Lesson 8 - Humanistic Approach Flashcards
Humanistic Approach Assumptions
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Focus on the Self Counselling Psychology
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
A person’s most basic physiological needs are represented at the bottom of the pyramid and the most advanced at the top People are motivated to achieve progression through the levels Each level must be fulfilled before moving to the next The more basic the need, the more powerfully it is experience and the more difficult it is to ignore
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Self Actualisation
Occurs when a person reaches their full potential and is the best version of themselves Most of those who attained self actualisation shared characteristics Tend to be creative, accepting of others and had an accurate perception of the world around them Such individuals experienced self actualisation in the form of peak experiences Moments of extreme inspiration and ecstasy during which they felt able to leave all doubts/fears/inhibitions
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Model
Focus on the Self
Rogers (1951) claims people have 2 basic needs; positive regard from others and feelings of self worth
Focus on the Self Feelings of Self Worth
Develop in childhood as a result of interaction with parents Further interactions with significant other in adulthood also have influence Similarity between perceived self and ideal self, state of congruence exists Different between perceived and ideal self, state of incongruence Closer the perceived self is to ideal self, higher the feelings of self worth is Rare for complete congruence Most see themselves in ways consistent to ideal self
Focus on the Self Positive Regard
Unconditional positive regard => accepted for who they are Conditional positive regard => develop conditions of worth Believed that conditions have to be met to be accepted Sense of self acceptance only experienced if they meet all expectations that others set
Counselling Pyschology
Rogers (1959) claims individual’s psychological problems were direct results of conditional positive regard With counselling, people can solve their own problems in constructive ways and become more functioning Humanistic psychologists regard themselves as guides to help people understand themselves to enable potential for self actualisation Therapists provide unconditional positive regard to help dissolve client’s conditions of worth
Humanistic Approach Evaluation Points
Free Will Reductionist Operationalisation Culture Biased Overly idealised
Humanistic Approach Evaluation Free Will Positive
Humanists believe in free will Science believes all behaviour is caused by something Determinism in science allows for general laws and predictability of behaviour Therefore limitations on applications of humanistic approach
Humanistic Approach Evaluation Reductionism Negative
Lacks scientific rigour Proposes we should study the whole person because each individual is unique however science relies on reductionism E.g. reducing behaviour into its simplest components so they can be studied objectively
Humanistic Approach Evaluation Operationalisation Negative
Humanists propose concepts such as self actualisation where definitions lack operationalisation No objective measure of whether someone has self actualised Leads to lack of empirical evidence to support its claims
Humanistic Approach Evaluation Culture Biased Negative
Many ideas are central to humanistic psychology, such as personal growth, would be more associate with individualists cultures Collectivist cultures emphasis needs of the community so may not identify with the ideals and values of humanistic psychology Therefore possible that this approach is the product of the cultural context within which it was developed
Humanistic Approach Evaluation Overly Idealised Negative
Critics argue humanistic approach presents overly idealised and unrealised views of human nature People are not inherently good or growth orientated as this approach suggests This approach ignores peoples’ capacity for pessimism and self destruction
