Humanistic Approach

• Assumptions:

  • Psychology should study the individual case (idiographic) rather than the average performance of groups (nomothetic).
  • Humanism rejects scientific methodology. The subjective, conscious experiences of the individual is more important
• what did Maslow investigate?


  Human motivation
• Define self actualisation


  the innate desire to achieve or fulfill one's full potential (becoming what you are capable of)
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs:

  • emphasises the importance of personal growth
  • Self actualisation - independent, acceptance, purpose and meaning
  • Self esteem - confidence, achievement, respected by others
  • love and belonging - friendship, intimacy and acceptance by others
  • Safety - safe from danger, home, employment and good health
  • Physiological needs - food, water and sleep
  • deficiency needs - the lower levels must be met in order to self actualise
• Rogers: personal growth

  3 parts of the self concept:

  1. Actual self - how you see yourself right now
  2. Ideal self - who you want to be
  3. Self worth/ self esteem - how much you like and accept who you are.
• congruence: the actual self does match ideal self

  self actualisation is most likely to occur when there is congruence
• Define unconditional positive regard


  where parents love and accept their children regardless of their behaviour.
• Define conditions of worth


  Standards are placed on the child by a parent which they believe they must meet if they are to be accepted.
• what is client centered therapy


  The client as expert not therapist

  It aims to increase the person's feeling of self worth.

  Reduce Incongruence between actual self and ideal self .

  Help person become a more full functioning person
• research methods: strengths

  • Used qualitative methods e.g. unstructured interviews - this is useful for the detailed study of an individual and gain more insight into human behaviour.
• research methods: weaknesses

  • unscientific and unfalsifiable as this approach is subjective and hard to test
• Debates: strengths

  • freewill - has a more optimistic view and is about personal growth
  • Holistic approach
• Real world application:

  • lead to counselling therapy e.g. client centered therapy - it focuses on a person present problems instead of the past
  • Maslow's hierarchy has helped inform businesses with their understanding of the needs of their employees and how to motivate them.