The humanistic approach

• How does humanistic psychology differ from most other approaches?

  Focuses on conscious experience rather than on behaviour

  personal responsibility and free will than determinism
• Free will

  The concept of free will is central to the humanistic approach. Theories in this approach stress people possess full conscious control over their destiny - and have free will.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs


  The hierarchy of needs is a triangular model divided into five levels that stresses that you must have everything in one level before moving up to the next. Humanistic psychologists see everyone as working towards self actualisation

  
• What is at the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  psychological needs

  
  

  -food

  -shelter

  -warmth
• What is second in Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  Safety needs

  
  

  -security

  -safety
• What is third in Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  Belongingness and love needs

  
  

  -intimate relationships

  -friends
• What is fourth in Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  Esteem needs

  
  

  -prestige

  -feelings of accomplishment
• What is at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs

  Self actualisation

  
  

  -achieving full potential
• Aim of therapy

  Rogers said that for personal growth to be achieved an individual's concept of 'self' must be equivalent to their 'ideal self.' If the gap is too big a person will experience in-congruence and self actualisation will not be possible due to poor self esteem
• What is in-congruence

  When a gap exists between a persons self concept and their ideal self
• What is congruence

  When self concept is similar to ideal self
• Rogers' cliented therapy aim

  To increase feelings of self esteem and reduce incongruence between self concept and ideal self
• Rogers' cliented therapy

  This is an important form of modern-day psychotherapy. An effective therapist provides clients with three things

  
  

  1)genuineness

  2)empathy

  3)unconditional positive regard
• Feelings of self worth

  What we think about ourselves. Develop in childhood and form as a result of parental interaction. Interactions with 'significant others' (friends, spouse etc.) further influence feelings of self-worth.
• How do congruence and self-worth relate to each other?

  The closer our self-image and ideal self are to each other, the greater the congruence and the higher feelings of self-worth.
• Conditions of worth

  A parent who sets boundaries or limits on their love for their child (conditions of worth) by claiming 'i will only love you if...' is storing up psychological problems for the child in the future
• Unconditional positive regard

  An example is when a person is accepted for who they are or what they do
• Conditional positive regard

  An example is when a person is accepted only if they do what others want them to do.
• How do psychological problems tie in with the approach?

  Rogers claimed an individual's psychological problems directly resulted from conditions of worth and the conditional positive regard given from others.
• Evaluation strengths

  This approach advocates holism, the idea that experiences can only be understood by considering the whole person. This increases validity as it considers meaningful behaviour in real life context
• Evaluation limitation

  Has limited applications in psychology because it lacks a sound evidence-base, so it is described as a rather loose set of abstract concepts
• The concept of free will is central

  The humanistic approach rejects attempts to establish scientific principles of human behaviour. We are all unique, and psychology should concern itself with the study of subjective experience rather than general laws- person-centred approach.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of needs (1943)

  1 = physiological needs 2 = safety needs 3 = love and belonging 4= esteem 5 = self-actualisation.
• Maslow's Hierarchy of needs (1943)


  Self-actualisation refers to the innate tendency that each of us has to want to achieve our full potential and become the best we can possibly be.

  In Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs the 4 lower levels must be met before the individual can work towards self-actualisation - a growth need.
• Focus on the self

  The self refers to the ideas and values that characterise 'i' and 'me' and includes perception of 'what i am' and 'what i can do'.
• The aim of therapy is to establish congruence between the self-concept and the ideal self

  Carl rogers argued that personal growth requires an individuals concept of self to be congruent with their ideal self (person they want to be).

  If the gap is too big the person will experience a state of incongruence and self-actualisation isn't possible.
• Parents who impose conditions of worth may prevent personal growth

  Issues such as worthlessness and low self-esteem have their roots in childhood and are due to a lack of unconditional positive regard from our parents. A parent who sets boundaries on their love for their child (conditions of worth) by claiming ' i will only love you if you...' is storing up psychological problems for that child in the future.
• The humanistic approach has had lasting influence on counselling psychology 


  In rogers client-centred therapy an effective therapist should provide the client with 3 things:

  • Genuineness
  • Empathy
  • Unconditional positive regard

  The aim is to increase feelings of self-worth and reduce incongruence between the self-concept and the ideal self. Rogers work transformed psychotherapy. 'Non-directive' counselling techniques are practised not only in clinical settings but throughout education, health, social work and industry.