Humanistic Approach

• Who proposed the humanistic approach?

  Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
• What are the basic assumptions of the humanistic approach?

  Humanistic approach suggests that all humans are self-determining and have free will

  
  

  Rodgers and Maslow reject scientific models trying to create general laws

  
  

  Opt for a person-centred approach focused on individual and subjective experiences

  
  

  Recognises outside influences but that we are not restricted by them

  
  

  A nomothetic approach; every person is unique
• What is free will?

  the notion that humans can choose their behaviour and they are not determined by internal biological or external forces.
• What does Maslow's theory of motivation emphasise?


  the importance of personal growth as an essential part of being human
• What is Self Actualisation?


  the desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one's full potential/ becoming what you are capable of in which every person has an innate tendency to do
• what are the 5 stages of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

  -physiological needs

  - health and safety

  -love and belonging

  -esteem

  -self actualisation
• how does Maslow's hierarchy of needs apply to real life?

  This theory is applicable to the workplace of organisational structures and motivation of employees. To enhance performance, the organisational culture and strategies must address and fulfil the needs of employees
• what is the self?

  people's perception of themselves as a person.
• Rogers believed that people had two basic needs, what are they?

  to achieve unconditional positive regard from other people and to achieve a feeling of self- worth through having a positive regard of oneself.
• how does the feeling of self worth develop?

  through the interactions the child has with their parents; which developed conditions of worth as well as contact with significant other figures in their lives as they develop such as friends and intimate partners.
• what is the self concept?

  this was how people felt they were as a person. Self- esteem is closely linked to this self-concept as people with low self-esteem would view their self-concept as poor and have a low regard for their own ability.
• what is the ideal self?


  the version of themselves people wished to be and who they are working towards becoming.
• what is the real self?


  the person people really are (rather than felt or thought they were).
• what is congruence?


  when a person's ideal self and self-concept are seen as the same/overlap
• what is unconditional positive regard?

  a person must be loved for who they are by someone else unconditionally and this may come from parents, other family members or even friends or partners.
• what is the conditions of worth?

  the requirements a person perceives significant others have put upon them and they need to meet in order to be loved and accepted.
• The humanistic approach and the work of Carl Rogers has led to what?

  the client-centred approach with therapists focusing on building a relationship with clients and making them feel comfortable and accepted so they feel unconditional positive regard.
• what did Elliott (2002) found that humanistic therapies do?

  showed significant improvement in patients when compared to control groups and this effectiveness has led to a resurgence of the humanistic approach within counselling psychology.
• what are the weaknesses of the humanistic approach?

  -It is too positive when regarding human behaviour

  
  

  - There is too much emphasis on subjective experience- Hard to study

  
  

  - Approach is not scientific- Does not use any objective methods

  
  

  - Client-Centred Therapy is of limited help for individuals with complex disorders

  
  

  -Hard to falsify