The Humanistic Approach

Question 1

Outline the basic assumptions of the humanistic approach.

Answer 1

• believes we are free thinkers and have free will over our thoughts, actions and behaviours
• believe we need to reach self-actualisation in order to be happy, complete humans
• believe we have an inate tendancy to achieve our full potential

Question 2

Define free will

Answer 2

the notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by biological or external forces

Question 3

Define self-actualisation.

Answer 3

the desire to grow psychologically and fufill one’s full potential

Question 4

What were Maslow’s 5 needs in the heirarchy?

Answer 4

• physiological (air, water, food, drink)
• safety (security, law, protection)
• belonging and love (family, relationships, affection)
• self-esteem (status, responsibility, achievement)
• self-actualisation (personal growth)

Question 5

Define congruence.

Answer 5

the aim of rogerian therapy; when the self-concept and ideal self are seen to match

Question 6

Define conditions of worth.

Answer 6

when a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children

Question 7

Define unconditional positive self-regard.

Answer 7

loving yourself regardless of your achievements

Question 8

Outline client-centred therapy.

Answer 8

• promotes unconditional positive self-regard by teaching the client congruence and reducing the gap between their ideal self and current self

Question 9

Outline the strengths of the humanistic approach.

Answer 9

• uses holism and believes we should study the person as a whole to understand a specific experience
• client-centred therapy which is an effective treatment for depression, stress etc.
• considers subjective conscious experience
• enables psychologists to explore human existance with more sensitivity

Question 10

Outline the limitations of the humanistic approach.

Answer 10

• doesn’t travel well to collectivist cultures because they don’t identify with rising above the group to self-actualise
• subjective because you can’t measure happiness which means it isn’t scientific
• qualitative techniques questioned
• hasn’t had a huge impact on mainstream psychology
• can’t formulate general laws of behaviour because it’s more of a loose set of ideas than a comprehensive theory
• loose terms so less empiracal research is carried out