Humanistic psychology

Question 1

Basic features of humanistic psychology

Answer 1

• Positive not negative outlook
• Growth not pathology
• Goals not causes
• Rooted in philosophical existentialism
• Sprouts into some personality and social psychology

Question 2

key humanistic psychologists

Answer 2

Maslow and Rogers

Question 3

what was Maslow’s theories about?

Answer 3

Model of Motivation
looked at instincts, hierarchy of needs
theory of development
theory of pathology
therapy

Question 4

explain Maslow’s theory about instincts

Answer 4

said that animals are instinct animals and humans are instinctoids
said there are two types of motivation

Question 5

what are instinct animals?

Answer 5

animals have instincts that make them behave in a particular way depending on the genetics of the species

Question 6

what are instinctoids?

Answer 6

human beings have instinctoid tendencies instead of instincts that make humans develop and grow positively due to their genetics unless stunted

Question 7

what are the two types of motivation according to Maslow’s theory

Answer 7

deficiency needs (D) and growth needs (B)

Question 8

what are deficiency needs?

Answer 8

all animals have these
when you don’t get enough of something, you need to satisfy those needs
body reminds you of this unpleasant feeling to make you seek out the thing you’re missing to prevent death
homeostatic, preventative
e.g. hunger, thirst

Question 9

what are growth needs?

Answer 9

goal-directed needs
they have to do with what you want out of life
aspiration, cumulative

Question 10

explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory

Answer 10

• The needs at the top can only be satisfied if you’ve already satisfied the ones at the bottom - stepping stone model
  The needs at the top are ones that are more sophisticated - they make us distinctively human compared to the ones at the bottom which are shared with animals

Question 11

what are the different hierarchy of needs according to Maslow?

Answer 11

• Bottom level - physiological: hunger, thirst, breathing - basic
  
  • Safety: physically safe from predators
  • Belonging and love: relationships and socialisation
  • Self-esteem: how you feel about yourself, status
    ○ Additional: Understanding
    ○ Additional: Aesthetics
  • Top level - self-actualisation - need to understand the world, have pleasant aesthetic experiences - most sophisticated
    ○ Additional: Self-transcendence

Question 12

what evidence did Maslow find to support his model of motivation?

Answer 12

Methodology was historical biography
- Read biographies of eminent people e.g. Albert Einstein
- Studied them and made a list of their characteristics as he believed them to be self-actualised as they have satisfied their needs through B-cognition rather than D-cognition

Question 13

what is B-cognition?

Answer 13

peak experiences, intrinsic motivatio

Question 14

what is D-cognition?

Answer 14

pragmatic daily grind, extrinsic motivation

Question 15

what characteristics did Maslow find of self-actualised people from his research?

Answer 15

○ Self-acceptable
○ Other-acceptance
○ Realism
○ Ethicality
○ Intimacy
○ Independent
○ Autonomous
○ Mirthful

Question 16

explain Maslow’s theory of development

Answer 16

choices combined with discipline

Question 17

explain Maslow’s theory of pathology

Answer 17

said the cause is that fundamental needs are unmet and unsatisfied

Question 18

explain Maslow’s therapy

Answer 18

eclectic and pragmatic

Question 19

critiques of Maslow’s theories

Answer 19

• No original sin - is society or parents always to blame? Are they no bad genes?
• He studied paragons of humanity rather than normal people - was he looking at actualisation or achievement? Can normal people become self-actualised?
• Explanation for pathology - how does he explain psychosis? Not specific enough
• Sample bias - small and limited sample - diminishes quality of evidence
• Hagiography - may be idolising geniuses and skipping past other factors - bias?
• How does he explain hunger strike, risks for fun, anorexia? Higher needs are met before lower needs in these cases
• Esteem is linked to belonging
• Some cultures emphasise community rather than the self

Question 20

what was Roger originally?

Answer 20

a Freudian psychologist

Question 21

how did Roger’s beliefs differ to psychoanalysis?

Answer 21

Didn’t agree that instinctual drives for aggression and sex are primary motivators
Not playthings of the ID
More optimistic - people can turn their lives around

Question 22

how did Roger’s therapy differ from psychoanalysis?

Answer 22

Therapist as facilitator, not sculptor
Reflective not directive
Faith in client native ability
‘True change comes from within’
Facilitating growth - more gentle

Question 23

how was Roger’s theories similar to cognitive approaches?

Answer 23

emphasises subjective construal

Question 24

what was Roger’s theories about?

Answer 24

Self-actualisation
General drive
Expresses itself, unless stunted
Analogy with language
No Maslovian preconditions

Question 25

what promotes self-actualisation according to Roger?

Answer 25

Unconditional positive regard for client B-love is more sophisticated love you have when satisfying higher needs Corresponds with Christian notion of 'caritas' - loving people without preconditions If exposed to unconditional positive regard, an organismic self develops If we get conditional or negative regard, conditions of worth are developed Conditions of worth leads to conflicted self-concept developing and you get ego-defensive Setting up contingencies of self worth - traditional concept of liking yourself is made conditional on you meeting certain preconditions - leading to low self-esteem and self-regard

Question 26

what does Roger mean by organismic valuing?

Answer 26

We instinctively know what we want and need unless we're confused Childhood is not destiny, we can grow at any time Society should nurture people Goal is to become a fully-functioning person

Question 27

how does one become a fully-functioning person?

Answer 27

by being self-congruent, mature, decent, understanding, liberal, idealist

Question 28

what are the goals of Rogerian therapy?

Answer 28

- Want people to find their true self to become self-congruent - Want to get rid of conflicted self-concept created by conditions of worth - Want to realise the ideal self - Discontented, criminal, neurotic --> contented, law-abiding, carefree

Question 29

method of Rogerian therapy

Answer 29

Create core conditions of counselling - Therapist and client are in psychological contact - The client is in a state of incongruence - anxious, vulnerable - The therapist is in a state of congruence - integrated in the relationship - The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for client - The therapist experiences empathic understanding for the client - The therapist minimally succeeds in communicating their unconditional positive regard for and empathic understanding of the client

Question 30

results of Rogerian therapy

Answer 30

Manifold benefits for client - Greater realism - Greater rationality - Greater responsibility - Greater self-esteem - Greater intimacy - Greater ethicality

Question 31

benefits of Roger's therapy

Answer 31

- Showed scientific tendencies - encouraged testing of theory - Admitted his theory was useless of psychosis - Taped sessions for data - Use of Q-sort methodology

Question 32

critiques of Roger's therapy

Answer 32

- Instinctive knowledge of needs? Too much sugar, fat, salt - wants and needs are different - addictions kill but are nice - Trust of human nature - sadism, rape, slaughter - is only society flawed?