Humanistic Approach

• Assumptions of the Humanistic approach

  Focus on conscious experience rather than behaviour, Free will rather than Determinism, Discussion of experience than use of experimental method.

  
  

  Stresses importance of personal growth and fulfilment

  
  

  Humans are unique individuals and general laws should not be applied to everyone.
• Humanistic - Free will

  Humans are self-determining and have free will.

  
  

  We are active agents

  
• Humanistic - Self actualisation

  Every person has an innate tendency to strive to achieve their full potential.

  
  

  Represents the top level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

  
  

  All 4 lower levels of the hierarchy must be met before the individual can work towards self actualisation.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

  Self Actualisation

  ^

  Self-esteem

  ^

  Love/belonging (social)

  ^

  Safety + Security

  ^

  Physiological

  
• The Self and Congruence

  For personal growth to be achieved, an individual's concept of their 'self' must have congruence with their 'ideal self'.

  
  

  If too big a gap exists between the 2 'selves' the person will experience incongruence and self-actualisation will not be possible due to the negative feelings of self-worth that arise from incongruence.
• Client-centred Therapy to treat incongruence

  Developed by Rodgers

  
  

  Rodgers claimed that issues experienced as adults such as worthlessness can be explained by a lack of unconditional positive regard.

  
  

  As a therapist, Rodgers would provide clients with unconditional positive regard
• Unconditional positive regard


  Unconditional love.

  
  

  A parent who sets boundaries or limits on their love for the child violates this and this results in the child storing up psychological problems for the future.

  
• Client centred therapy


  Centred on the person.

  
  

  The individual is the expert on their own condition.

  
  

  Non-directive therapy.

  
  

  Client is encouraged towards the discovery of their own solutions within a therapeutic atmosphere that is supportive and non-judgemental.
• Role of Therapist in Client-centred Therapy

  Provides client with genuineness, empathy and unconditional positive regard.
• Humanistic approach - evaluation

  +Not Reductionist - This approach looks holistically at behaviour which means this approach may have higher validity than other approaches because it considers meaningful human behaviour within a real-life context.

  
  

  -Limited Application - revolutionised counselling and Maslow's hierarchy is used to explain motivation in the workplace. However, has had limited application in psychology.

  
  

  +Positive Approach - a refreshing and optimistic alternative. It sees all people as basically good, free to work towards the achievement of their potential and in control of their lives.
• Essay Plan - Describe + Evaluate Humanistic Approach

  AO1

  Self actualisation

  Humans are unique

  Self and Congruence

  Hierarchy of needs

  
  

  AO3

  Client centred therapy

  Idiographic

  Holistic

  Positive approach
• Humanistic Approach linked to Topics

  Social Influence - Internal LoC.

  
  

  Psychopathology - Client centred therapy.