Humanistic Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the main assumption of humanistic psychology? Its aim therefore?
Every person has their own unique way of perceiving and understanding the world and that the things they do only make sense in this light. Therefore, the aim of this approach is not objectivity as the other approaches; its aim is to understand people’s subjectivity.
What does this approach say about people? Therefore?
According to this approach, people are self-determining, which means that they have free will and can make choices about the way they think and act. These choices are not determined by biological or other external factors.
What is self-actualisation?
All people have an innate tendency towards growth and the fulfilment of their potential, they have a desire to become everything that they are capable of – self-actualisation.
What does Maslow think about self-actualisation?
However, according to Maslow, people also have needs which must be met for self-actualisation to be possible. The basic needs e.g. food and water have to be satisfied before the higher.
What does Rogers think about self-actualisation? Another name for this? What is required for this to happen?
According to Rogers, people could only self-actualise if they had a positive view of themselves (positive self-regard). This can only happen if they have unconditional positive regard from others – if they feel that they are valued and respected without reservation by those around them (especially their parents when they were children).
What else did he think? So when is self-actualisation possible?
However, most people don’t perceive the positive regard of others as being unconditional. They tend to think they will only be loved and valued if they meet certain conditions of worth. These conditions of worth create incongruity within the self between the real self (how the person is) and the ideal self (how they think they should be or want to be). Self-actualisation is only possible if there is congruence between the way an individual sees themselves and their ideal self (the way they want to be or think they should be).
When is self-actualisation impossible?
If there is a large gap between these two concepts, negative feelings of self-worth will arise that will make it impossible for self-actualisation to take place.
An application of the humanistic approach? How does it work?
Based on this approach, client-centred therapy aims to increase clients’ self-worth and decrease the incongruence between the self-concept and the ideal self. It is a non-directive therapy in which the client is encouraged to discover their own solutions to their difficulties in an atmosphere that is supportive and non-judgemental and that provides unconditional positive regard. It focuses on the present rather than dwell on the past, unlike psychoanalysis. This therapy is widely used in health, education, and industry.
Five benefits of the humanistic approach?
It has given rise to a new way to look at people’s needs, for example, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is widely used in health and social work as a framework for assessing clients’ needs. Client-centred therapy is widely used in health, social work, and industry. This therapy has helped many people overcome difficulties they face in life, which is a significant contribution to improving people’s quality of life. The approach is holistic as it does not try to break down behaviors into simpler components. The approach is non-determinist as it recognises free will but its position on this topic is somewhat incoherent as on one hand, it argues that people have free will but, on the other hand, it argues that our behavior is determined by the way other people treat us (whether we feel that we are valued and respected without reservation by those around us). The approach recognises both the influence of nature and nurture – nurture being the influence of experiences on a person’s ways of perceiving and understanding the world, and nature being the influence of biological drives and needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).
Three weaknesses of the humanistic approach?
The approach uses non-scientific research methods. As its aim is to understand people’s subjectivity, it uses methods that yield qualitative data such as unstructured interviews or participant observations. These are difficult/impossible to replicate and the interpretation of the data is influenced by researcher bias. It proposes a positive view of human nature; however, it could be argued that this might not be very realistic when considering the everyday reality such as domestic violence and genocides. Furthermore, the approach’s focus on meeting our needs and fulfilling our growth potential reflects an individualistic, self-obsessed outlook that is part of the problem faced by our society rather than a solution.
How is the humanistic approach in terms of freewill and determinism? Why?
It is the only approach that explicitly states that people have free will, but its position on this topic is somewhat incoherent as on one hand it argues that people have free will but, on the other hand, it argues that our behavior is determined by the way other people treat us (whether we feel that we are valued and respected without reservation by those around us).
How is the humanistic approach in terms of nature and nurture? Why?
The approach recognises both the influence of nature and nurture – nurture being the influence of experiences on a person’s ways of perceiving and understanding the world, and nature being the influence of biological drives and needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).
How is the humanistic approach in terms of holism and reductionism? Why?
The approach is holistic as it does not try to break down behaviors into simpler components.
How is the humanistic approach in terms of idiographic/nomothetic? Why?
As this approach views the individual as unique, it does not attempt to establish universal laws about the causes of behavior; it is an idiographic approach.
What is the approach like in terms of science?
As the approach views the individual as unique, it does not believe that scientific measurements of their behavior are appropriate.
