The Humanistic Approach

Question 1

Explain why the humanistic approach is different to all the other approaches

Answer 1

It’s different because it claims human beings are self-determining and have free will.
This doesn’t mean that people are not influenced by external or internal influences, but we are active agents who have the ability to determine our own development.

Question 2

What is meant by free will?

Answer 2

Humans can make their own choices and their thoughts and behaviour aren’t determined by internal biological or external forces.

Question 3

Why do humanists such as Roger and Maslow reject behaviourist, biological and cognitive approaches?

Answer 3

They reject more scientific models that attempt to establish general principles of human behaviour. Humanists say we are all unique and so developed a ‘person centred approach’ focusing on subjective experience. As active agents we are all unique and psychology should concern itself with the study of subjective experience rather than general law.

Question 4

What is meant by person centred approach?

Answer 4

the study of subjective experience rather than general law.

Question 5

What did Roger empathise?

Answer 5

The ability of people to reflect on their feelings and experiences, and to initiate personal change and growth in themselves and their lives.

Question 6

What did Roger find through his work?

Answer 6

Rogers found through his work of counselling and therapy that people had the desire and ability to make changes to themselves and their lives.

Question 7

What is meant by self-actualisation?

Answer 7

The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one’s full potential. Becoming what you are capable of.

Question 8

What is the problem with self-actualisation?

Answer 8

How do you know when you have reached your full potential? Will it ever be enough?

Question 9

Describe Maslows’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 9

It ranges from basic needs to higher level psychological and self-actualisation needs. All four levels of the hierarchy must be met before an individual can work towards self-actualisation.

Question 10

What are the bottom levels of the hierarchy collectively known as?

Answer 10

Deficiency needs.
If these were not met, Maslow believed that we would experience this as having something important missing in our lives.

Question 11

What are the 4 other levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (deficiency needs)?

Answer 11

• the basic needs are psychological
• second level = safety needs
• third level = needs for love and belongingness
• fourth level = esteem needs

Question 12

Describe the psychological needs

Answer 12

Those required for human survival, including food, water and sleep. These needs are fundamental and if they aren’t met, it is unlikely that anything above this in the hierarchy will be pursued.

Question 13

Describe the safety needs

Answer 13

This includes physical safety from environmental disasters as well as psychological safety.

Question 14

Describe the love and belongingness needs

Answer 14

Acceptance from family and friends. Intimate relationships.

Question 15

Describe the esteem needs

Answer 15

Maslow conceptualised this as the need to feel good about oneself, and to establish a sense of competence and achievement - at work, at school etc.

Question 16

What are the top levels of the hierarchy collectively known as?

Answer 16

Growth needs

Question 17

What is the top level of the hierarchy referred to as and describe it

Answer 17

A being need. Maslow believed that each individual has the desire for personal fulfilment - which he called self-actualisation.

Question 18

What does Rogers argue?

Answer 18

For personal growth to be achieved, an individual’s self concept must be congruent with their ideal self.

Question 19

What happens if too big a gap exists between the two selves?

Answer 19

The person will experience incongruence (low self-esteem) and self-actualisation won’t be possible.

Question 20

What is the difference between the self and the ideal self?

Answer 20

Self = how you see yourself
Ideal self = the person you want to be

Question 21

How did Rogers reduce the gap between the self-concept and the ideal self?

Answer 21

He developed client centred therapy.

Question 22

What did Rogers claim?

Answer 22

Many of the issues we experience as adults, such as low self esteem, have their roots in childhood and can be explained by a lack of unconditional positive regard form our parents.

Question 23

Explain the process of congruence

Answer 23

Congruence is when self concept and ideal self match. If too big a gap exists between the 2 selves the person will experience a state of incongruence and self-actualisation won’t be possible due to low self-esteem.

Question 24

Explain the role of conditions of worth

Answer 24

Conditions of worth is when a parent places limits on the love they have for their children. This is storing up psychological problems for their child in the future.

If a parent says I’ll only love you if you become a doctor it will lead to low self esteem which will lead to incongruence and then self actualisation can’t be achieved.

Question 25

What is meant by unconditional positive regard?

Answer 25

Involves showing complete support and acceptance of a person no matter what that person says or does.
Lack of unconditional positive regard leads to low self esteem and this continues through to adulthood.

Question 26

What does Roger’s client centred therapy do?

Answer 26

Provides the person with the unconditional positive regard they didn’t receive as a child.