humanistic approach

Question 1

assumptions

Answer 1

• subjectivity should be emphasised to understand individuals
• we have free will over behaviour & development
• humans are complex (cannot be understood by studying them in parts)

Question 2

maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 2

model of psychological development (deficiencies at each level need to be fulfilled to progress to self-actualisation

Question 3

congruence

Answer 3

agreement between individual’s self-concept & ideal self (helps people progress through hierarchy of needs)

Question 4

conditions of worth

Answer 4

• conditional positive regard leads to people developing conditions of worth (type of expectation individuals feel they must meet to be accepted / loved)
• conditions of worth can produce a feeling of incongruence

Question 5

emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 5

• rejects idea that behaviour should be broken into pieces to be studies (prefer holistic approaches)
• reject idea that we do not have free will over behaviour

Question 5

evaluation

Answer 5

• has led to person-centred therapy / counselling psychology (aims to reduce incongruence & allow individual to recognise psychological limits / strengths and achieve realistic balance)
• evidence for existence of maslow’s hierarchy is empirically thin (hard to scientifically test effectiveness of counselling)
• critics argue that approach offers unrealistic view of human nature (focuses on health, goals, growth > difficulties with development)
• advocates of approach believe behaviour is a choice, not determined by outside forces
• maslow’s hierarchy is culturally biased (some cultures value cultural actualisation > self actualisation)