The Humanistic Approach

Assumptions

• The concept of free will is central
  • Humanistic psychologists reject attempts to establish scientific principles of human behaviour
  • Psychology should concern itself with the study of subjective experince rather than general laws
  • It is a person-centred approach

• Maslow's heirarchy of needs has self-actualisation at the top
  • Self-actualisation is the innate tendency that each person has to want to reach their full potential and become the best we can be
  • The 4 lower levels have to be met first before an individual can work towards self actualisation

• Focus on the self
  • Refers to the ideas and values that characterise 'I' and 'me'
  • Includes perception of 'what I am' and 'what I can do'

• Therapy aims to establish congruence between the self-concept and the ideal self
  • Carl Rogers argued that personal growth requires an individual's concept of self to be congruent with their ideal self
  • If the gap is too big, the person will experince a state of incongruence and self-actualisation isn't possible

• Parents who impose conditions of worth may prevent personal growth
  • Issues such as worthlessness and low self esteem have their roots in childhood and are due to a lack of unconditional positive regard from parents
  • A parent who sets boundaries for love…