HUMANISTIC APPROACH

• Assumptions


  • Believes humans are self-determining and have free will
  • We are active agents who have the ability to determine our own development
  • Rejects scientific models, focus on the subjective experience
  • We are all unique beings, a person centred approach
• Congruence


  The aim of Rogerian therapy. When the self-concept and ideal self are seen to match
• Conditions of worth


  When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children
• Self-actualisation


  The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one's full potential. This is an innate tendency
• Humanistic psychologists regard personal growth as an essential part of what it is to be human
• Maslow's hiearchy of needs

  TOP: Self actualisation

  Self esteem

  Love and belongingness

  Safety and security

  Physiological needs
• What did Rogers argue?

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

  If too big a gap exists the person will experience a state of incongruence and will not be able to reach self-actualisation (usually due to negative feelings of self-worth)
• What did Rogers develop to combat incongruence?

  Client-centred therapy
• What did Rogers suggest that explains incongruence?

  a lack of unconditional positive regard/unconditional love from parents. Through client centred therapy, clients can receive the unconditional positive regard they did not receive as a child
• (AO3) What is a strength of the HA not being reductionist

  • Humanists focus on the human experience as a whole (holism) and value the unique experiences (idiographic)
  • Behaviour is not broken up into smaller components/constituent parts which may be important in understanding behaviour especially within a social context
  • Higher internal validity due to considering meaningful human behaviour within its real life context