Humanistic theories Flashcards
(18 cards)
Basic features of humanistic psychology
positive, not negative outlook. Growth not pathology, goals not causes, rooted in philosophical existentialism, sprouts into some personality and social psychology
Two key humanistic psychologists
Abraham Maslow - needs satisfaction
Carl Rogers - nurturing conditions
Maslow - model of motivation
insrtincoid tendencies - innate tendencies are put towards positive growth and these will operate unless stunted by environmental conditions
This takes a more conscious mature from in humans
Two types of motivation
D needs and B needs
deficiency needs
One the two types of motivation needs by Maslow:
- deficiency D needs - homeostatic and preventative. Motivations to overcome a deficit or lack such as hunger and thirst or preventative
Goal-directed, motivations to self-improve, develop and achieve fulfillment
growth B needs
the second type of motivation identified by Maslow
- growth B needs are cumulative and goal-directed, B is simply for being implying a state of being or becoming to which humans aspire
Meta-motivation and meta-needs
Maslow
model of motivation - hierarchy of needs. You satisfy a need lower down on the pyramid and you have to satisfy before moving up the pyramid
Basic needs or physiological needs
- obvious and necessary for human survival, food, air, drink, warmth
Safety needs
- once physical needs are somewhat satisfied, focus on safety needs take precedence and dominate our behaviour. These needs being satisfied needs of orderly predictable world
Belongingness and the need for love
- acceptance to love and be loved if not social anxiety arises
Esteem needs
- individuals feel comfortable with what they have accomplished from success and status standpoint
Cognitive needs
- increase our intelligence and we change knowledge to gain a better understanding of the world around us. Explore and desire new experiences
Aesthetic needs
- refresh ourselves with the presence of beauty, nature art, music and other aesthetically beautiful things`
Self-actualisation
- instinctual needs as humans to make the most of our abilities to strive to be the best we can be.
Transcendence
- personally self-actualised, there is a desire to help others self-actualise. In doing so, we connect with something beyond the ego and experience states beyond normal human consciousness
Needs at the bottom - d motivation
Needs at the top - b motivation
How did Maslow get evidence for this theories?
historical psychobiography took people like Albert Einstein and Jane Addams and described how they excelled psychologically.
He said they were characterised by b-cognition which involved peak experiences were people followed their own interests and mastered them
D-cognition, people get bogged down with regular stuff and do things only because they are rewarded and punished
Characteristics of self-actualisers
self-acceptance - accept their own human nature with all it’s flaws
Realism - judge situations correctly and honestly
Ethical - socially compassionate and possessing humanity
Intimacy - interpersonal relationships of self-actualises are marked by deep loving bonds
Independent- not reliant on culture and environment to form opinions and views
Autonomy - free from reliance on external authorities or other people. They tend to be resourceful and independent
Mirthful - laugh at oneself or others in a non-hostile way
Maslow development
encourage people to follow their own internal impulses
Choices with discipline
Maslow pathology
cause = unmet fundamental needs, the transition of unmet needs in psychopathology is not well-worked out
Maslow therapy
no bespoke therapy to assist people to achieve self-actualisation
He was eclectic (choosing from a variety of sources) and pragmatic (taking what might work on an ad hoc as opposed theoretical basis)
Maslow - critique
- no original sin, assumes that everyone has an innate drive towards growth, this is challenged by the existence of psychopaths and personality disorders
Also challenged by the findings from behaviour genetics that troublesome dispositions show substantially heritability, suggesting a genetic component
Is it fair to blame other sort society for their failure to self-actualise
Is it actualisation or achievement, biographies of famous scientists - personality or intellligence?
Quality of evidence
- sample bias
- personality interpretation
- hagiography - biography’s of saints
Hierarchy of needs?
- subversion of lower needs
- hunger strikes
- risks for fun
- anorexia
Mixing of needs
- esteem = belonging
splitting of needs
- liking or admiration
Universality of needs
- thrill-seekers and orientals
- self-actualisation
Western bias
other hierarchies
Kenrick et al., 2010
- some adjustments
- uses evolutionary psychology
Desmet & Fokkinga, 2020
- 13 fundamental needs
- 52 subtypes
Carl Rogers - client -centred therapy
reaction against psychoanalysis
- not playthings of the ID
- people can turn their lives around
Therapist as facilitator not sculptor
- reflective not directive
- faith in client native ability
- true change comes from within
The therapist does NOT challenge clients erroneous beliefs with disputation
Therapist plays a passive role in assisting client towards mental health and wellbeing
Emphasises subjective construal - like cognitive approaches, emphasis on individual approach to the world - Noam Chomsky - pick up language they are exposed to. Complex grammar
What promotes self-actualisation? Carl Rogers
unconditional positive regard - selfless love from others, self regard is conditional to the conditions of worth
Like B-Love / Christian caritas -
Organismic self develops - organismic valuing is when we instinctively know what we need, unless confused from without. Society can nurture people described as being self-congruent
Goals of Rogerian therapy
dispel alienation, find true self, reintergrate self concept. Realise ideal self.
Integrate their self-concept, which is no longer contaminated by ideas based on conditions of worth
core conditions of counselling
therapist and client are in a psychological contact
The client in a state of incongruence (anxious, vulnerable)
The therapist in a state of congruence (integrated in the relationship)
The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for the client
The therapist experiences empathic understanding for the client
The therapist minimally succeeds in communicating their UPR for and empathic understanding of the client
