the humanistic psychology: evaluation

Question 1

the humanistic approach is non - reductionist

Answer 1

POINT: One strength of the humanistic approach is that it rejects attempts to break up behaviour and experience into smaller components. This means it is non - reductionist.

EVIDENCE: For example, Behaviourist explains human and animal learning in terms of simple stimulus connections. Supporters of the cognitive approach see human beings as little more than information processing machines. Biological psychologists reduce behaviour to its basic physiological processes.
In contrast, humanistic psychologists advocate for holism, the idea that the subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person

EXPLAIN:
This approach may have more validity than its alternatives by considering meaningful human behaviour within its real-world context

Question 2

COUNTERPOINT: the humanistic approach is non - reductionist

Answer 2

However, reductionist approaches are more scientific. This is because the ideal of science is the experiment, and experiments reduce behaviour to independent and dependent variables

One issue with humanistic psychology is that, unlike in behaviourism, there are relatively few concepts that can be broken down to single variables and measured

This means that humanistic psychology in general is short on empirical evidence to support its claims

Question 3

it is a positive approach

Answer 3

POINT: Another strength of the humanistic approach is that it is optimistic

EVIDENCE: Humanistic psychologists have been praised for bringing the person back into psychology and promoting a positive image of the human condition

Freud saw humans as prisoners of their past and claimed all of us somewhere existed between “common unhappiness and absolute dispair”.
In contrast, humanistic psychologists see all people as basically food, free to work towards the achievements of their potential and in control of their lives

EXPLAIN: This suggests that humanistic psychology offers a refreshing and optimistic alternative to other approaches

Question 4

The humanistic approach may be culturally -biased

Answer 4

POINT: An issue with the humanistic approach is that it may be culturally biased

EVIDENCE: Many of the ideas that are central to humanistic psychology such as freedom, autonomy and personal growth, would be much more readily associated with countries that have more individualistic tendencies such as the US. Countries with collectivist tendencies tend to emphasise the needs of the group and interdependence. In such countries, the ideals of humanistic psychology may not be as important as in others

EXPLAINATION: Therefore, it is possible that this approach des not apply universally and is a product of the cultural context within which it was developed

Question 5

there is limited application

Answer 5

POINT: Critics have argued that humanistic psychology has had relatively little impact in psychology or practical impact in the real world

EVIDENCE: The approach has been described not as a comprehensive theory but as a loose ser of abstract ideas

HOWEVER, Rogerian therapy revolutionised counselling techniques and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been used to explain motivation, particularly in the workplace