Humanistic Approach

Humanistic Approach

1. maslow's hierarchy of needs

   • 1. Self actualisation 2.self esteem 3. love and belongingness 4. safety and security 5. physiological needs
   • Self A won't be possible until all other steps complete

2. self congruence

   • Rogers said we won't be able to reach self a unless our ideal self and idea of our actual self are similar
     • when they meet each other this is congruence
     • can be achieved by ideal self being lowered or idea of actual self increasing
   • made difficult by the conditions of worth we have for ourselves
   • rogers developed client centred therapy (form of counselling) to help patients achieve congruence
     • this therapy gives patients the unconditional positive regard that they lacked from parents/friend which caused the conditions of woth

3. free will

   • rogers and maslow reject other approaches where life is set in stone
   • idea that every human has the somewhat ability to control their actions and they are not heavily determined
   • humans are active agents

4. self actualisation

   • reaching ones true potential, humanistic psychologists believe this allows one to feel fulfilled and successful and it is a necessary part of life that anyone can achieve

5. evaluation

   • culture bias
     • humanistic psychology was based in America as a reaction to behaviourism
       • it idealises self actualisation which isn't as important in a lot of eastern culture which are very collectivist
         • they strive to help each other and work as a team, individual achievement is not as important to them
           • a humanistic psychologist may say a lot of their culture are not reaching their full potential and aren't fully developed in their lives, which could be offensive and looking down on them
   • positive approach
     • the approach involves people determining they own fate and life rather than being determined biologically at birth
     • applies to everyone and says that everyone can achieve self a regardless of their past
       • optimistic compared to others
   • lack of objectivity
     • self a isn't easily quantified therefore it lacks falsifiability and is hard to measure in a person
     • not open to empirical testing so lacks reliability
   • not reductionist
     • advocates holism and considers whole person when understanding subjective experience
       • more valid as considers behaviour in real world