Introduction

Question 1

• what approach was questioned by humanists and why (2)

Answer 1

• psychodynamic approachway it focuses on unhealthy development in psychoanalysis
  • behaviourists
  deterministic overly scientific way regarded behaviour

Question 2

• what was the humanistic approach known as

Answer 2

third force

Question 3

what were the five main assumptions about the humanistic approach

Answer 3

• every individual is unique
  
  • free will
  • ppl should be viewed holistically
  • scientific method not appropriate to measure behaviour
  • individual’s behaviour is connected to his inner feelings and [self-image]

Question 4

define free will

Answer 4

ability an individual has to choose course of action or to act a certain way

Question 5

What do humanists mean by free will` (3)

Answer 5

we have free will⇒ ability to control our behaviour→ in charge of how we develop & progress through life

acknowledge that we have constraints on our free will→ that there are social rules, laws & morals that restrict whether we act upon our free will⇒ but we can if we want

responsible for own behaviour→ social or antisocial⇒ in legal system its their 'fault'

Question 6

define humanistic approach (`2)

Answer 6

approach to understand behaviour that emphasis importance of subjective experiments & each persons capacity for self determination

look at human behaviour, not only through the eyes of the observer, but through the eyes of the person doing the behaviour

Question 7

what do humanists mean by ppl should be viewed holistically (2 + example)

Answer 7

no point just looking at one aspect of individual⇒ only one part considered then much of what could affect them might be missed

eg person is stressed & therapy only focuses on their work life→ could be home life stressors that are overlooked 

believe seeing someone as element rather than whole means much of what's important & that makes a person who they're, are lost

Question 8

what do they believe the basic human motive is

Answer 8

personal growth & fulfilment in life is basic human motive

Question 9

why do they believe science methods are not appropriate measure

Answer 9

to objective and yet humans are subjective in way they think & behave

Question 10

define self actualisation (2)

Answer 10

peak state of existence that any individual can attain

desire to grow psychologically & fulfil ones full potential→ become what they're capable of

Question 11

what do humanists(specifically Maslow & Rogers) mean by self actualisation (3)

Answer 11

• everyone have innate drive to achieve their full potential→ state= self actualisation
  
  • individual self actualise in own way & behaviour unique to them
  • when achieved can be described as ultimate feeling of well-being & satisfaction⇒ intensely strong feeling of completeness

Question 12

what type of methods of study do humanists use

Answer 12

qualitative research methods: diary accounts, open-ended questionnaires, unstructured interviews and unstructured observations.

Question 13

why do they believe qualitive methods are good to use

Answer 13

Qualitative research is useful for studies at the individual level, and to find out, in depth, the ways in which people think or feel (e.g.[case studies].

The way to really understand other people is to sit down and talk with them, share their experiences and be open to their feelings.

Question 14

why do humanists not like animal studies (3)

Answer 14

• human beings fundamentally different from other animals⇒ humans are conscious beings capable of thought, reason and language
  
  • For humanistic psychologists research on animals, such as rats, pigeons, or monkeys held little value.
  • Research on such animals can tell us very little about human thought, behaviour and experience.

Question 15

describe sheffields study on self actualisation and findings

Answer 15

study conducted on 185 collage undergraduates & measure of self actualisation used was personal orientation inventory developed by Shostrum

found: positive correlation between individuals level of self actualisation & psychological health

Question 16

what is focus in relations to self actualisation

Answer 16

theory of flow= states someone completely caught up in task, sport or activity so totally focused on⇒ state increases personal growth bc person driven to improve their performance→ more likely have sort of peak experience (part of self actualisation)

Question 17

what is attitude in relation to self actualisation (3`)

Answer 17

outwards positive attitude→ self actualisation more attainable

if someone adopts negative attitude→ will affect self concept & prevent personal growth (relationship breakdown ppl blame themselves)

attitude towards part they play will imprint on their self confidence⇒ stop subsequent relationship developing

Question 18

• what has the humanistic app had the most influence on

Answer 18

counselling

Question 19

• who developed the client centred therapy

Answer 19

rogers

Question 20

main concepts of the client cantered therapy (2)

Answer 20

client-therapist relationship is especially important & key therapist make client feel comfortable & accepted⇒ ensure client feels unconditional +ve regard

if client feel able to say anything to therapist & be accepted→ then able to be totally honest

Question 21

why is it important to be totally honest as a client in client centred therapy

Answer 21

help them realise potential barrier to become congruent→ working with therapist will help them remove this barrier

Question 22

why did this method of counselling decrease for a bit (90s)

Answer 22

focus of psych as a science→ core assumption of approach is that scientific methods are not appropriate

Question 23

• what is the humanistic approach now influencing

Answer 23

CBT→ third wave CBT incorporates humanistic ideas of subjective experiences

Question 24

what did Elliott find in meta analysis

Answer 24

meta analysis of 86 studies⇒ humanistic therapies prompted significant improvement in client when compared with ppl not receiving treatment

effectiveness helps increase influence of therapy & ideas of humanistic approach

Question 25

evaluate +ve of the humanistic approach (4)

Answer 25

• advocates holism= subjective experience can only be understood by considering whole person→ may have more validity as considers meaningful human behaviour within real life context + flexible framework for observing humanbehavior because it considers a person in the context of his environment and inconjunction with his personal perceptions and feelings.
  
  • Real life applications (e.g., therapy)
  • Qualitative data gives genuine insight and more holistic information into behaviour + Highlights the value of more individualistic and idiographic methods of study
  • positive theory⇒ unlike psychodynamic where everyone exists between common unhappiness as despair→ HA offers refreshing optimistic= sees ppl as good & in control of their life + satisfies most people’s idea of what being human means because it values personal ideals and self-fulfillment.

Question 26

evaluate -ves of humanistic approach (4`)

Answer 26

• Ethnocentric (biased towards Western culture)⇒ many ideas central to approach (freedom autonomy, personal growth etc) would more readily associate with individualist cultures→ collectivist cultures emphasise needs of group, community & interdependence⇒ thus product of culture context within which was developed-> Therefore, it is possible that the approach would not travel well and is a product of the cultural context within which it was developed and an emic approach is more appropriate
  
  • limited impact within discipline of psych as whole⇒ Maslow’s hierarchy & rogers therapy used in real world, but due to lack of evidence & the loose set of rather abstract concepts + consciousness and emotion are very difficult to scientifically study. The outcome of such scientific limitations means that there is a lack of empirical evidence to support the key theories of the approach.
  • untestable concepts⇒ includes num of vague ideas that are abstract & difficult to test⇒ concept such as self actualisation & congruence may be useful therapeutic tools but would prove problematic to asses under experimental conditions→ rogers tried introduce more rigour into work by developing Q-sort= objective measure of progression in therapy but still short of empirical evidence to support claims
    -It proposes a positive view of human nature, however, it could be argued that this might not be very realistic when considering the everyday reality such as domestic violence and genocides.
    Furthermore, the approach’s focus on meeting our needs and fulfilling our growth potential reflects an individualistic, self-obsessed outlook that is part of the problem faced by our society rather than a solution