The Humanistic Approach Flashcards
Assumptions
Refers to the belief that human beings have the power to direct their own lives
Psychology should concern itself with the study of subjective experiences (idiographic approach rather than general laws (nomothetic approach) - referred to as a person-centred approach
Rogers
Founder of the humanistic approach
Developed client-developed psychotherapy
Free will
humans can make choices not determined by biological or external factors
Self-actualisation
Every person has an innate tendency to achieve their full potential (become the best they can possibly be)
Self-actualisation represents the uppermost level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
All four lower levels need to be met before the individual can work towards self-actualisation and fulfil potential
Personal growth
For personal growth to be achieved an individual’s concept of self (the way they see themselves) must have congruence (broadly equivalent) with their ideal self (the person they want to be)
The greater the gap between ideal self and actual self = the greater the incongruence which can lead to low self-worth and maladjustment
Client-centred therapy
Helps deal with worthlessness and low-self esteem developed from a lack of unconditional positive regard from parents
Unconditional positive regard
love, praise and acceptance that will develop a healthy self-worth if given freely without conditions
necessary for self-actualisation
Congruence
when an individual develops a reasonable consistency between ideal self and actual behaviour
Not reductionist
more validity than alternatives it considers human behaviour within its real-life context
Humanistic psychologists advocate holism the idea that subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person
Application
Rogers’ client-centred therapy has had a major impact
on counselling psychology in the USA and UK.
This therapy acknowledges individuals do have
free will and do have the ability to improve themselves, through focussing on developing solutions to the patient’s current problems.
This is in stark contrast with Freud’s
psychotherapies, which tend to dwell upon childhood experiences and so may be frustrating for the patient who has identified the cause of their problems.
Nonetheless, Roger’s client-centred approach is not suitable for treating serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or depression
Untestable concepts
Humanistic psychology includes vague ideas that are abstract and difficult to test e.g ‘self-actualisation’ (due to individual differences and a lack of a universal measuring scale) and ‘congruence’ (up to personal judgement) are difficult to assess under experimental conditions
The approach describes itself as anti-scientific so it is short on empirical evidence to support its claims
Cultural bias
Maslow’s ideas of self-actualisation, the
need to improve oneself, and congruence can be mostly viewed as attitudes typical of
Western, individualist cultures where the needs of the individual are greater than the needs of the group.
Collectivist cultures such as india/china that emphasis the needs of the group, community and interdependence may not identify ideals and values of humanistic psychology personal growth may be seen as selfish considering that the needs of the group are greater than that of the individual.
This approach is a product of the cultural context which it was developed (imposed etic)
Maslow’s hierachy of needs
Self actualisation - fulfilment of true potential Esteem - confidence/self-esteem Love and Belonging - family/friends Safety - resources/housing Physiological - food/water/sleep
