Humanistic approach

• Humanistic approach


  The third force in psychology alongside behaviourism and the psychodynamic approach
• Humanist beliefs


  • People are essentially self-determining and therefore have free will
  • Psychology should be concerned of subjective experiences not general laws
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  A hierarchy of needs that must be worked through before we can fully function in person and not able to self-actualise (achieve our full potential)
• Levels of Maslow's hierarchy


  • Physiological and safety needs
  • Psychological needs
  • Self-fulfilment needs
• Conditions of work


  When a parent places limits or boundaries on their love of their children (e.g. 'I will only love you if...')
• Incongruence


  When ideal self, real self, and self-concepts are not the same/similar
• Evaluation of the humanistic approach- Person-centred therapy

  A therapy created by the humanistic approach where the therapist demonstrates the unconditional positive regard and empathy that the individuals lacking in childhood to reduce incongruence and help the person to become a fully functioning person who has the potential to self-actualise
• Humanistic approach


  An approach in psychology that suggests people are active agents who are able to change and determine their own development
• Strength of the humanistic approach

  • It has made a significant contribution to psychology
  • It put forward an alternative viewpoint to other approaches
  • It promoted the idea of personal responsibility
  • Concepts such as self-actualisation have been widely accepted
  • Maslow's hierarchy of needs has been very influential within and outside of the world of psychology e.g. within business
• Humanistic approach


  • Practical applications
  • Produced a successful treatment (person-centred therapy)
  • Based on concepts of unconditional positive regard, congruence and self-actualisation
  • Evidence suggests it is effective
• Evaluation of the humanistic approach-Evidence of effectiveness

  • Sexton and Whiston (1994) found that client-centered therapies were successful to certain people
• Humanistic approach


  Psychological approach that focuses on the individual's potential for growth and self-actualisation
• Limitation of the humanistic approach

  • Criticised for being culturally biased
  • Promotes concepts like personal growth, self-actualisation and the fully functioning person
  • Suggests self-actualisation leads to good mental health
• Evaluation of the humanistic approach These concepts are valued more in Western (individualist) societies than in collectivist cultures where people tend to value the needs of the group over one's own needs
• Humanistic approach


  The third force in Psychology, alongside behaviourism and the psychodynamic approach
• Humanists


  • Believe that people are essentially self-determining and therefore have freewill
  • Believe that, because everyone is unique, Psychology should be concerned with subjective experiences, not general laws
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs


  • A hierarchy of needs that must be worked through before we can be a fully functioning person and are able to self-actualise (achieve our full potential)
  • Lowest level is concerned with basic needs (physiological and safety)
  • After that an individual works on their psychological needs and finally their self-fulfilment needs
• Conditions of worth


  When a parent places limits or boundaries of their love of their children e.g. 'I will only love you if…'
• Incongruence


  When the ideal self, real self, and self-concept are not the same/similar
• Person-centred therapy


  Therapy where the therapist demonstrates the unconditional positive regard and empathy that the individual was lacking in childhood to reduce incongruence and help the person to become a fully functioning person who has the potential to self-actualise