A01

• State the three assumptions of humanistic psychology

  1. Humans have free will and are active agents – they are able to control and determine their own development
  2. Humans strive towards achieving self-actualisation
  3. To be psychologically healthy the perceived self and ideal self must be congruent
• Describe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

  A five-levelled hierarchical sequence in which basic physiological needs (such as hunger) must be satisfied before higher psychological needs (such as self-esteem and self-actualisation) can be achieved
• State the five levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, in order

  1. Physiological
  2. Safety
  3. Belongingness and love
  4. Esteem
  5. Self-actualisation
• Define self-actualisation

  A continual striving for personal growth and self-fulfilment
• What is the difference between the perceived self and the ideal self?

  The perceived self is how we see ourselves in real life, whereas the ideal self is the person we want to be
• What is congruence?

  When there is similarity between a person’s ideal self and their perceived self
• What is incongruence?

  When there is inconsistency/mismatch between a person’s ideal self and their perceived self
• Describe how childhood experiences could lead to incongruence

  Incongruence could be because of parental displays of conditional positive regard whereby they placed conditions of worth for their child
• What are conditions of worth?

  Parent placing limits or boundaries on their love of their children – e.g. ‘I will only love you if you study medicine’
• Outline the aim of client-centred therapy

  To increase a person’s feelings of self-worth and reduce incongruence between their ideal self and perceived self to promote self-actualisation
• Outline the therapists’ role in facilitating Rogerian therapy

  To provide genuineness (therapist congruence), empathic understanding and acceptance by providing unconditional positive regard
• Describe how client-centred therapy differs from traditional talking therapies

  It is a non-directive form of psychotherapy where patients are viewed as ‘clients’ and experts of their own condition, and the therapist merely acts as a guide or facilitator