Humanistic Psychology

• What is the humanistic approach

  Developed by Rogers and Maslow in the 1950s, the humanistic approach is known as the third force in psychology. It rejects the reductionist and deterministic views about human motivation and behaviour that arose from Freud and the early behaviourists
• What are the key ideas of the humanistic approach

  1. Humans cannot be reduced to components
  2. Humans are all unique
  3. Humans are conscious and aware of themselves in the context of other peoples reactions to them
  4. Humans have free will
  5. Humans are purposeful and creative, they have intention behind their behaviour
• Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

  Maslow proposed that we are driven to be the best we can be, but this depends on our needs being met. Our basic needs are physiological and safety needs. Once met this turns to psychological needs and then when these have been met, we reach self actualisation.
• What are the physiological needs

  Breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion
• What are the Safety needs

  Security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, of health, of property
• What are the love and belonging needs

  Friendship, family, sexual intimacy
• What are the Esteem needs

  Self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, respect by others
• What is the self-actualisation needs

  Morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem-solving, lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts.
• What really is self-actualisation?

  Where you become the best person you can be and achieve your full potential as a human being. Self-actualisation is not the norm and most people will not achieve it.
• Free will


  Humanists argue that we are free to choose who we want to be. This approach does acknowledge the nature, nurture debate it still proposes that we have the subjective feeling of choice.