The Humanistic Approach Flashcards
How does the humanisitic approach differ from other approaches
-It focuses on the conscious experience rather than behaviour
-on responsibility and free will rather than determinism
-discussion of experience rather than the scientific method
Who developed the Humanistic Approach
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
Where does the humanistic approach lie in its apprach to determinism
It emphasizes that people have full concious decisions over their destiny. We are subject to other forces, like biological and societal issues, but we are able to make significant personal choices within these restraints
What is Maslows heirarchy of needs
What is a fun fact about maslows heirarchy of needs
It was not originally meant to be represented as a pyramid
What does the humanisitic approach have strong emphasis on
The self. Rogers claimed that we have two basic needs, positive regard from others and a sense of self worth
When are feelings of self worth created
During childhood as a result of the child’s interaction with parents and interaction with significant others.
What did Rogers believe helped determine psychological health
How close an individual is to their ideal self, with feeling closer promoting greater geelings of self worth and greater psychological health
What is percieving oneself to be similar to ones ideal self versus not similar to ones ideal self
Similar to ideal self -congruance
Difference exists - incongruance
Is a state of congruance normal
It is rare for a complete state of congruence to exist, with most people experiencing some degree of incongruence
How do people help feel better about differences between their ideal self and how they are
People use defense mechanisms to avoid feeling threatened
How did Roaches believe others could help in the process of self actualisation
When people experience conditional positive regard, they devlop conditions of worth which are conditions that they percieve significant others put on them. They believe these conditions must be met in order to be accepted by others and to have others see them positively, and so people may only experience self-acceptance once they reach expectations others have put on them
Who suggested that others can place expectations on your conditions of self-acceptance
Roaches
How has councelling been impacted by humanistic psychology
Rogers claimed that individuals psychological problems were a direct result of their conditions of worth and conditional positive regard of others. With councelling people can solve their own issues and become fully functioning people, and so humanisitic therapists see themselves as guides to help people understand themselves and enable their potential for self-actualisation
How to therapists help people with humanisitic councelling
They provide empathy and unconditional positive regard, expressing their acceptance and understanding, regardless of feelings and attitudes the client expresses. This creates a supportive environment for a client to solve their conditions of self-worth and move towards a more authentic version of who they are
How might Maslow’s heirarchy of needs be relevant on a much larger scale than just individual growth (eval)
It has been found to have links to economic development. Hagerty looked at the relationship between economic growth and measures of affluence levels in 88 countries over 34 years. He found that early levels of economic growth were characterised by low level need, as would be predicted by Maslow’s model it was only advanced stages of development that self-actualisation became important
Who found a link between economic development and Maslow’s heirarchy of needs
Hagerty
What is support of Rogers conditions of worth (eval)
Individuals who expereince conditional positive regard are more likely to display “false self-behaviour”, doing things to meet others expectations which go against one’s own values. Harter found that teens who feel they have to fulfil certai conditions in order to gain their parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves, which is consistent with Roger’s prediction.
Who found teens were less likely to like themselves if they weren’t being themselves
Harter
Why is the humanistic approach difficult to approach scientifically
Most of the evidence used to support it fails to establish a causal relationship. In particular Rogers argued for non-experimental research methods, arguing that the requirements of the scientific method made it impossible to verify the results of councelling. Most psychologists would argue without experimental evidence evaluation of a theory is difficult. While some studies have shown personal growth as a result of recieving humanistic counselling, they did not show therapy caused these changes
Why might the humanisitic approach be unrealisitc (eval)
Critics argue it presents a idealized and unrealistic view of human nature, arguing that people are not inherently good or growth oriented as the theory suggests. The theory does not adequately recognize people’s capacity for pessimism and self-destructive behaviour, and thus is oversimplified. This means telling people to focus on themselves not situational factors may not be realistic or appropriate in modern society
