week 6 humanistic and cognitive psychology

Question 1

give 4 basic features of humanistic psych

Answer 1

positive outlook

growth not pathology

goals not causes

rooted in philosophical existentialism

Question 2

2 key thinkers in humanistic psych

Answer 2

Abraham Maslow and carl rogers

Question 3

what does Maslow claim?

Answer 3

people have innate tendencies towards positive growth and these will operate unless stunted by environmental conditions - “instintoid tendencies”

Question 4

what are the 2 types of motivation Maslow created?

Answer 4

1. deficiency D needs
   - homeostatic and preventative eg hunger and thirst, defensive aggression
2. growth B needs
   - cumulative and goal-orientated

Question 5

describe each level of hierarchy of needs made by Maslow

Answer 5

1. Basic Needs or Physiological Needs
   - These are somewhat obvious and necessary for basic human survival. Without food, air, drink, warmth and sleep, the human body cannot continue to function.
2. Safety Needs
   Once physical needs are somewhat satisfied, focus on safety needs take precedence and dominate our behavior. These needs being satisfied quell our need for an orderly predictable world where unfairness and inconsistency are under control.

3.Belongingness and the Need for Love
Once basic and safety needs are met, human needs become social and involve a need for acceptance and to love and be loved. If these elements are absent, social anxiety and depression can arise.
[Research suggests that this also contributes to self-esteem]

4.Esteem Needs
This level is attained when individuals feel comfortable with what they have accomplished from a success and status standpoint.
[He also distinguished between a lower level – respect from others –and a higher –self-respect]

5. Cognitive Needs
   At this point, we feel a need to increase our intelligence and we chase knowledge to gain a better understanding of the world around us. We now feel a need to explore and desire new experiences.
   [This might be bundled with self-actualization]
6. Aesthetic Needs
   With the previous needs satisfied, we now find we need to refresh ourselves with the presence of beauty, nature, art, music and the other aesthetically beautiful things the world has to offer. This leads to a beautiful feeling of intimacy and oneness with nature and everything beautiful.
   [This might be bundled with self-actualization]

7.Self-actualization
This is our instinctual need as humans to make the most of our abilities and to strive to be the best we can be. Quoting Maslow “What a man can be, he must be.” It is also at this level that individuals experience extraordinary moments called Peak Experiences which include transpersonal and ecstatic states tinged with themes of euphoria, harmonization and interconnectedness.”
[Lots of ways of achieving this]

8. Transcendence
   Having personally self-actualized, there is a desire to help others self-actualize. In doing so, we connect with something beyond the ego and we experience states beyond normal human consciousness and take things to another level of being.
   [Maslow added this level later in life]

Question 6

what are the needs at the bottom characterized as

Answer 6

D-motivations

Question 7

what are the needs at the bottom characterized as

Answer 7

B-motivations

Question 8

b-cognition

Answer 8

involves peak experiences where people followed their own interests and mastered them (intrinsic motivation)

Question 9

d-cognitions

Answer 9

people get bogged down with regular stuff and only do things because they are rewarded and punished (extrinsic motivation)

Question 10

give the 7 characteristics of self-actualizers

Answer 10

1. self-acceptance - own human nature with all its flaws
2. realism - able to judge situations correctly & honestly
3. ethical - socially compassionate and possessing humanity
4. intimacy - interpersonal relationships are marked by deep, loving bonds
5. independent - not reliant on culture and environment to form opinions/views
6. autonomy - free from reliance on external authorities or other people
7. mirthful - can laugh at oneself or others in a non-hostile way.

Question 11

what is Maslow’s model of motivation?

Answer 11

development - choices combined with discipline. he would encourage people to follow their internal impulses

pathology - cause = unmet fundamental needs

therapy - eclectic and pragmatic

Question 12

what are some critiques of Maslow’s ideas?

Answer 12

1. he assumes everyone has an innate drive towards growth. this is challenged by the existence of psychopaths and people with personality disorders, raised in decent families whose siblings lack the disorder. it is also challenged by the findings from behaviour genetics that eg criminals or mental illness show heritability, suggesting a genetic component independent of the environment
2. actualisation or achievement? personality or intelligence?
3. sample bias
4. hagiography - people idiolize famous people
5. critique of hierarchy of needs - some people need higher needs before lower needs eg go on hunger strikes for political reasons

Question 13

what is another hierarchy with adjustmets to mallows?

Answer 13

Kenrick et al 2010 - uses evolutionary psychology

Desmet & Fokkinga 2020