Humanistic Approach

• Humanist - Assumptions

  • Developed in response to the psychodynamic and behaviourism by Carl Rogers
  • Studies the whole person and their experiences.
  • Humans have free will - personal agency.
  • Humans are good and have an innate desire to better themselves.
• Hierarchy of Needs - Maslow

  • Self Actualisation
  • Esteem Needs
  • Belonging and Love Needs
  • Safety Needs
  • Physiological Needs
• Self Actualisation

  Achieving full potential
• Esteem Needs

  Prestige and accomplishment
• Belonging and love needs

  Intimate relationships and friends
• Safety Needs

  Security and safety
• Physiological Needs

  Foods, water, warmth and rest
• State of Incongruence

  When there is a large gap between the perceived self and ideal self which means self actualisation will not be possible due to negative feelings of self worth.
• Conditions of Worth

  Parents make love and regards into conditional things.
• Client Centred Therapy

  Therapist gives the client unconditional positive regard which allows them to grow towards congruence.
• Humanist - Strengths

  • A fully holistic approach
  • Accounts for free will
  • Real world application - client centred therapy
• Humanist - Limitations

  • Lacks scientific credibility
  • Nothing is objectively observable