Humanistic approach

• Key assumptions:

  • Carl Rogers +Abraham Maslow - 1950s
  • Focuses on the conscious subjective experiences of individuals
  • Emphasised the importance of striving towards personal growth and fulfilment
  • Humans are unique active agents that have the ability to determine their own development within the constraints imposed by biological/societal forces
• Free Will:

  • Idea that we have a choice in how we act
  • separates out what is the intention of an individual from that has been created by other causes
  • suggest humans have free will and are self-determining
  • we are active agents who can determine own development
  • Both researchers hated scientific models about generalising human behaviour
• Maslow's theory (1943):

  • Unlike others wanted to find out what could go right with people
  • Hierarchy of needs emphasised the importance of personal growth & fulfillment & opened the door for later movements in psych
• Focus on the self:

  • The self refers to how we perceive ourselves as a person
  • Rogers claimed that we have 2 basic needs : positive regard from others and a feeling of self- worth
  • Feelings of self-worth develop in childhood and are formed as a result of the childs interactions with their parents
• Conditions of worth:

  • Although others may help with self-actualisation, Rogers believed that more often they hinder it
  • The love and acceptance given by others may be unconditional
  • conditional love- only when you do what they want they are happy
• Congruence:

  • When there is a similarity between a person's ideal self and how they perceive themselves to be in real life
  • If a difference they experience a state of incongruence
  • Closer our self-image and ideal self are to each other, the greater the congruence
• Hierarchy of needs:

  1. Self -actualization: achieving one's full potential, including creative activities (self- fulfillment needs)
  2. Esteem needs: prestige and feeling accomplished (psychological needs)
  3. Belonginess and love needs: intimate relationships, friends (psychological needs)
  4. Safety needs: security and safety ( basic needs)
  5. Physiological needs: warmth, rest ,food, water (basic needs)
• AO3:

  • Limitation- culturally biased. The ideas central to the humanistic psychology such as individual freedom ,autonomy and personal growth would be associated with individualistic cultures in the Western countries. Doesn't apply to all cultures, and not culturally relative by taking into account their views
• AO3:

  • Strength- major influence on psychological counselling. E.G. many contemporary therapists use Roger's ideas of unconditional positive regard to help clients work towards self-awareness and self-acceptance through methods like client-centered therapy. Rea-world application theory helped improve the outlook of many patients that require support from psychological issues. Therefore, developed out understanding of how individuals vary and the importance of providing personalised care to increase feelings of self-worth.
• AO3:

  • Strength- unlike other theories is not reductionist. Takes into account all factors and doesn't just focus on one factor. Validity increase as it considers meaningful human behaviour withing it's real life context and doesn't exclude factors like the biological approach does when only considering genes. Advocate holism, the idea that it can only be understood considering the whole person and not just what best suits the approach.
• Hierarchy of needs:

  There is an innate tendency to achieve full potential and become the best version of yourself. The 4 levels mush be met beforehand for a person to reach self-actualisation. Individuals personal growth is what it means to be human.