Humanistic Personality Concept Flashcards
What is another name for the Humanistic Approach?
Humanistic psychology
What is the main focus of humanistic psychology?
An individual’s capacity to make their own choices and live their own lifestyle.
How does the humanistic approach differ from the psychodynamic approach?
It focuses on human potential through experiential means rather than analyzing the unconscious.
Should the humanistic and psychodynamic approaches be seen as competing?
No, each has contributed significantly to psychology.
Why did Maslow believe that scientific methods from the natural sciences were inappropriate for studying people?
Because they do not account for how people understand and experience themselves in the world.
What type of individuals did Maslow study for his research?
Historical figures he believed were exceptional in their careers and had self-actualized.
What is self-actualization?
The ability to function at one’s maximum potential with full involvement in life.
What are peak experiences?
Moments of awe, ecstasy, or sudden insight into life, often occurring during self-actualization.
What are the five stages in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization.
Which need is at the base of Maslow’s hierarchy?
Physiological needs (air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction)
What type of needs are safety needs?
Personal security, employment, resources, health and property.
What level includes friendship, intimacy, and family?
love and belonging
What does the esteem level of Maslow’s hierarchy include?
Respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength and freedom.
What is the highest level in Maslow’s original hierarchy?
Self-actualization (the desire to become the most that one can be).
What was added in the expanded version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Three additional levels and the distinction between deficiency needs and growth needs.
What percentage of people did Maslow believe would achieve self-actualization?
Only 2% of people.
What are some common behaviours of self-actualized individuals?
Appreciation, full absorption in activities, independent thinking, honesty, responsibility, and the ability to recognize and overcome defensiveness.
Why might self-actualized people be unpopular?
Because they challenge common thinking and authority.
What is a major strength of Maslow humanistic approach?
It provides a hierarchical theory outlining human motivation.
How did Maslow conduct his research?
He analyzed biographies and writings of 18 individuals he admired.
What is a major criticism of Maslow’s research?
His study focused mostly on educated, white males, with only two females included in his 1970 review.
What is a limitation of Maslow’s hierarchy regarding need fulfillment?
It assumes lower-level needs must be met before progressing, but some people experience love and belonging despite unmet physiological needs.
