Humanistic

• What is the humanistic approach nicknamed?


  the 'third force'
• Who is involved in the humanistic approach?

  Maslow and Rodgers
• What are the key assumptions?

  • focuses on the individual as a whole
  • person centred approach -> understanding a person's experiences and their subjective view about themselves rather than studying objectivity and developing general laws
  • ideographic approach -> focuses on the individual rather than producing general rules by summarising a group of people
  • rejects determinism - emphasises free-will
• Self-actualisation 


  most people have an innate desire to achieve their full potential and become what they are capable of
• What is important about the emphasis of free-will?


  • rejects other 'scientific' models such as behaviourism as they are considered deterministic and suggest our behaviour is shaped by forces we have no control over
  • claims that humans are unique and self-determining
• What was Maslow interested in?


  how people are motivated - his hierarchy of needs describes what motivates our behaviour
• How do you achieve self-actualisation according to Maslow?


  by achieving other deficiency needs in the pyramid
• What is at the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy?


  physiological needs - food, water, sleep, air, sex
• What is second in Maslow's hierarchy?


  safety - within a group, within yourself, within employment, financially
• What is third in Maslow's hierarchy?


  love/belonging - feeling part of a group, intimacy with a partner
• What is fourth in Maslow's hierarchy?


  self esteem - respecting of others as well as yourself, confidence
• What is at the top of Maslow's hierarchy?


  self-actualisation
• How does Maslow believe we develop personality disorders?


  when the needs are not met
• Psychological barriers


  when a person is unable to work up the hierarchy as these barriers get in the way
• What are some characteristics of a person that has self-actualised?


  • strong sense of self awareness
  • fully accepting view of themselves and for others
  • ability to deal with uncertainty
  • sense of creativity
  • lack of prejudice towards others
• How did Rodgers believe people achieved self-actualisation?


  dependant on their own thoughts and how they were treated by others
• What can others do to help us achieve self-actualisation?


  • be genuine, honest and open with their feelings
  • accepting of who you are
  • empathetic
• What did Rodgers believe particularly about children?


  that they wanted to be regarded in a good light and would seek approval from their parents
• What was Rodgers main concept?

  He believed that to achieve self-actualisation a person had to be 'congruent' -> their ideal self aligns with their real self image

  If the gap was too big then the person is said to be 'incongruent' and incapable of achieving self-actualisation do to negative feelings
• Conditions of worth


  where approval and affection is given as a result of behaving in a certain way - a parent who sets boundaries on their love for a child, e.g. "I will only love you if..."
• What can promote congruence?


  unconditional positive regard
• Why did Rodgers develop client-centred therapy?


  to reduce the gap between the ideal self and real self image
• How did Rodgers suggest we develop feelings of worthlessness and low self esteem in adult?


  by a lack of unconditional positive regard as a child
• What does the therapist need to provide the client with?

  • genuineness
  • empathy
  • unconditional positive regard
• What were the aims of Rodgers' 'client-centred therapy'?


  • to increase the persons feelings of self worth
  • reduce incongruence
  • empower people so they have the motivation to help themselves
• Why did Rodger's called his therapy 'client-centred'?


  because he believed that the client directed their own therapy and was given the responsibility to eventually solve their own problems
• Why did Rodger's called his therapy 'client-centred'?


  because he believed that the client directed their own therapy and was given the responsibility to eventually solve their own problems