**L11 - Humanistic Approach (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)

Question 1

what are the KEY ASSUMPTIONS of the HUMANISTIC APPROACH?

Answer 1

• psychology should study the WHOLE PERSON given that EVERYONE IS UNIQUE
• people have FREE WILL to make THEIR OWN DECISIONS in life
• the scientific method is TOO OBJECTIVE because the methods employed acknowledge the SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE of the INDIVIDUAL

Question 2

What is MASLOW’s HIERARCHY OF NEEDS?

Answer 2

A person’s MOST BASIC PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS are represented AT THE BOTTOM of the pyramid and the MOST ADVANCED NEEDS are at the top. People are MOTIVATED TO ACHIEVE PROGRESSION THROUGH THE LEVELS, each level MUST BE FULFILLED BEFORE A PERSON CAN MOVE UP to a higher need.

MASLOW believed that the MORE BASIC THE NEED the MORE POWERFULLY IT IS EXPERIENCED and the MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO IGNORE.

Question 3

What is the STRUCTURE OF MASLOW’S HIERARCHY? (from bottom to top)

Answer 3

——— BOTTOM ————
PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS: food, water. warmth, rest
SAFETY NEEDS: security, safety
BELONGINGNESS AND LOVE NEEDS: intimate relationships,friends
ESTEEM NEEDS: prestige and feeling of accomplishment
SELF ACTUALISATION: achieving one’s full potential, including creative activities
————TOP ————

Question 4

when does SELF ACTUALISATION OCCUR?

Answer 4

Self actualisation occurs when a person REACHES THEIR FULL POTENTIAL and is THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES

Question 5

what did MASLOW find about those who attained self actualisation?

Answer 5

MASLOW found that those who ATTAINED SELF ACTUALISATION SHARED CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS .

They tended to be CREATIVE, ACCEPTING OF OTHER PEOPLE and had an ACCURATE PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

Maslow believed that such individuals experienced self actualisation IN THE FORM OF PEAK EXPERIENCES. These are moments of EXTREME INSPIRATION and ECSTASY during which they felt ABLE TO LEAVE BEHIND ALL DOUBTS, FEARS AND INHIBITIONS