The Humanistic Approach Flashcards
Why is the humanistic approach termed third force?
As it is aimed to replace the two main approaches - Behaviourism and Psychodynamic
What is the humanistic approach?
An approach developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow in the 1950s which concerns topics that are meaningful to human beings and emphasises the importance of the individuals striving towards personal growth and fulfilment, less so on deterministic and artificial approaches.
What are the assumptions of the Humanistic Approach?
- Each person can exercise free will
- Each person is a rational and conscious being and not dominated by unconscious primitive instincts
- Humans strive towards achieving self-actualisation
- Each person is unique
What is free will?
People have full conscious control over their own destiny
What qualitative methodology is used by humanistic psychologists?
- Unstructured interviewing
- Participant observation
- Diaries, letters and biographical material
Who was Abraham Maslow (1943)?
- An American Psychologist who in1940-1950 developed the Hierarchy as a way for employers to get the best out of their employees by understanding their needs.
- He believed that the more basic need the more powerfully it is experienced and the more difficult it is to ignore
Summarise Maslow’s Hierarchy?
Maslow believes humans are motivated by needs beyond those of basic
biological survival.
Fundamental to human nature is the desire to grow and develop to achieve
our full potential - referred to as ‘self-actualisation’.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs ranges from basic physiological needs, safety
and security, love and belonging to higher level psychological and
actualisation needs.
All four levels of the hierarchy must be met before an individual can work
towards self actualisation
Self-actualisation concerns psychological growth, fulfilment and satisfaction
in life and is the final stage in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
We have an innate tendency to self-actualize
Who was Carl Rogers?
- One of the pioneering founders of the humanistic approach
- He focused on the concept of self and self-acceptance
- Rogers moved away from traditional psychoanalysis and developed Person Centred Approach to the therapy - client led
- Roger focused on a positive image of the human condition rather than Freuds “sick half”
What are the two selves made up in Carl Rogers Self Theory?
- Real Self
- Ideal Self
What is the Real Self?
- How I am in the real world
- More Objective
- How others see me
What is the Ideal Self?
- Who I wish I could be if I were the best “me”
- Evidences the growth potential
- Can also evidence unrealistic expectations
What are the two basic needs Rogers claimed that people have?
- Positive Regard from others
- A feeling of self worth
What is Congruence?
A healthy sense of wellbeing established if an individual maintains a reasonable consistency between ideal self and actual self.
What is Incongruence?
Where there is a difference between the self and ideal self
What can Incongruence lead to?
Low self worth and maladjustment/anxiety
What do defence mechanisms stop the self from doing?
Defence mechanisms such as Distortion, denial and blocking can stop the self from growing and changing, and widen the gulf between our ideal self and true self
When do your feelings of self-worth develop?
During Childhood
What are the feelings of self-worth influenced by?
Interactions and significant others
What are conditions of worth (negative regard)?
The limit of love a parent sets on a child.
When a person is accepted ONLY if they do as they’re told (strings attached).
What is unconditional love (positive regard)?
When a person is accepted for who they are (no strings attached).
What is an example of conditions of worth?
‘We’ll love you more if you win this race.’
What is an example of unconditional love?
‘We love you no matter what.’
What is self-Actualisation?
A person’s motivation to reach his or her full potential. As shown in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a person’s basic needs must be met before self-actualisation can be achieved
What is the first stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Physiological
What is the second stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Safety
What is the third stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Love/Belonging
What is the fourth stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Esteem
What is the fifth stage of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Self-Actualisation
Give Examples of Physiological needs
Breathing, Food, Water, Sleep
Give Examples of Safety needs
Security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, of health, of property
Give Examples of Love/Belonging Needs
Friendship, Family, Sexual Intimacy
Give Examples of Esteem Needs
Self-esteem, Confidence, Achievement, Respect of others, Respect by others
How does conditions of worth affect people?
- Children who receive conditions of worth develop low self-esteem.
- Psychological issues are thought to arise as a direct result of conditions of worth, (constraints an individual believes are put upon them by significant others that they deem necessary to gain positive regard).
- This makes self actualisation difficult.
- Rogers believed that therapists should provide clients with unconditional positive regard to help resolve conditions of worth
How does client-centred therapy help with conditions of worth?
- Rogers believed that therapists should provide clients with unconditional positive regard to help resolve conditions of worth and guide clients towards self-actualisation (focusing on the authentic, real self).
What are the characteristics of a good therapist?
- Congruence- harmony between real self and ideal self.
- Absolute positive regard- unconditional liking and respect.
- Empathy- understanding of one’s situation.
What are the strengths of the humanistic approach?
- Emphasises choice (free will), unlike the other approaches.
- Harter et al [and others] discovered that teenagers who have to fulfil certain conditions (‘false self behaviour’) end up not liking themselves.
- It value personal ideals and self-fulfilment.
What are the weaknesses of the humanistic approach?
- Little empirical research has been carried out on ‘vague’ terms such as self-actualisation.
- The use of qualitative data had been questioned (lack of empirical evidence).
