Humanistic Approach

Carl Rogers

Abraham Maslow's hierachy of needs

points on the hierachy of needs

motivations may not stem from only 1 level or 1 specific need, e.g. sex can come from physiological need + social affection

ppl progress up the hierachy after clearing the low levels

needs are not met indefinitely

Theory to become a fully functioning person

Assessments

Getting patients to tell you what is wrong

Strengths and criticisms

Q-sort technique

Psychotherapy

Person centered therapy/rogerian counselling

targeted the healthy side of individuals rather than the preexisting notions of freud and behaviourism

Changed how therapies work

Many therapists embrace Rogers’ suggestion to make their clients the center of therapy

Rogerian techniques as therapist empathy, positive regard for clients, giving clients responsibility for change, and self-disclosure by client and therapist

theories have also influenced education and workplace

unfit for scientific study as free will is not something one can use to predict and measure

statistical determinism

Key concepts are poorly defined

lack of scientific backing

humanistic therapies may not be applicable for those with severe psych disorders

Overly naive assumptions about humans; e,g, all humans are good and all humans strive to be something they want to be

four factors to identify a humanistic approach

emphasis on the here and now

focusing on the experience of the individual/phenomenology of self

emphasis on personal responsibility

emphasis on personal growth.

progress toward a state of fulfillment and happiness unless derailed by life’s obstacles

Encountering conflicts with self concept, ppl use distortion or denial

unconditional positive regard can overcome this

conditional positive regard causes this

healthy individuals have peak experiences

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

introduced "flow"

self-esteem

solitude

being alone is important, can get wisdom by reflecting on the experiences

personal evaluation of self

relationships with reaction to failure

growth needs

deficiency motives

subception

if reality and self concept has too much disparity, may result in disorganisation

also understand that maslow focused his theories on healthy individuals only

optimal experience

loneliness

negative expectations

poor social skills

self esteem

self-worth

contingencies of self-worth