The Approaches: The Humanistic Approach - NEW Flashcards
What do humans have an innate need for, according to humanist psychologists?
Self-actualisation
What approaches do humanists oppose?
Behaviorist + Psychodynamic
What type of experiences do humanists focus on?
Present
What type of influences do humanists suggest we can reject?
Internal and external
What is an example of an external influence which humanists suggest we can reject?
Environment
What is an example of an internal influence which humanists suggest we can reject?
Genetics
How is humanism different to other approaches?
It argues that humans do have free will
What did Maslow develop?
Hierarchy of needs
Name the correct order of Maslow’s hierarchy
Physiological, safety needs, love/belonging needs, esteem needs, self-actualisation
What do physiological needs include?
Food, water, sleep, breathing
What do safety needs include?
Employment, shelter (having a home), good health
What is the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy?
Self-actualisation
What is meant by the ‘perceived self’?
How we view ourselves now
Where does our ‘perceived self’ come from?
Our own experiences and how significant people view us
What is meant by the ‘ideal self’?
The person we feel that we should be or the person that we want to be
What is meant by congruence?
Where there is a match between your perceived self and your ideal self
If congruence occurs, what does this enable?
Personal growth to achieve goals
What is a mismatch between the perceived and ideal self known as?
Incongruence
Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness in adulthood may be the result of ____________ in childhood
Conditions of worth
What is meant by conditions of worth?
Significant others in our lives place specific conditions on their love which must be met to receive approval
What 3 types of people can impose a condition of worth?
Parents, significant others, and ourselves
Name the practical application of humanistic theory
Person Centered Therapy
What does PCT see the ‘client’ as?
An expert in their own condition
What is the aim of PCT?
- Increase feelings of self worth
- Reduce incongruence
- Help to become fully functioning
What must the therapist show the client in order for the therapy to be successful?
Unconditional positive regard
Give an example of two disorders that PCT is used to treat
Anxiety and depression
What does DREAMS stand for?
Determinism v free will
Reductionism v holism
Evidence
Application (practical)
Methodology
Scientific methods
AO3: What 4 ways can we evaluate humanism using DREAMS?
Free will
Holism
Application (practical)
Scientific methods
What techniques can be used to reduce levels of incongruence?
Unconditional positive regard
Person Centered Therapy
Incongruence can lead to …
Low self worth and poorer psychological health
In Humanism when there is a mismatch between actual and ideal self what state are you in?
State of incongruence
What does incongruence stem from?
Childhood, when parents or significant others place limits on their love
How can you reduce incongruence?
Counselling, where a person can feel unconditional positive regard
How does counselling help reduce incongruence?
The therapist creates an environment where the person can feel unconditional positive regard.
What can the therapist do whereby the client can feel unconditional positive regard
The therapist must accept the client’s feelings and experiences and avoid making judgements. The therapist must be empathetic.
How can you use PCT to treat abnormalities such as depression?
By helping the individual to achieve congruence and self-actualise through empathy and unconditional positive regard
What culture are many of the concepts of humanism such as self-actualisation and personal growth are associated with?
Western culture
How are western cultures associated with self-actualisation and personal growth?
Collectivist cultures such as India emphasise the needs of community and working as a group, meaning they don’t necessarily aim to self-actualise
How does Humanism take a positive stance to explain human behaviour?
It is suggested that individuals can choose their behaviour and can neglect external and internal influences
How might an individual’s subjective experience shape their behaviour according to humanistic psychology?
Their unique perceptions of the world guide their actions and decisions.
A therapist refrains from giving advice, instead allowing the client to explore their own feelings. What approach is the therapist using?
Non-directive, Person-Centred Therapy.
Why might someone with unmet physiological needs struggle to focus on higher-level goals like self-actualization?
Because basic survival needs must be met before focusing on personal growth.
In what way does Person-Centred Therapy encourage client autonomy/independence?
By allowing the client to discover their own solutions and make choices based on their free will.
In therapy, a client feels that they are not meeting their parents’ expectations, leading to low self-worth. What can the therapist do to help?
Provide unconditional positive regard and help the client challenge these conditions of worth.
How might someone in a collectivist culture view the idea of self-actualization differently from someone in an individualistic culture?
They may prioritize the needs and goals of their community over personal growth and self-fulfillment.
Why does the humanistic approach reject the deterministic views of behaviourism?
Because it believes humans are capable of making free choices, rather than being conditioned by external factors.
How does humanistic psychology view external influences, such as upbringing or societal expectations?
It suggests that humans have the ability to reject these influences and make choices based on free will.
Why is the humanistic approach seen as a more positive view of human behaviour compared to the biological approach?
It emphasizes free will and the potential for personal growth, whereas the biological approach is deterministic and attributes behaviour to genetic or biological factors.
A child raised with unconditional love and acceptance is more likely to experience what in adulthood?
Congruence and high self-worth.
A person constantly seeks approval from others to feel good about themselves. What psychological concept could explain this behaviour?
Conditions of worth
An individual in therapy learns to view their ideal self more realistically, reducing the gap between their perceived self and ideal self. What concept does this represent?
Congruence
A teenager feels pressure to follow a specific career path that their parents approve of, even though it’s not what they want. What concept explains this pressure?
Conditions of Worth
A student struggling with self-esteem constantly compares themselves to an unrealistic version of who they think they should be. What is this gap called?
Gap between perceived self and ideal self (incongruence).
A person who feels stuck in a job but believes they can’t quit because of family pressure is likely experiencing what?
Incongruence
If someone feels they must get high grades to be loved by their parents, what concept explains this?
Conditions of worth
How can conditions of worth affect self-esteem?
They can lead to incongruence and lower self-esteem if a person feels they must meet specific conditions to be loved or accepted.
What happens if a person’s basic needs are not met, according to Maslow?
They cannot move up the hierarchy to achieve higher-level needs like self-actualization.
What is the importance of self-actualization in humanistic psychology?
It is the ultimate goal of personal growth and realizing one’s full potential.
How does Person-Centred Therapy help individuals with real-world issues like depression?
By helping them achieve congruence and self-actualization through empathy and unconditional positive regard.
If a person has high self-esteem and strong relationships, what might be their next goal in Maslow’s hierarchy?
Self-actualization.
