Humanistic Approach

• What is the Humanistic Approach primarily concerned with?

  The importance of subjective experience and self-determination
• When did the Humanistic movement develop?

  In the early 1950s
• Why was the Humanistic approach termed the 'third force'?

  It aimed to replace Behaviorism and Psychoanalysis
• What does the Humanistic approach emphasize in its theories?

  Human experiences, uniqueness, meaning, freedom, and choice
• What is the notion of free will in the Humanistic approach?

  Humans can make choices and are not determined by external forces
• How does Humanistic psychology differ from other approaches regarding self-determination?

  It claims that human beings are self-determining and have free will
• What is self-actualization according to Maslow?

  The desire to grow and develop to achieve full potential
• What does Maslow's hierarchy of needs consist of?


  Levels ranging from basic needs to higher-level psychological needs
• What must be met before an individual can work towards self-actualization?

  All four levels of Maslow's hierarchy of needs
• What does Maslow's theory emphasize about human motivational factors?

  Higher-level needs are a later evolutionary development of the human species
• How can you arrange Maslow's hierarchy of needs using paper cups?

  • Arrange cups into a pyramid shape with 5 levels
  • Place basic needs at the bottom and 'nice to have' needs at the top
  • Use the following words: Food, Sex, Sleep, Breathing, Confidence, Security of property, Employment, Security of Family, Health, Family, Friends, Sexual Intimacy, Self-esteem, Homeostasis, Creativity
• What are psychological barriers in the context of Maslow's motivation theory?


  Factors that may prevent a person from reaching their potential
• What did Carl Rogers argue is necessary for personal growth?

  Congruence between an individual's concept of self and their ideal self
• What is unconditional positive regard according to Rogers?

  Acceptance and love given freely without conditions
• What can lead to low self-esteem in children according to Rogers?

  Receiving negative regard such as criticism and blame
• What is congruence in the context of self and behavior?

  A reasonable consistency between ideal self and actual behavior
• What can cause incongruence according to the Humanistic approach?

  A greater gap between the ideal self and the actual self
• What are defense mechanisms in the context of the Humanistic approach?

  Strategies that can prevent the self from growing and changing
• What is the purpose of client-centered therapy (CCT) developed by Rogers?

  To reduce the gap between self-concept and ideal self
• What are conditions of worth in the context of parenting?

  Limits set by parents on their love for their child
• What does the idiographic approach in psychology focus on?

  Studying the individual case rather than average performance of groups
• Who developed the Q-Sort assessment?

  Stephenson in 1953
• How is a person's congruence/incongruence measured using the Q-Sort?

  By sorting personal statements into categories for real self and ideal self
• What statements can be used in a Q-Sort assessment?

  • Requires recognition from others
  • Comfortable in their own skin
  • Speaks openly and honestly
  • Is a confident public speaker
  • Has a neat way of working
  • Is punctual
  • Is organized
  • Is charming
  • Is well liked amongst peers
  • Is outwardly funny
  • Is self-obsessed
  • Is ambitious
  • Is spontaneous
  • Is high achieving
  • Is a role model
  • Is dependable
• What are the key components of the Humanistic Approach overview?

  • Person-centered approach considering external and environmental factors
  • Free will in determining behavior
  • Hierarchy of Needs leading to self-actualization
  • Congruence and Incongruence in achieving the ideal self
  • Conditions of Worth affecting self-esteem
  • Client-centered therapy to address incongruence
  • Unconditional positive regard
  • Idiographic case study approach
• What is a criticism of the Humanistic approach regarding general laws of behavior?

  It cannot formulate general laws of behavior due to its focus on individual experience
• What is a strength of the Humanistic approach in terms of validity?

  It considers meaningful human behavior within its real-life context
• What is a limitation of the Humanistic approach regarding real-world application?

  It has relatively little real-world application due to vague terms
• What is a critique of the concepts in Humanistic psychology?

  Many ideas are vague and difficult to test
• What cultural bias exists in Humanistic psychology?

  It is more associated with individualist cultures like the USA
• What is the exam style question related to the Humanistic approach?


  Outline and evaluate the humanistic approach (16 marks)