The Humanistic Approach

• The assumptions for the humanistic approach is that every individual is unique and should be treated as such and individuals are in control of their own behaviour
• To understand human behaviour we must consider them holistically
• Individuals have an innate need to continuously enhance themselves so they may achieve self-actualisation
• Scientific methods are inappropriate for measuring human behaviour and such methods are too objective when humans are subjective in the way they think and behave
• Humanistic psychologists tend to use qualitative research methods like case studies, when studying human behaviour
• Humanist psychologist believe that humans can make conscious choices about their actions. A person is responsible for their own behaviour, whether that is social or anti-social
• According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the most basic needs are at the bottom and the most advanced needs are at the top
• Maslow argued that the more basic the need, the more powerfully it is experienced and the more difficult it is to ignore
• To be able to move up to a higher level in the hierarchy, the needs below it must have been met. All levels must be mastered to achieve self-actualisation
• Everyone has the innate drive to achieve self-actualisation, but not everyone will reach the top of the pyramid. Maslow claimed that there may be psychological barriers stopping people achieving their potential
• The ultimate goal for humans is to achieve their full potential and become self-actualised
• Self-actualisation is also characterised by ‘peak experiences’, such as joy, wonder and awe at the world around us
• For humanist psychologists, the self is hugely important. How an individual views themselves is central to whether self-actualisation can be achieved. Rogers stated stated that we have three selves that must integrate to achieve self-actualisation
• How an individual views themselves is central to whether self-actualisation can be achieved. Rogers stated that we have three selves that must integrate to achieve self-actualisation
• According to rogers, the closer the self-concept and ideal self, the greater our self-worth and therefore our psychological health. How other people see us also impacts on self-worth
• We want to be held in positive regard by others, and if we are, we have a higher sense of self-worth. This aspect of self-worth is developed through interactions with others as we grow older
• If our self-concept and ideal self are similar, we can be said to be congruent. If someone has a dissimilarity between their self-concept and ideal self, they experience a state of incongruence
• Unconditional positive regard is key in achieving congruence
• Someone must feel as though they’re loved and accepted for who they are. Those raised in an environment of unconditional positive regard have the opportunity to fully actualise themselves
• Those raised in an environment of conditional positive regard feel worthy only if they match conditions that have been laid down for them by others
• If unconditional positive regard isn’t given, someone may develop conditions of worth. These are requirements an individual feels they must meet in order to be loved and accepted
• These conditions may be real or perceived by the individual. Conditions of worth are a barrier to achieving self-actualisation because they create incongruence
• The main humanistic therapy is person-centred, or client-centred therapy. It’s based on the humanistic view that every individual is unique. Therefore, they’re the best expert on themselves, and should take a key role in the therapeutic process
• The humanistic approach to counselling is the only therapy that considers the whole person. Previous approaches to counselling focus on resolving problems with behaviour
• The aim of this therapy is to help a person to solve their own problems, find a way to fulfil their full potential and achieve self-actualisation
• Individuals enter the therapy in a state of I confidence and through client-centred therapy will bridge the gap between their self-concept and ideal self, achieving congruence and therefore self-actualisation
• The aim is to provide what humanists would say to be lacking, unconditional positive regard and the individual is encouraged to talk as openly as they can
• The aim for the counsellor to see things from the clients perspective and give unconditional positive regard
• Unconditional acceptance from the therapist means that the client is able to clarify and accept their own feelings, so that acceptance of the self can replace inner conflict
• Elliott and Freire (2008) conducted a meta analysis of 191 studies investigating the efficacy of client-centred therapy. They found that client- centred therapy has large positive effects on clients undergoing treatment. These benefits were found to be maintained up to a year post-therapy
• They also found that client-centred therapy was just as effective as other psychological therapies like CBT. This shows the positive influence of humanistic therapies on counselling psychology, providing empirical support for the assumptions of humanism in a therapeutic context
• Gibbard and Hanley (2008) found that client-centred therapy is effective for those suffering with anxiety and depression. However, client-centred therapy is less effective for serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia
• Rogers (1967) found no significant improvement between schizophrenic clients undergoing client-centred therapy when compared to a control group
• Nature vs Nurture: the humanistic approach argues that humans have an innate drive to self-actualise, however the environment and our experiences shape this journey
• Free Will be Determinism: the humanist approach is the only approach that suggest that humans control their own environment and are capable of change
• Scientific: the humanistic approach rejects scientific methods and therefore is unable to provide empirical evidence to support its theories
• Real World Application: the humanistic approach has led to the development of client centred therapy which is used to treat a range of psychological disorders