Humanistic approach

Question 1

Who created the hierarchy of needs theory?

Answer 1

Abraham Maslow

Question 2

Who created self actualisation theory?

Answer 2

Carl Rogers

Question 3

What is the fundamental belief of humanistic theory?

Answer 3

Human nature is positive and life affirming

• Role of choice and responsibility to promote meaningful and satisfying life
• Behaviour motivated by need to grow and become what we need to be

Question 4

What are the five hierarchy of needs?

Answer 4

1. Physiological needs
2. Safety needs
3. Love and belonging
4. Esteem
5. Self actualisation

Question 5

What are the basic rules of the hierarchy of needs?

Answer 5

• Affected by learning, social expectations, fear of disapproval
• Lower needs must be satisfied before higher needs could take place
• Behaviours are learnt
• One need dominates personality at a time

Question 6

What happens when an individual doesn’t reach self acualization?

Answer 6

They feel restless, frustrated, and discontent

Question 7

What are the conditions of self actualisation? (4)

Answer 7

• free of constraints imposed by society and ourselves
• progression through the hierarchy of needs
• knowledge of own strengths and weaknesses
• sufficient love and sense of safety and security in the early years

Question 8

What are the traits of self actualisation? (11)

Answer 8

• clear perception of reality
• acceptance of others, self, and nature
• spontaneity
• dedication to a cause
• independence and need for privacy
• ability to perceive and experience the environment with freshness
• social interest
• deep interpersonal relationships
• tolerance and acceptance of others
• creativity
• resistance to social pressures

Question 9

Why do only 1% of the population reach self actualisation?

Answer 9

• inadequate education
• overprotectiveness and limited opportunity to be creative
• excessive permissiveness –> anxiety and insecurity
• Jonah complex –> doubts about own abilities, fear of maximising potential as this may lead to a challenge we can’t cope with

Question 10

What are the two criticisms of Maslow’s theory?

Answer 10

• Lack of scientific data

- Criteria for self actualised people is vague, may have been influenced by personal philosophy and moral values

Question 11

Define Roger’s self actualisation theory.

Answer 11

• Ultimate and necessary goal is to be a fully functional person
• Having freedom of choice
• Fully capable of fulfilling their own potential
• Emphasises role of environment over nature

Question 12

What is self concept?

Answer 12

• Self concept is an image of who we are, what we should be, and who we want to be

Question 13

What is positive regard?

Answer 13

• Refers to the universal and persistent need for love and approval from others
• Unconditional positive regard: approval granted regardless of person’s behaviour
• Informed by feedback (approval or disapproval of behaviour) –> internalised from the attitudes of others

Question 14

What is self regard?

Answer 14

• Granting acceptance and approval to ourselves rather than from other people
• Positive regard prerequisite for positive self regard
• Receive positive regard –> develop positive self regard –> provide positive regard to others

Question 15

What is the difference between a congruent and incongruent sense of self?

Answer 15

Incongruent
- Self image is different to ideal self
- Little overlap
- Self actualisation is difficult 
- Results in anxiety
Congruent sense of self 
- Self image similar to ideal self 
- More overlap 
- Can self actualise

Question 16

What are the five traits of a fully functioning person?

Answer 16

• Awareness of all experiences
• -> No denial or distortion of experience
• Lives fully in the moment
• Trusts own behaviour and feelings
• Freedom of choice without constraints
• Creativity and spontaneity