Humanistic Psychology

• The humanistic approach is firmly based on the concept of the self. This concerns issues to do with your self-concept how you see yourself), and your self-esteem (how you feel about yourself).
• The humanistic approach also emphasises the importance of being able to make our own rational choices. All of the other approaches suggest that our behaviour is, to a large extent, determined by other forces not always under our control - genes, the environment, our thought patterns, or our unconscious mind. Humanistic psychologists believe the goal of psychology is not prediction or control but to understand the whole person.
• Maslow believes humans are motivated by needs beyond those of basic biological survival. The desire to grow and develop to achieve our full potential - referred to as 'self-actualisation' is fundamental to human nature. Maslow's hierarchy of needs ranges from basic needs to higher level psychological and actualisation needs.
• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

  top->bottom

  • Self-Actualisation - personal growth
  • Aesthetic needs - beauty , appreciation
  • Cognitive needs - think for ourselves
  • Self-esteem needs - achievement
  • Belonging and love needs - family
  • Safety needs - stability
  • Physiological needs - air, water, food
• Every person has an innate tendency to achieve their full potential – to become the best they can possibly be. (nature) Humanistic psychologists regard personal growth as an essential part of what it is to be human. Personal growth is concerned with developing and changing as a person to become fulfilled. Satisfied and goal-orientated.
• Roger's argued that for personal growth to be achieved an individuals concept of self must be broadly equivalent to, or have congruence with, their ideal self. If too big a gap exists between the two ‘selves’ the person will experience a state of incongruence. Self-actualisation will not be possible (due to the negative feelings of self-worth that arise from incongruence).
• In order to reduce the gap between the self-concept and the ideal self, Rogers

  developed client-centred therapy to help people cope with the problems of everyday living. Rogers claimed that many of the issues we experience as adults have their roots in childhood and can often be explained by lack of unconditional positive regard from our

  parents.
• Rogers suggests an effective therapist should provide the client with 3

  things.

  • Genuineness
  • Empathy
  • Unconditional positive regard.

  Aim of the therapy is to increase the person’s self-worth, reduce the level of incongruence between the self-concept and ideal self.
• Humanistic psychology claims that human beings are self-determining and have free will. This does not mean that people are not affected by external or internal influences but we are active agents who have the ability to determine our own development.