Humanistic approach:

• What is humanistic psychology?

  An approach to understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience and each person's capacity for self-determination
• Rough idea of the humanistic approach:

  • All of the approaches considered so far are determinist to some degree (our behaviour is shaped by forces over which we have ni control)
  • Humanistic psychology is different in this respect, claiming that individuals are essentially self-determining and have free-will
• Who was Abraham Maslow?

  Psychologist- interested in human motivation
• What is self-actualisation?


  The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one's full potential- becoming what you are capable of

  • desire for self-fulfilment
  • desire to become everything one is capable of
  • reach your potential
  • motivated by needs
• What is free-will?


  The notion that humans can make choices and are not determined by internal biological or external forces
• What is self-image?


  How you see yourself
• What is ideal self?


  The ideal self refers to the person we aspire to be or the image of ourselves that we strive to achieve.
• What is congruence/incongruence?


  congruence= high self worth

  incongruence= low self worth
• What is unconditional positive regard?


  Being loved regardless of what you do/achieve
• What are conditions of worth?

  When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children. For instance, a parent saying to a child "I will only love you if..."
• What is counselling psychology or client-centred therapy?

  • 'clients' not 'patients'
  • Individual is the expert, the Therapist guides the individual
  • Genuineness, empathy, unconditional positive regard
  • reduce incongruence
• Assumptions of free-will:

  • Humans are self-determining
  • We are active agents who have the ability to determine our own development
  • person centred approach- we are all unique
• Assumptions of The self, congruence and conditions of worth:

  • Rogers- for personal growth to be achieved an individual's concept of self must have congruence with ideal self
  • A parent who sets boundaries or limits on their love for their child (conditions of worth) is storing up psychological problems for that child for the future
  • Many issues faced by adults e.g. worthlessness and low self-esteem, roots in childhood-lack of unconditional positive regard
• Assumptions of Self-actualisation:

  • Maslow's hierarchy of needs
  • Personal growth- an essential part of what it is to be human
  • developing and changing as a person to become fulfilled, satisfied and goal-orientated
• What are the levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

  1. Physiological
  2. Safety
  3. Love and belonging
  4. Self- esteem
  5. self- actualisation
• Give me one strength of the humanistic approach:

  One strength of the humanistic approach is that it rejects attempt to break up behaviour and experience into smaller components (not reductionist)
• Give me another strength of the humanistic approach:

  Another strength of the humanistic approach is that it is optimistic.
• Give me one limitation of the humanistic approach?

  One limitation of the approach is that it is culturally biased
• Give me another limitation of the humanistic approach:

  Critics have argued that the humanistic psychology has had relatively little impact in psychology or little practical application in the real world.