humanistic approach Flashcards
Who created the humanistic approach
*Roger and Maslow
assumptions of humanistic approach
*humans determine their own behaviour and have free will
*person’s subjective experience matters more than their objective reality when understanding their behavior.
*everyone has an innate drive to reach their full potential
Feature one of the humanistic approach
*free will
*free will is possible
*humans are self determining so behavior is due to our choices- we can reject internal/external influences such as genes or unconscious motives.
*have free will to make choices to enable personal change
Feature two of humanistic approach
SELF-ACTUALISATION
*humanism believes that all humans have the desire to reach full potential
*MORE BASIC NEEDS HAVE TO BE MET BEFORE HIGHER NEEDS CAN BE ACHIEVED
*can move up and down hierarchy if needs are lost
*aim to fulfill potential, continue to change thruout lives.
Feature three- self and congruence, whats in/ congruence?
- Congruence= where theres consistency between ur perceived self (how u view urself) and ur ideal self (person u want to be)
*incongruence- when theres a mismatch between perceived and ideal self- likely to have low self worth and poorer psychological health
Where does incongruence stem from? (feature four)
*stems on childhood, when parents/sig others place limit on their love- may only show love/approval when specific conditions met
How does conditions of worth influence persons development?
*believe they can only accept themselves/be happy when they reach these expectations set by others- this can increease the gap between self and ideal self
How can incongruence be reduced?
counselling- therapist creates environment of unconditional positive regard
What does the therapist do to reduce incongruence in patient?
*creates environment of unconditional positive regard
*accepts clients feelings and experiences, avoid making judgements
What does counselling lead the patients to?
*self-actualization by helping them develop more realistic view of their ideal self, closing the gap between self and ideal self
How does Person- centered therapy work?
*focus on present experiences
*therapy more forward thinking to help client reduce incongruence
*client is expert in their own lives
*therapist offer empathy. geniusnes to facilitate growth
*non-directive- client is encouraged to exert free will and discover own solution to problems
Evaluate the humanistic approach
Strengths:
P- one strength is that it takes a more positive stance to explain bheaviour as it argues for free will
E- suggest that individuals can choose their behaviour and can neglect external and int influences.
E- for ex and individuals choices in life affcet whether they self actualise.
L - therefore this is seen as a more positive approach to understanding human nature, especially when compared to more deterministic theories like the biological approach that argues that behaviour is contolled by int influnces like gens, thefore making humanism a more positive approach.
P- prac apps
E- principles of the theory that individuals have free will to choose their behaviour has led to treatment of Person Centred Therapy.
E- PCT can be used to treat abnorm in the real world such as depression, by helping the individiual achieve congruence and self act thru emphathy and unconditional positive regard.
L - therefore the humanistic exp of human bheaviour is an important part of applied psych as it helps to treat ppl in the real world.
Limitations:
*P- one limitation- bound by cultural relativism.
*E- many of the concepts of humanism like self actualisation and personal growth are associated with westernal- indi cultures. Collec countries like India for eg emphasise the needs of community and working as a group, meaning they dont nec aim to self- ac.
L- thefore its possible that this approach doesnt apply universally and its limited to western cultures.,
Rank the hierarchy of needs
self actaulisation- top’
self esteem- 2nd tier
*love/belonging needs - 3rd tier
*safety needs- 4th
*phsyiological needs-botton
