The Humanistic Approach

Question 1

Main assumptions of the humanistic approach

Answer 1

• Positive outlook on human behaviour.
• Person centred approach, and emphasises the importance of uniqueness and conscious, subjective views of the present.
• Suggests all behaviours, thoughts and feelings should be taken into account to understand behaviour (holistic in this respect).
• Does not aim to make predictions or assumptions of others behaviours (idiographic approach).

Question 2

Define self actualisation

Answer 2

• The ability to both recognise and realise ones own potential.

Question 3

What does the humanistic approach suggest about self actualising?

Answer 3

• HA suggests we are all essentially ‘good’.
• And our ultimate goal is to achieve our potential/ or in other words, self actualise.

Question 4

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (info)

Answer 4

• Suggests that humans have a number of basic requirements (hierarchy of needs).
• He stated that we are constantly adjusting our behaviour with the goal of reaching self-actualisation.

Question 5

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (triangle)

Answer 5

1. Physiological needs= sleep, water, breathing, sex.
2. Safety needs= security of the body, employment, health, resources.
3. Love and belonging= friendship, family, sexual intimacy.
4. Self-esteem= confidence, achievement.
5. Self actualisation= morality, creativity, problem solving.

Question 6

What kind of needs are they?

Answer 6

1. Deficiency needs= bottom of the hierarchy.
2. Growth needs= top of the hierarchy.

Question 7

Rodgers theory of the self

Answer 7

• Believed personal growth was the motivating force for all behaviour.
  Ultimate goal= to reach full potential.
• Called the ‘actualising tendency’.
• Affected by the environment.
• Its an innate drive that exists in all living things.

Question 8

How is personal growth achieved?

Answer 8

Our self concept, self worth and ideal self must be in a state of congruence.
- If too big a gap exists individuals will feel negative feelings of self worth.
- Meaning they are in a state of incongruence and are incapable of self actualising (caused by conditions of worth placed on individuals during childhood).

Question 9

What therapy did Rogers theory of the self lead to?

Answer 9

• Client centred therapy.
• Reduce the gap between SC + IS.
• Clients are offered unconditional positive regard from the therapist, to help resolve conditions of worth.
• This guides clients towards self actualisation.