Humanistic approach

• Humanistic approach considers all humans to be self-determining and have free will, always.
• Self actualisation – most people have an innate desire to achieve their full potential. Personal growth is an essential part of being human. 
• Hierarchy of Needs:

  A) self actualisation

  B) esteem

  C) love and belonging

  D) safety needs

  E) physiological needs

  
• • Maslow’s main interest was what motivates people – he suggested that the hierarchy of needs motivates our behaviour​
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  • We have a primary goal (to achieve self-actualisation), but in order to achieve it deficiency needs must be met first. ​
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  • We can only progress through the hierarchy once the current need has been met
• Concept of self – how you actually see yourselves​
• Ideal self – the person you want to be​
• Congruence

  the humanistic approach states that for an individual to achieve self-actualisation and personal growth, the concept of self and ideal self must be almost equivalent​
• Humanists believe that incongruence can lead to negative feelings of self-worth.
• Why does incongruence happen?

  • Issues experienced as adults have their roots in childhood​
  • Feelings of worthlessness and low self-esteem can be explained by a lack of unconditional positive regard from parents​
  • i.e. the parents haven’t provided unconditional love​
  • This can be due to parents setting limits, boundaries or conditions on their love​
  • E.g. I will only love you if you behave well​
  • E.g. Mummy only loves good girls
• Resolving incongruence

  Using client centred therapy to help people cope with the problems of everyday living

  Clients not patients – the individual is an expert on their condition and an active participant

  Non-directive therapy – the client works towards discovering their own solutions

  Therapist provides unconditional positive regard
• According to Rogers, unconditional positive regard involves showing complete support and acceptance of a person no matter what that person says or does.
• Holistic

  the approach doesn’t attempt to simplify the complexity of human behaviour, it considers all aspects of human experience (holistic) *there are lots of different ways in which someone’s physiological needs can be met*​TIASB – it provides a comprehensive overview of a behaviour meaning behaviours can be better understood within context​

  *e.g. depression – family, parents, life experiences, job, finances​
• Humanistic approach – evidence e.g.

  For example, there are many ‘self-actualisers’ who do not appear to have achieved all levels of the hierarchy – Mother Teresa deprived herself of basic physiological needs like shelter and food