Humanistic approach-EvAL

Question 1

One strength of humanistic approach is that it REJECTS to break up behaviour into smaller components.

It is NOT reductionist

Answer 1

COG. approach = machine reductionist

BIO approach= bio reductionist

BEHAV approach = enviro reductionist

ALL attempt to break down COMPLEX issues into smaller components which would mean they MISS important other FACTORS which could be involved in the BEHAVIOUR..

Question 2

What is holism?

Answer 2

When the WHOLE person is considered and NOT broken down into SMALLER components.

This is more REALISTIC as it gives realistic picture meaningful.

Question 3

How is using holism in the humanistic approach a weakness?

Answer 3

Reductionism is MORE scientific than holism.

Reductionism reduces things down to SMALLER components which is what sis done in EXPERIMENTS (IV and DV) to establish CAUSATION and experimentation.

Humanistic approach we CANT break things down into components and test them through h scientific studies so they become UNTESTABLE.

Weakness because it’s UNSCIENTIFIC, can’t be tested and so i’ts unfalsifiable.

Question 4

One strength of the humanistic approach is that it is optimistic.

Answer 4

Humanistic psychologists bring the person BACK into psychology and PROMOTE a positive self image. They see people as GOOD and free to work towards achievement of their potential whereas psych-dynamic saw us as PRISONERS of our pas selves but humanists see us as FREE to work towards self-actualisation and being in CONTROL of our own lives.

STRENGTH because suggests that humanistic psychology offers a REFRESHING and optimistic alternative.

Question 5

One limitation of the humanistic approach is that it MAY be culturally biased.

Answer 5

many ideas CENTRAL to humanistic such as individual freedom, autonomy and personal growth are more associated with countries that have more INDIVIDUALISTIC Tendencies. Countries with COLLECTIVIST tendencies focus more on the needs of the GROUP and interdependence.

So it’s an issue as it REDUCES generalisibility as we cant; take results from an individualistic approach and apply them to a COLLECTIVIST culture as it would be an IMPOSED ETIC.

Question 6

One weakness of the humanistic approach is that it has had LITTLE ompact in psychology.

Answer 6

Theory can be seen as a set of LOOSE, abstract concepts rather than a COMPREHENSIVE theory and it hasn’t had the same impact as other theories.

However, Rogerian therapy REVOLUTIONISED counselling techniques and Maslows hierarchy of needs has been used to explain MOTIVATION in the workplace.

Therefore there has been SOME impact but not as much as other theories.