Humanistic Psychology Flashcards
What does every individual being viewed mean for this approach
- We are all different and should be treated as such
- this approach is unlikely to divid people into groups who share similar characteristics such as age
- this approach as a very idiographic way of viewing people
What are the main four assumptions of humanistic psychology
Every individual is unique
Free will
People should be viewed holistically
The scientific method is not appropriate to measure behaviour
What does everyone having free will mean for the approach
- Humans are self-determining – we are not affected by external or internal influences.
- Ultimately, this means we are in charge of how we develop and progress through life
- this means that a person is responsible for their own behaviour, social or anti-social.
What does everyone being viewed holistically mean for the approach
- If only on part of them is considered then much of what could be affecting them might be missed.
- Humanists do not believe in focusing on childhood during therapy – they believe the whole life should be considered.
What does scientific method is not appropriate to measure behaviour mean for humanistic psychology
- It argues the scientific method tries to be too objective and yet humans are subjective in the way they think and behave.
What is self actualisation
Everyone has an innate drive to achieve their full potential. The achievement of that full potential is called self-actualisation.
What is maslows theory of motivation
We are motivated to use free will to reach our fullest potential.
What is the order of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
1 - physical needs for survival
2 - need for safety
3 - need for love and belongingness
4 - Esteem needs and feeling accomplished
5 - self actualisation where you achieve full potential
What are characteristics of self actualised people
- A strong sense of self awareness
- A fully accepting view of themselves and others for who they are
- The ability to deal with uncertainty and the unknown
- A strong sense of creativity
What was the method of Aronoff
Aronooff compared two jobs in the British West Indies, fishermen and cane cutters. Cane cutters where paid for how much cane the whole group cut even if they where of off sick, so they had high job security but low pay. Fishermen worked alone doing harder work so had less secure job but more pay. Both groups where assessed on maslows hierarchy of needs.
What where the results of aronoff’s study
The cane cutters where lower many of them still trying to satisfy security. Many of the fishermen however had satisfied the lower levels of the hierarchy
What is the conclusion of aronoff’s study
Only those who had satisfied lower needs in the hierarchy would become fishermen allowing them to develop self esteem. This suggests people cannot reach higher levels of the hierarchy till they have satisfied lower levels
What is the evolution of Aronoff’’s study
High ecological validity as it studied people in their natural environment. However only studied one group of people
What is flow theory
This is when someone is completely caught up in a task sport or activity so they do not think about everyday matters
What did Rogers believe was the path to self actualisation
Rogers believed instead of working their way up the hierarchy rogers thought that people move towards this depending on their own thoughts about themselves and the way they are treated by others
What could prevent people from reaching self actualisation according to rogers
You’ll develop in a psychologically healthy way if your path to self actualisation is not blocked. Blockages such a being raised in tough environment can lead to psychological problems
What was rogers two parts of the self
Rogers outlined the difference between how someone sees themselves (their self concept) and how they would like to be (their ideal self)
What did rogers say that the self concept is created by
The self concept depends on wether they receive unconditional positive regard or wether conditions of worth are set for them
What is unconditional positive regard and what does it create
This is where a person gets affection and support no matter what their behaviour is like.
This is needed to create the self concept
What are conditions of worth and what do they create
Conditions of worth are approval and affection given as a result of behaving a certain way.
This would create someone who follows the rule of social life however could stop them from reaching self actualisation.
They may focus on keeping other people happy rather developing their own personality
What is congruence how can we accomplish thi
This is where some becomes a fully functioning person
If the person experiences unconditional positive regard
What is incongruence and how can this be created
This is where the ideal self is different to the self concept. This occurs is the person has set conditions of worth o
What was the aim of rogers therapy
To remove incongruence by making someone into their ideal self
What is rogers therapy know as
It is called client centred therapy
How does rogers therapy work
The client decides what is talk about and eventually solves their own problems. The therapist simply makes them more aware of their thoughts and actions
What was the result of a study testing the effectiveness of rogers therapy
A group of seven hundred suffering from common mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety where studied over five years. They took a questionnaire before and after therapy to measure their condition. It was found 70% of the people found a significant improvement.
What are some positive emulations of humanistic psychology
- positive approach states we are striving for better
- does not include deterministic approaches as it believe humans are too complicated for this
- treats people as individuals and whole people
- counselling techniques from approach have been effective
What are some weaknesses of the humanistic approach
- The approach places little emphasis on factors such the role of genes
- it lacks objectivity is largely based on feelings and subjective reports
- the approach is ideographic meaning it does not create general laws making it less scientific
