Humanistic approach

Question 1

What are 2 assumptions of humanism?

Answer 1

• people are self-determining & free will does exist
• people are inherently good & are driven to achieve their full potential

Question 2

What does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describe?

Answer 2

the needs that motivate our behaviour

Question 3

In what order does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs take place? (1- top, 5 - bottom)

Answer 3

1. self-actualisation
2. self esteem
3. love & belonginess
4. safety needs
5. physiology

Question 4

In Maslow’s hierarchy, what must happen to achieve self-actualisation?

Answer 4

the other defiency needs must be met

Question 5

what is self-actualisation?

Answer 5

the desire to grow psychologically & fulfil one’s full potential

Question 6

What did Rogers argue needed to happen for personal growth to be achieved?

Answer 6

the individual’s self image = ideal self

Question 7

What is it called when an individual’s self image = ideal self?

Answer 7

congruence

Question 8

What happens if an individual’s self image isn’t equal to their ideal self?

Answer 8

results in incongruence where the individual experiences negative feelings of self worth

Question 9

In order to reduce incongruence, what did Rogers develop? Why?

Answer 9

client-centred therapy (counselling) - help people cope with the problems of everyday living

Question 10

What did Rogers find incongruence was caused often by?

Answer 10

• lack of unconditional positive regard
• use of conditions of love

Question 11

What are conditions of love?

Answer 11

when a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their love

Question 12

As a result of issues with conditions of love, what was a key technique Rogers used during therapy?

Answer 12

provide his clients with unconditional positive regard

Question 13

What was Kuhn’s research into self image?

Answer 13

asked people to answer the question ‘Who am I?’ in 20 different statements
- answers often fell in 1/4 categories:
1) physical description
2) social roles
3) personal traits
4) existential statments

Question 14

What is 2 strengths of the humanistic approach?

Answer 14

1. optimistic - focuses on improving self image of individuals in comparison to other approaches
2. real life applications - brought about counselling & therapy

Question 15

What are 2 limitations of the humanistic approach?

Answer 15

1. not very scientific - subjective, difficult to measure & lack of empirical evidence to support its theories
2. culturally biased - ideals of humanistic psychology are more associated with individualist tendencies & so cannot be generalised