Paper 2 - Humanistic Approach

Question 1

Who introduced the approach

Answer 1

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Question 2

Define Humanistic Approach

Answer 2

Approach to understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience and each persons capacity for self-determination

Question 3

Main assumptions of Humanistic Approach

Answer 3

Free Will
Hierarchy of Needs
Congruence between Self and Ideal Self
Conditions of Worth and Unconditional Positive Regard

Question 4

Free Will

Answer 4

• rejects scientific approach
• each human is unique
• psychology should study subjective experience
• person centered approach

Question 5

Hierarchy of Needs and Self Actualisation (name the stages)

Answer 5

Self - Actualisation
Esteem
Love / Belonging
Safety
Physiological

Question 6

Physiological examples

Answer 6

Food, Water, Breathing, Sex, Sleep, Excretion

Question 7

Safety examples

Answer 7

Resources, Health, Property, Family, Morality, Employment

Question 8

Love / Belonging examples

Answer 8

Friendship, Family, Sexual Intimacy

Question 9

Esteem examples

Answer 9

Self-esteem, Respect from others, Confidence, Achievement

Question 10

Self-actualisation examples

Answer 10

Achieved full potential, Spontaneity, Lack of Prejudice, Acceptance, Creativity

Question 11

Define Self-Actualisation

Answer 11

An innate tendency to achieve our full potential
Deficiency needs must be met before this can be achieved
A growth need

Question 12

Congruence between Self and Ideal Self

Answer 12

The way they see themselves must have congruence with the person they want to be
If there is a big gap between the two then the person will experience incongruence and cannot reach self-actualisation

Question 13

What is client centered therapy

Answer 13

• Referred to as ‘clients’ not ‘patients’
• Encouraged towards discovery of their own solutions
• Atmosphere is warm, supportive and non-judgemental
• Helps mild psychological issues not severe ones

Question 14

What are problems a result of

Answer 14

Lack of positive regard during childhood

Question 15

What does conditions of worth result in

Answer 15

Psychological problems for the child in the future

Question 16

Define Unconditional Positive Regard

Answer 16

The love and acceptance by others for you are

Question 17

Define Conditions of Worth

Answer 17

They are accepted only if they do what others want them to do

Question 18

Define Free Will

Answer 18

Ability to determine our own journey and development

Question 19

Evaluation (strength) - Non Reductionist

Answer 19

Looks at behaviour as a whole
Advocates holism
More external validity than other reductionist approaches as it considers meaningful behaviour in a real life context

Question 20

Evaluation (strength) - Positive Approach

Answer 20

Offers a refreshing and optimistic alternative to approaches
Sees all people as good and having the ability to self-actualise (humanism)

Question 21

Evaluation (limitation) - Limited Application

Answer 21

Little application to the real world
Little impact with the discipline of psychology
Lacks a sound evidence base
Described as a loose set of rather abstract concepts rather than comprehensive

Question 22

Evaluation (limitation) - Untestable Concepts

Answer 22

Vague ideas that are abstract and difficult to test
Self-actualisation and congruence are difficult to test in experimental conditions
Lack of empirical evidence to support concepts if the approach

Question 23

Evaluation (limitation) - Cultural Bias

Answer 23

Concepts are more associated with Individual Cultures in a Western World (autonomy, individual freedom)
Collective Cultures (Eastern World) emphasise the needs of a group and community and therefore may not identify with the concepts
Approach is a product of the cultural concepts of which it was developed in