Phenomenological Approach/Motive Theories Flashcards
Humanistic? Phenomenological Perspective
- More clinical than research based;
attempt to take motive theory and apply
it help people make their lives better - Greater focus on conscious motives,
awareness of needs
– Focus on phenomenology (conscious,
subjective experience) - Emphasis on individuals taking
responsibility for their own life
outcomes
Humanistic Perspective, basic assumptions? (Three main concepts)
Emphasis on phenomenology
- Individual differences in the perception of reality
- Subjective reality is more important than objective reality
Self-Actualization
- People are intrinsically good and strive toward greater health, maturity, and autonomy
- Growth based rather than need-based
Emphasis on self/identity (ego)
- Universal need for positive self-regard
What did Abraham Maslow argue?
- Humans have innate desire for self-actualization,
self-esteem, belongingness - Hierarchy of needs
– Prepotency of needs: Needs at basic level met
first
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs?
We need to meet all the needs in order to reach the next level.
Self-actualization (creative) -> Frequency peak experinces
Esteem needs (confident, worthy)
Belongingness and love needs (warmth)
Safety needs (security)
Physiological needs (hunger)
Physiological needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy?
- Needs for food, water, air, sleep, sex
– Most “prepotent”
Function of civilization, society is to satisfy these needs so we can focus on the higher ones
Safety needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy?
- Shelter, security, freedom from threat or danger
- Parents take care of this for kids
- Order structure, predictability
(Having a place to live, ability to pay bills, etc.)
Belongingness and love needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy?
- Needs for affiliation, family, group
identity, intimate relationships, relatedness - Need to receive and to give love
Esteem needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy?
- Need to be held in high regard by self and others (not just “self-esteem”)
- Comes from mastery, achievement, adequacy, feelings of competence, confidence, independence
Self-actualization needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy?
- Enriched life experiences
- Enhanced creativity
- In touch with feelings, not threatened
by them - Requires self-exploration and action
- Fully Functioning Person
What is a Self-Actualized person like?
- Self-acceptance
- Solitude
- Independence from culture (free to pursue own interests)
- Frequent peak experiences
- Creativity
Peak experiences?
Happens for self-actualized people
- Time and place are transcended
- Experience unity of self with universe
- Feeling of power and wonder
- Manifests differently for each person
- Common in psychologically healthy people
Example, at the end of a hike sitting on top of a mountain immersed in nature, feeling at peace
Modern take on Maslow’s Hierarchy?
- Let’s make a hierarchy based on
evolutionarily derived needs - Maslow was right to shed light on
psychological (not just physical)
needs - But, no evidence for some aspects of
Maslow’s hierarchy
– Do people intrinsically/innately strive for
self-actualization?
Problemts with Maslow
- Aspirational but not normative
– What people ‘should’ do, not what they do do - Inconsistent with scientific
understanding of human nature
– If the purpose of creativity is self-fulfillment,
how does that help the species survive?
– Creativity should be seen as lower level
means to more ultimate reproductive ends
Updated hierarchy from evolutionary psychologist at UBC?
Parenting
Mate Retention
Mate Acquisition
Status/Esteem
Affiliation (protective group of people)
Self-protection
Immediate Physiological Needs
Controvery around the updated hierarchy from evolutionary psychologist at UBC?
- “Self-actualization has been dethroned”
- Anger from the childless
- Anger from the humanities
-> Why do evolutionary scientists always put mating above the arts?
