Humanistic Approach (+) Alongside counselling psychotherapy, humanistic psychology
has had many real-world applications, such as the deviation
The humanistic approach emerged as a challenge to the
from ideal mental health definition of abnormality, and the idea of
pessimism of Freudian psychodynamic theory, and to the
emotional intelligence.
mechanistic determinism of behaviourism. The assumptions of
free will and inherent goodness are at the heart of this (+) Emphasis on free will. The emphasis on free will in the
approach, as it places emphasis on human ability to make humanistic approach is seen as a positive as it promotes an
choices, and adapt and grow psychologically. optimistic view of the human capacity for change and all personal
- In humanism, humans are striving for self actualisation development.
- Abraham Maslow who put self actualisation at the top of a (-) But, It been accused of promoting a selfish world-view, through
hierarchy of needs that he believed motivated all human
its focus on self improvement, esteem and actualisation. It
behaviour.
neglects the individual's role in relationships, family and society
- Carl Rogers believed that human misery stemmed from a
which can also be part of fulfilment. This may result from the
belief formed in childhood, that we were only loved if we
met certain criteria, known as conditions of worth. ethnocentrism theory developed in the individualistic culture of
- He proposed that unconditional positive regard was USA and may not be a template for psych health in other societies.
essential for psychological healing
- In his non-directive therapy, clients were encouraged to (-)The humanistic view of human nature has also been criticised
find their path to happiness, focusing on attaining for being unrealistic and idealised. Even if we accept the
congruence between the ideal self and the actual self. assumption that free will exists, it is clear that life for many
Research methods: Humanists do not believe that the affords few possibilities for personal growth and
scientific method is appropriate for understanding self-actualisation. It has also been argued that the ‘focus on the
human beings. It emphasises the holistic nature of self’ is the ethnocentric product of individualist, selfish, western
humanistic research and theory, relying on qualitative societies, and may in fact be an amoral and self-defeating goal.
research techniques to understand human behaviour
has had many real-world applications, such as the deviation
The humanistic approach emerged as a challenge to the
from ideal mental health definition of abnormality, and the idea of
pessimism of Freudian psychodynamic theory, and to the
emotional intelligence.
mechanistic determinism of behaviourism. The assumptions of
free will and inherent goodness are at the heart of this (+) Emphasis on free will. The emphasis on free will in the
approach, as it places emphasis on human ability to make humanistic approach is seen as a positive as it promotes an
choices, and adapt and grow psychologically. optimistic view of the human capacity for change and all personal
- In humanism, humans are striving for self actualisation development.
- Abraham Maslow who put self actualisation at the top of a (-) But, It been accused of promoting a selfish world-view, through
hierarchy of needs that he believed motivated all human
its focus on self improvement, esteem and actualisation. It
behaviour.
neglects the individual's role in relationships, family and society
- Carl Rogers believed that human misery stemmed from a
which can also be part of fulfilment. This may result from the
belief formed in childhood, that we were only loved if we
met certain criteria, known as conditions of worth. ethnocentrism theory developed in the individualistic culture of
- He proposed that unconditional positive regard was USA and may not be a template for psych health in other societies.
essential for psychological healing
- In his non-directive therapy, clients were encouraged to (-)The humanistic view of human nature has also been criticised
find their path to happiness, focusing on attaining for being unrealistic and idealised. Even if we accept the
congruence between the ideal self and the actual self. assumption that free will exists, it is clear that life for many
Research methods: Humanists do not believe that the affords few possibilities for personal growth and
scientific method is appropriate for understanding self-actualisation. It has also been argued that the ‘focus on the
human beings. It emphasises the holistic nature of self’ is the ethnocentric product of individualist, selfish, western
humanistic research and theory, relying on qualitative societies, and may in fact be an amoral and self-defeating goal.
research techniques to understand human behaviour
