Humanistic

• Humanistic Approach


  Assumes we have free will and are 'masters' of our own development, self-actualisation is a crucial part of being human
• Self


  All the ideas and values we have about ourselves, including perceptions of our abilities
• Ideal self


  Our perception of the best version of ourselves
• Incongruence


  When there is too large a gap between the self and the ideal self, leading to negative feelings that prevent self-actualisation
• Congruence


  When there is little or no gap between the self and the ideal self, allowing progress towards self-actualisation
• Self-actualisation


  The innate desire to become the best version of ourselves, through personal and psychological growth
• Conditions of worth


  Restrictions on the love shown by adults towards children, based on the child achieving certain standards
• Unconditional positive regard


  The acceptance and support a person needs from others, regardless of their behaviour or achievements
• Rogerian therapy aims to reduce the gap between the self and the ideal self, increasing the likelihood of achieving congruence and self-actualisation
• Rogerian therapy views the patient as the 'expert' of their own condition, and encourages them to arrive at their own solutions with the help of the therapist
• Humanism adopts a holistic approach, focusing on the individual's subjective experiences as a whole, in contrast with reductionist approaches
• Concepts in humanism such as self-actualisation and congruence are untestable and subjective, which does little to improve the scientific credibility of psychology
• Maslow's ideas of self-actualisation and congruence may be more readily accepted in Western, individualist cultures compared to Eastern, collectivist cultures