Humanistic, Existential, CBT theories&therapies

Question 1

Humanistic theory description and cite two humanistic figures and their view

Answer 1

Emerged against behaviourism and psychoanalysis after ww2

Focuses on free will and self-actualisation. Humans need to be understood within the human context.

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: only by satisfying basic and psychological needs one can attain self fulfilment

Carl rogers : people need nurturing environment and relationship to reach the positive potential they innately want to attain.

Question 2

Cite one humanistic therapy and its principles / creator and supporting research

Answer 2

CARL ROGERS = PERSON CENTERED THERAPY

Lies on therapist offering non judgemental, non directive approach + empathy + congruence

Research: Gibbard & Hanley 2008 : 5 year review of PCT in primary care showed PCT effective for CMDS even when severe

Question 3

Describe EXISTENTIAL theory and two figures

Answer 3

Rooted in existential philosophy (Nietzsche, JP Sartre) and phenomenology (the person’s own grasp of reality, their immediate experience)

JP Sartre: Our existence precedes our essence

Death is unavoidable = leads to existential crisis and sometimes to anxiety depression etc + people use symbolic immortality to repress this fear (Robert jay Lifton)

people need to find meaning to life and their purpose in life to deal with this

Like humanistic, it views humans as being able to create and change their own life / self actualisation

Fear of freedom can also lead to EXISTENTIAL GUILT as per IRVIN YALOM

IRVIN YALOM, HANS COHN, ROLLO MAY

Question 4

First wave of behaviourism : cite two figures
Second wave : cite two figures
Cite two cognitive therapies

Answer 4

1st wave:

• PAVLOV “classical conditioning:
• SKINNER : Operant conditioning and reinforcement

2nd wave:
-ALBERT ELLIS : Rational Emotive Therapy & the ABC model : people mistakenly blame external events for unhappiness due to irrational thoughts and beliefs
Activating event / Beliefs are hold about the event / Consequence is emotional response to the beliefs

-AARON BECK: Cognitive therapy = how we think determines how we feel and act = cognitive restructuring as a solution

Overtimes CT and behavioural merged to form CBT

Think of the padeski

Question 5

Describe the cognitive model of addiction

Answer 5

Repeated pairing of particular events or emotional states, cues with substance use get encoded overtime, exposure to cues lead to cravings, urges and substance use.

Question 6

how does CBT in therapy work, main features

Answer 6

Collaborative relationship
Goal directed therapy
Time limited: patient becomes their own therapist 
Uses homework
Examines unhelpful thinking