Humanism

• State 5 Basic Assumptions of the Humanist Approach

  -Every individual is unique

  -Free will

  -Holism

  -Scientific methods are not appropriate to measure behaviour

  -Self actualisation
• What is the humanist assumptions

  Holds an idiographic view believing that everyone has a unique way of perceiving and understanding the world

  
  

  People are affected by external influences but have free will so can determine their own development

  
  

  Everyone has a tendency towards growth and the fulfilment of potential.
• Which two psychologists explain the humanist approach

  Carl rogers and Abraham Maslow
• Outline rogers approach

  in order to reach full potential we need positive self-regard that can only be achieved if unconditional positive regard is received from others. However, most people don't view regard from others as unconditional, believing that they will only be valued when they meet certain conditions of worth, which creates incongruity between the real and ideal self, but we usually try to close this gap in unhelpful ways, so, in attempts to help people, he developed client centred therapy (counselling) aiming to offer people unconditional positive regard by establishing a good relationship with the client, making them more inclined to tell the truth. This has been very successful and has influenced other therapies e.g. CBT.
• Outline Maslow approach

  Maslow created a hierarchy of needs in 1943 as he believed people have a variety of needs that differ in immediacy, arranging them with the more basic needs taking precedence at the bottom. Maslow stated that people who satisfy all needs may, although rare, become self actualisers, reaching full potential. He also taught that anyone who experiences long periods where a particular need is not satisfied could result in a fixation. This concept led to a deeper understanding of contemporary thought e.g. motivation.
• How do humanists study behaviour

  Favour qualitative subjective methods of data collection in particular unstructured interviews e.g. Maslow analysed documented evidence of self actualisers to find common characteristics he found they seem to be more unconventional, original, intimate, and accepting.
• What are the strengths of humanism?

  Rejects reductionism - holistic view of behaviour

  
  

  Optimistic view on life

  
  

  Practical applications - client centred therapy which sexton and whiston found 76 studies to prove its effectiveness

  
  

  Supporting research - Yates found the happiest people had fulfilled various levels of needs.
• What are the weaknesses of humanism

  Holistic - since they don't believe in breaking down behaviour, it cannot be objectively tested

  
  

  Qualitative data also lacks objectivity

  
  

  Cultural bias as it suits individualist societies where they value the individual over society. This means it cannot be generalised universally.