humanistic approach

• what are the key assumptions of the humanistic approach (AO1)?


  • person-centred approach, which views every individual as unique and regards personal growth and fulfillment in life as a basic human motive.
  • it rejects reductionism and takes a holistic approach.
  • we are conscious and aware of ourselves and what others think about us.
  • we have free will and make choices about ourselves.
  • we are responsible for our own decisions and development.
• what is the maslow's hierarchy of needs theory?

  • theory of human motivation. the needs are presented in a 5 level sequence, where basic physiological needs have to be met before higher psychological needs can be accomplished.
  • the approach assumes that everyone is capable of meeting the needs of each level of the hierarchy and, therefore, everyone has the potential to reach self-actualisation.
• what does self-actualisation mean?

  • recognising and striving to reach your own potential.
• what are the 5 levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

  • physiological needs
  • safety needs
  • social belonging
  • esteem
  • self-actualisation
• what is meant by congruence by Roger?

  • describes a state in which a person's ideal self and actual self are consistent or very similar.
  • where a person's ideal self and actual self are inconsistent to each other, this is called incongruence.
  • congruence is needed before self-actualisation can be reached.
• what is meant by conditions of worth by Rogers?

  • when positive regard from others is only given when certain criteria are met. conditions of worth will lead to incongruence and hinder self-actualisation.
  • positive regard and an environment where there are no conditions of worth are needed for healthy personal development.
• what are the strengths of the humanistic approach (AO3)?


  • free will is promoted rather than determinism.
  • practical application - such as person-centred therapy (Gibbard and Hanley - 70% of the participants showed significant improvement).
  • idiographic approach - producing qualitative data to explore in-depth individual experiences.
• what is meant by person-centred therapy?

  • where therapists provide empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity to help clients explore their feelings, reduce incongruence, and achieve personal growth.
• what are the limitations of the humanistic approach(AO3)?


  • parts of the approach are culturally biased - emphasis on individual achievements may not be desirable in every culture (e.g. collectivist cultures) and may only be a feature of westernised individualistic nations.
  • not scientifically credible with the aims of science - counselling isn't done in an experimental context.
  • could be criticised for not being able to create generalisable laws of human behaviour.