The Humansitic Approach

Question 1

What is the humanistic approach and when did it become popular?

Answer 1

A very positive approach as it feels that humans are motivated to be the best that they can be and sees us all as having the inner power to achieve our full potential. it focuses on the growth and potential of a person. Became popular in the 1950’s.

Question 2

What is the role of free will?

Answer 2

It sees us as in control of our destiny - recognises that there are constraints (environmental and biological) - believes we can overcome them with self-determination. Should look at a person’s subjective experience (idioographic)

Question 3

What is self-actualisation?

Answer 3

To grow as a person and work towards achieving one’s full potential - the closer the ideal self is to the actual self (congruence) , the more self-actualised a person is

Question 4

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 4

Maslow (1954) -hierarchy of needs in order of priority-we can only move up and towards self-actualisation if the preceding ‘deficiency need’ is met
Bottom -
physiological
Safety
Love / belonging
Esteem
Self-actualisation- top

Question 5

Who is Carl Rogers?

Answer 5

One of the key founders of the humanistic approach, he wrote about the concept of the ‘self’

Question 6

What is the self?

Answer 6

Our sense of who we are which includes our values
We have 2 versions, our actual self and our ideal self. The actual self is now we view ourselves currently.The ideal self is the person we would like to be.

Question 7

What is congruence?

Answer 7

The degree of fit between the ideal self and the actual self. The closer we are to the ideal self, the happier we are and the higher our feelings of self- worth. If the gap is large, this is known as incongruence.

Question 8

What are conditions off worth?

Answer 8

Conditions of worth are factors which would hinder the process of self - actualisation. They would cause anxiety and upset and hinder self-actualisation.
Self-actualisation is most likely with unconditional positive regard. When were supported, loved, encouraged and accepted regardless of our choices and behaviours.

Question 9

What is counselling psychology?

Answer 9

Client-centred therapy- the therapist and client are seen as the same status
They give empathy and unconditional positive regard. This is to reduce their level of incongruence.

Question 10

What are the strengths of the humanistic approach?

Answer 10

1. Focus on the development and potential of a person- more focus on what the person could become- led to the development of positive psychology- can be applied to many settings- led to the development of recovery programmes such as AA.
2. Research to support- Assor et al (2012)- 153 adolescents, those with conditions of worth had more shame, lower self- esteem and poorly coped with stress. Proves that unconditional positive regard is needed to move towards self-actualisation.

Question 11

What are the limitations of the humanistic approach?

Answer 11

1. Considered too optimistic-assumes people are motivated to work towards self- actualisation. People are self-destructive. Sometimes unconditional positive regard can’t happen due to behaviour that can’t be condoned.
2. Culturally biased- only applies to individualistic cultures. Nevis (1983)- in China, belonging was seen as more important. Self-actualisation is a very western concept, in collectivist cultures, what’s best for the group is more important - ungeneralisable.