The Humanistic Approach Flashcards
What beliefs drive the humanistic approach ?
We all have FREE WILL, which means we can choose and evaluate our actions.
It focuses on our whole experience as a subjective whole rather than little pieces of it.
What theory did Abraham Maslow develop, and what was its purpose?
The Hierarchy of Needs.
Its point was to show the basic needs we need to develop and grow as people. Once one tier of needs is fulfilled, we can move up to the next one.
What are the base needs Maslow claims we feel most strongly?
PHYSIOLOGICAL needs - food, water, breathing, reproduction.
Name the five tiers of the hierarchy of needs.
PHYSIOLOGICAL SAFETY BELONGING ESTEEM SELF - ACTUALISATION
What does Maslow claim people who reach self-actualisation have in common?
They are accepting of people, are tolerant, have accurate perceptions of the world and are creative.
Which theorist created ideas of the self?
Carl Rogers
What two things did he claim were basic needs?
Positive regard for others
Feelings of self worth.
What is “congruence”?
The closer we are to our ideal self, the more “congruent” we are. If we are far from our ideal, we are “incongruent”. Incongruence leads to mental illnesses like low self esteem and depression.
Where does our feeling of self worth come from?
Peers, Parents, Significant others.
What are conditions of worth?
If peers place “conditions of worth” on you, you feel you must fulfil these conditions before you are accepted.
Why are conditions of worth a bad thing?
They may cause you to act unnaturally, and cause low self-esteem as you feel who you are is not enough.
Describe counselling from a humanistic psychologist.
They provide unconditional positive regard (no conditions of worth) and provide an arena for you to grow and develop naturally into your potential.
List some weaknesses from the humanistic approach.
RESEARCH METHODS: mainly conceptual, can’t be tested or falsified with the scientific method.
UNREALISTIC: It is idealistic - assumes we will naturally lean towards healthy development. It is clear humans are not like this, with many of us regressing or being self-destructive.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: in collectivist Eastern cultures, “belonging” comes before basic psysiological needs.
List some strengths of the humanistic approach.
APPLICATIONS: Clear applications in counselling techniques, and in parenting considering the child’s emotional wellbeing.
RESEARCH SUPPORT: Harter et. al. found support for conditions of worth in adolescents, seeing that if peers showed conditions of worth, teens had low self-esteem and mental issues like anxiety.
