The Humanistic Approach

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the Humanistic Approach?

Answer 1

• Human beings have free will and even though we are affected by internal and external influences, we are active agents who have the ability to determine our own behaviour.
• The humanistic approach is an idiographic approach as it suggests that we are all unique, therefore psychology should focus on the study of subjective experience, rather than general laws. This is referred to as the person-centred approach in psychology.
• Reaching self-actualisation is the main motivation of the human organism.