Humanistic approach

• What is humanistic approach

  Free will , self discovery and achieving full potential as a human being , striving for self actualisation
• 3 assumption of humanistic approach

  • humans have free will and are active agent- able to control and determine their own development
  • humans strive towards achieving self - actualisation
  • to be psychologically healthy the perceived self and ideal self must be congruent
• 2 main humanistic psychologists

  Abraham Maslow and Carl rogers
• Maslow hierarchy of needs 


  Motivational theory comprising a five tier model of human needs , depicted as hierarchal levels within a pyramid
• 5 levels of Maslows hierarchy of needs

  Physiological —> safety —> belongingness and love—> esteem —> self actualisation
• How did rogers apply maslows work to help people become psychologically happy

  he believed—> for a person to be truly happy and reach self actualisation THERE MUST BE CONGRUENCY between perceived and ideal self —> developed client centred therapy
• What is the perceived and ideal self ?

  Perceived - how we see ourselves in real life

  ideal self - the person we want to be
• Congruence

  When there’s a similarity between perceived and ideal self
• Incongruence


  When there’s a big difference between one’s ideal and perceived self
• What could’ve happened in childhood that leads to incongruence

  Parents show conditional positve regard by placing conditions of worth on child
• What are conditions of worth ?

  Parents placing limits or boundaries on their love for their children . E.G ’ I will only love you if you study medicine ‘
• Aim of client-centered Therapy

  Increase Persmind feelings of self -worth and reduce Incongruence between ideal and perceived self
• 3 traits a rogerian therapist should show

  Genuineness , empathy , unconditional positive regard
• What is meant by client-centered therapy being non directive ?

  People viewed as ‘clients’ and experts of own condition . Therapists act as guide