the humanistic approach

Question 1

What does self-actualisation mean?

Answer 1

The desire to grow psychologically and fufil one’s full potential.

Question 2

Examples of how can a student self-actualise? (5)

Answer 2

-Achieving target grades/exceeding them
-Taking opportunities
-Good attendance
-Studying hard
-Engaging in lesson

Question 3

What does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggest? How many people achieve self-actualisation?

Answer 3

You need to follow 4 other steps, in order to reach the top and last stage, self-actualisation. 1% achieve the top.

Question 4

What are the 5 steps of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs +examples for each. (STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP).

Answer 4

1. Physiological needs e.g. food+water
2. Safety needs e.g. shelter
3. Belongingness and love e.g. family+friends
4. Esteem needs e.g. respect from colleagues
5. Self actualisation (SA) e.g. being the best version of yourself

Question 5

What is “the actual self”?

Answer 5

The person you perceive yourself as.

Question 6

What is “the ideal self”?

Answer 6

The person you would like to be.

Question 7

What is incongruence?

Answer 7

When there is INCONSISTENCY between the actual and ideal self.

Question 8

What does Rogers state about incongruence? (4)

Answer 8

-In order to self-actualise, there must be a congruence between a person’s actual and ideal self.
-If there is too big a gap between these, the person experiences incongruence
-Will not be able to self-actualise
-Possibly becoming anxious and depressed.

Question 9

What is a conditional positive regard?
What is this criteria known as? What is this?

Answer 9

Refers to the parents valuing an individual only when they meet specific criteria. Criteria=Conditions of worth - The criteria that children have to meet to receive this positive regard.

Question 10

Some examples of “conditions” parents may put on their children. (4)

Answer 10

“I will only love you if: you get a good job, good grades, win your sports game, do your chores.”

Question 11

Summarise child-centred therapy, developed by Rogers?

Answer 11

-Aims to achieve congruence in the client, who takes an active role in the therapy.
-Cause of incongruence may have been a lack of unconditional positive regard from parents>psychological problems.
-Therapist provides the client with unconditional positive regard with empathy and genuineness>reduce incongruence>reduce gap>achieving self-actualisation>IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE.

Question 12

How does child-centred therapy benefit the economy? (2)

Answer 12

-NHS can treat more people
-No sick pay>increases workers productivity>more money spent on leisure.

Question 13

What is a strength of this approach?

Answer 13

More positive than other approaches, focuses on personal growth (free-will and self-actualising)

Question 14

What is a limitation of this approach?

Answer 14

-Overemphasis on self-actualisation, which only 1% of us achieve, overlooks our ability to self destruct e.g. scuicide, addiction, criminality.
-Therefore this explanation is INCOMPLETE as it cannot account for these examples human behaviour.

Question 15

How is this approach holistic?

Answer 15

Behaviour should take account of all factors affecting it - Maslow’s hierarchy looks at 5 different factors.

Question 16

Difference between objective and subjective?

Answer 16

Objective - Information based on facts, free from bias.
Subjective - Information based on personal opinion that is subject to bias.

Question 17

What does free will mean?

Answer 17

The idea that we chose our behaviour and are in control of our destiny.

Question 18

PET limitation of this approach.

Answer 18

P: lacks scientific rigour (thoroughness).
E: e.g. SA is subjective as it means different things to different people. E.g. ppl have different standards for themselves.
T: this approach concepts may be too open to interpretation and untenable=lacks scientific research and support.

Question 19

What is culture bias?

Answer 19

Interpretation of behaviour based on the standards of one’s own culture, usually devaluing other culture.

Question 20

How is the humanistic approach culturally biased? Why is this an issue?

Answer 20

Self-actualisation reflects individualistic culture. Can’t explain the behaviour for collectivist culture>devaluing other cultures>viewing their behaviour as abnormal as it doesn’t conform to Western standards.

Question 21

What is the difference between collectivist and individualistic culture?

Answer 21

Individualistic- Value independence, needs of the self come first e.g. UK and USA
Collectivist- Value community, needs of the group come first e.g. Asia