The Humanistic Approach

Question 1

When was it developed and what was it termed as?

Answer 1

It was developed in the early 1950 and it was termed as the ‘third force’ as it aimed to replace the other two main approaches.

Question 2

What was the difference between this approach and the others?

Answer 2

It is intended to offer a less deterministic and artificial approach. It was more concerned with human experiences, uniqueness, meaning, freedom and choice.

Question 3

What are the main assumptions of this approach?

Answer 3

• humans make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces.
• humans are self-determining and have free will.
• this does not mean we are not effected by external or internal influences but we have the ability to determine our own development.
• everybody is individual and unique.

Question 4

How is this approach studied?

Answer 4

• person-centred.
• study individual person and subjective experience.
• rejects scientific methods that establish general laws.

Question 5

State the different types of research methods?

Answer 5

• unstructured interviewing
• participant observation
• diaries, letters, and biographical material

Question 6

What was Abraham Maslow theory?

Answer 6

• humans are motivated by needs beyond biological survival.
• human nature is the desire to grow and develop (self-actualisation).
• we have an innate tendency to self actualise.

Question 7

What is the order of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? (From top to bottom)

Answer 7

1. Self actualisation
2. Esteem
3. Love and belonging
4. Safety
5. Physiological

Question 8

What is holism?

Answer 8

The belief that psychology should study the whole person.

Question 9

Outline Carl Rogers theory?

Answer 9

• he focused on the concept of self and self-acceptance.

- he moved towards a more person centred approach.

Question 10

What is my real self?

Answer 10

How i am in the real world, more objective, how others see me.

Question 11

What is my ideal self?

Answer 11

Who i wish i could be if i were the best me, evidence the growth potential, can also evidence unrealistic expectations.

Question 12

What is incongruence and what can it lead to?

Answer 12

It is when your real self and ideal self are too far apart/different and do not overlap much. This can lead to negative feelings of self worth.

Question 13

What is congruence?

Answer 13

It is when your ideal self and your real self overlap more.

Question 14

What are the assumptions of conditions of worth?

Answer 14

Humans need to feel nurtured and valued by significant people in their lives.

Question 15

What is unconditional positive regard?

Answer 15

When nurture and love are given freely by significant people in your life. This will lead to a healthy sense of self worth.

Question 16

What are conditions of worth?

Answer 16

When you receive nurture and love from significant people in your life but the person will only provide said love if they get something in return or for a certain cost. E.g i will love you if you get good grades in school.

Question 17

What did Rogers develop to reduce the gap between a persons ideal self and real self?

Answer 17

Client-centred therapy

Question 18

What is Empathy?

Answer 18

Trying to feel what it must be like to be the other person.

Question 19

What are the advantages of the Humanistic approach?

Answer 19

• emphasises free will
• values individual experience
• explores human existence with more sensitivity
• this approach has been proved to be affective in the treatment of some disorders

Question 20

What are the disadvantages of the Humanistic approach?

Answer 20

• it is not as scientific as the other approaches.
• its qualitative techniques and data have been questioned and so has its empirical evidence.
• results are subjective so impossible to create general laws.
• this approach has had less of an impact due to its results not being very objective.