KA - 7 Humanistic Approach

Question 1

what is the main assumption of the humanistic approach

Answer 1

takes a positive view of humans and that we are all trying to reach self-actualisation (our full potential)

Question 2

what does the approach say

Answer 2

• humans are unique
• driven by free will
• idiographic approach (emphasis on individual experience)
• takes a holistic view

Question 3

what are the five stages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 3

1 physiological needs
2 safety and security
3 love and belonging
4 self-esteem
5 self-actualisation

Question 4

characteristics of Maslow’s hierarchy

Answer 4

• start at the bottom and work up
• no skipping stages but can go backward
• he agrees that self-actualisation is an innate tendency

Question 5

what is Carl Rogers idea

Answer 5

the self and congruence

Question 6

characteristics of Carl Roger’s idea of the self and congruence

Answer 6

• you have the real self (who we are)
• you have the ideal self (who you want to be)
• the gap between these 2 is incongruence meaning you cannot self-actualise

Question 7

where does incongruence come from

Answer 7

conditions of worth

Question 8

what are conditions of worth

Answer 8

• parameters that suggest your value is in achieving them
• can come from parents/teachers “i will love you more if you clean your room”

Question 9

how do you achieve congruence

Answer 9

• remove conditions of worth
• client centred therapy

Question 10

what is involved in client centred therapy

Answer 10

unconditional positive regard

Question 11

strengths of humanism

Answer 11

• holism -> takes a holistic view of humans as opposed to biological which is reductionist
• free will rather than determinism (the ability to make your own choices in life), you are in control, empowering
• practical application - client centred therapy, unconditional positivity designed to reduce incongruence and encourage people to be better but need to be motivated for it to work
• Q-sort turns subjective data into objective data help MEASURE congruence

Question 12

limitations of the humanistic approach

Answer 12

• cultural bias as only appropriate for western cultures as they are individualist but not for Eastern, collectivist cultures
• Q-sort is hard to analyse and compare still

Question 13

what is a problem with client centred therapy

Answer 13

the client needs to be motivated for it to work