal influence but are active agents who can determine their own development.

• Person- centred approach
• Reject scientific model

Question 3

What is maslows hierachy of needs?

Answer 3

Hierachy of needs which motivates our behaviour, in order to achieve our main goal of self-actualisation, a number of other deficiency needs must be met first. A person is only able to progress through the hierarchy if the current thing is met

Question 4

What is self actualisation?

Answer 4

An innate desire to achieve our full potential- to become the best they can. Self actualisation is the upmost level of the HON.

Question 5

What are “The self, congruence and conditions of worth?”

Answer 5

For personal growth to be achieved an individuals concept of the way they see themselves must be equivalent to their ideal self. If the gap is too big, negative feeling will arise due to incongruence.

Question 6

How did rogers reduce the go between self-concept and ideal self?

Answer 6

By developing client-centred therapy, or “counselling”.

Roger’s suggested our low self esteem, is due to conditional positive regard by our parents, as they set limits of love (conditions)- rogers provided clients with unconditional positive regard.

Question 7

What is the hierachy? (Bottom to top)

Answer 7

Physiological needs
Safety and security
Love and belongingness
Self esteem
Self actualisation

Question 8

What are the strength of the HA?

Answer 8

• Not reductionist in, rejects attempts to break up behaviour into smaller components. Behaviourists, cognitive and biological try and reduce behaviour into smaller processes. HA advocate Holism the idea that subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person. Increasing validity as it considers meaningful human behaviour in RW context. HOWEVER, reductionist approaches may be more scientific as it reduces behaviour to IV and DV- we cannot break down nor measure the HA- doesn’t have empirical evidence to support claims

The HA is optimistic, praised for bringing the person back into psychology compared to Freuds “prisoners of past” HA see all people as good and free to work towards their achievement. Refreshing and optimistic compared to others.

Question 9

What is a weakness of the HA?

Answer 9

Cultural bias- dead like autonomy, freedom and personal growth associate with individualistic countries (US), collectivist countries emphasise the needs of team and interdependence. Self actualisation may not be the most important so the approach doesn’t apply universally and is a product of the cultural context from its development.

Question 10

Brief AO3?

Answer 10

• Not reductionist HOWEVER, reductionist approaches may be more scientific
• Positive approach
  -Cultural bias