Humanistic approach

• Humanistic approach assumes that a person's subjective perception is more important than the objetive reality, therefore we are active agents because we exercise free will
• Personal Agency is the humanistic term for free will
• Humanistic approach assumes that we want to fulfil our potential so are self-driven
• The Humanistic approach places little value on scientific psychology
• Maslow stated that humans are driven by a desire to grow as a person
• Maslow's Hierarchy of needs: Physiological, Safety, Love, Esteem, Cognitive, Aesthetic, Self-actualisation
• Physiological needs include air, food, drink, shelter, sleep, warmth, sex
• Safety needs include protection, security, order, law, stability
• Love needs include family, affection, relationships, work groups
• Esteem needs include achievement, status, responsbility
• Cognitive needs include knowledge, meaning, self-awareness
• Aesthetic needs include beauty, balance, form
• Self-actualisation includes personal growth & fulfilment
• The Deficiency stages are Physiolgical to Esteem
• The Growth stages are Cognitive to Self-actualisation
• Humanistic approach may be unrealistic as it supports an idealistic view of humans and ignores negative traits & self destruction
• Many people do not fit the right criteria for Humanistic forms of therapy as it requires a need for intimacy and willingness to talk about inner experiences
• Humanistic approach is unscientific as it places more emphasis on social goals than individuals