Humanistic

• The approach concerns itself with explanations of healthy growth in individuals
• Free will

  Humanistic psychology claims that human beings are self determining and have free will.

  We are seen as active agents who have the ability to determine our own development
• Humanistic psychologists reject scientific models that attempt to establish general principles of human behaviour.
• Active agents

  As active agents we are all unique and psychology should concern itself with the study of subjective experience rather than general laws - referred to as the person centred approach
• Self actualisation

  Every person has an innate tendency to achieve their full potential - to become the best they can possibly be
• Self actualisation represents the uppermost level of Maslows hierarchy of needs. All four lower levels must be met (deficiency needs) before people can work towards self actualisation
• Humanistic psychologists regard personal growth as an essential part of what it is to be human.

  It is concerned with developing and changing as a person to become fulfilled. Not everyone will manage this as psychological barriers may prevent a person from reaching their potential
• Maslow Hierarchy of needs

  Level 1 (Physiological) - breathing, food, water, sex, sleep - basic needs

  Level 2 (Safety) - security of body and employment, health, family

  Level 3 (Love/belonging) - friendship, intimacy, family

  Level 4 (Esteem) - self esteem, confidence, achievement

  Level 5 (Self actualisation) - creativity, problem solving, morality
• Hierarchy of needs

  The most basic needs are at the bottom with more advanced needs at the top

  Each level must be fulfilled before a person can move to a higher need
• Focus on the self and congruence

  For personal growth to be achieved, an individuals concept of 'self' must be equivalent or have congruence with their ideal self. However if their is a difference between the self and ideal self the person experiences incongruence. This will make self actualisation impossible due to negative feelings of self worth that rise from incongruence
• Feelings of self-worth

  Rogers claimed that feelings of self worth develop in childhood and are formed as a result of the childs interaction with parents

  Further interactions with significant others also influence the persons feelings of self worth. How we think about ourselves and our feelings of self worth are important in determining our health
• Feelings of self-worth

  Rogers claimed that feelings of self worth develop in childhood and are formed as a result of the childs interaction with parents

  Further interactions with significant others also influence the persons feelings of self worth. How we think about ourselves and our feelings of self worth are important in determining our health
• Conditions of worth

  Rogers claims that we have if we experience incongruence and have negative feelings of self worth it is because we have experienced a lack of unconditional positive regard (being accepted for who we are or what we do regardless) from the people around us
• Conditions of worth

  A parent who sets boundaries or limits on their low for their child (conditions of worth) by claiming 'I will only love you if...' will create problems for their child in the future.

  The conditions that are put upon them, they believe have to be put in place if they are to be accepted by others and see themselves postively
• The influence on counselling psychology

  Rogers claimed that an individuals problems were as a direct result of their conditions of worth and the condition positive regard they relieve from other people. He believed that with counselling people would be able to solve their own problems in consecutive wats and move towards self actualisation
• Humanistic therapists see themselves as 'guides' or 'facilitators' and provide empathy and unconditional positive regard expressing their acceptance and understanding. By doing this a therapist offers supporting environment which will help get rid of the clients conditions of worth
• AO3 - holism

  Humanism advocates holism, the idea that subjective experience can only be understood by considering the whole person. This approach may have more validity than other approaches because it considers all aspects of human behaviour rather than just some
• AO3 - support for the approach

  Harter et al discovered that teenagers who feel they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain their parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves and are more likely to develop depression.

  This is consistent with Rogers view that those who experience conditional positive regard are likely to display more ' false self behaviour'
• AO3 - support for the approach

  Harter et al discovered that teenagers who feel they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain their parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves and are more likely to develop depression.

  This is consistent with Rogers view that those who experience conditional positive regard are likely to display more ' false self behaviour'
• AO3 - supports free will

  It claims that we can choose how to live our lives and how to behave. This is seen as a better view of human behaviour than approaches which are deterministic as they claim we have no control over what happens to us
• AO3 - idiographic

  Example of an idiographic approach as it sees individuals as unique rather than nomothetic approaches which describe behaviour as being caused the same way for all people. This is seen as a better way of viewing human behaviour as it provides a complete account of the individual and doesn't overlook human experience
• AO3 - limited impact within the discipline of psychology as a whole

  Humanistic psychology lacking a sound evidence base and the approach has been described as a lost set of rather abstract concepts not a comprehensive theory
• AO3 - culture biased

  Its views of individual freedom, autonomy and personal growth would be more likely a feature of individualistic culture rather than collectivist cultures
• AO3 - over idealised and unrealistic view of human nature

  Humanists claim people are inherently good and growth orientated but ignores the fact that people can be pessimistic and self destructive.

  Therefore is an oversimplification to assume problems occur when people are blocked from self actualising