The Humanistic Approach

Question 1

What is the main idea of the humanistic approach

Answer 1

The idea that humans have free will and can achieve full potential as a human being rather than concentrating on individual problems or symptoms

Question 2

What is the order of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Answer 2

Self actualisation
Esteem
Love/belonging
Safety
Physiological

Question 3

What is self actualisation

Answer 3

Realizing personal potential, self fulfilment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences

Question 4

Congruence

Answer 4

When there is a similarity between a person’s ideal self and self image

Question 5

Incongruence

Answer 5

When there is a mismatch between a person’s ideal self and their self image

Question 6

What is unconditional positive regard

Answer 6

When a parent/caregiver provides affection and respect to their child without any conditions attached and this provides a healthy self image and self worth

Question 7

What are conditions of worth

Answer 7

When a parent/caregiver places limits or boundaries on their love for their children and this lead to feelings of low self worth

Question 8

Positives of humanistic approach

Answer 8

Positive approach-sees people in control of their own lives and having the freedom to change unlike how the other approaches view humans as being passive learners or machine

Holistic-tries to understand people as a whole and how everyone is unique due to their own experiences. Fits into real life context

Question 9

Disadvantages of the humanistic approach

Answer 9

Cultural biased-associated with individualistic cultures like the west and therefore cannot be applied universally to collectivist cultures

Lack of scientific evidence-very little objective evidence. Client centred therapy is not an experimental context . No causal relationships