Humanistic approach evaluation

Question 1

name an evaluation for the humanistic approach

Answer 1

research support for conditions of growth
Harter et al in 1996 discovered teenagers who felt the need to fulfil certain conditions and frequently meet their parents approval felt unhappy
individuals who experience conditional positive regard are more likely display more ‘false behaviour’

Question 2

Name another evaluation point

Answer 2

links to economic development
hagerty in 1999 looked at the relationship between economic growth and measures of Maslow levels in 88 countries
countries in lower stages of economic development were characterised by lower level needs (e.g physiological needs such as access to food/water)

Question 3

name another evaluation point for the humanistic approach

Answer 3

it is unrealistic
critics argue that people are not inherently good and ‘growth orientated ‘ as the humanistic approach suggests
the approach ignores people’s capacity for pessimism and self-destructive behaviour
the view that personality development is only directed by an innate potential for growth is an oversimplification different problems arise using this approach

Question 4

name a final evaluation point

Answer 4

cultural differences in hierarchy of needs
cross-cultural evidence from Nevis in 1993 carried out by China found that belongingness needs were more fundamental than physiological needs and that self actualisation was defined more in terms of contributions to the community than individual development