Humanistic psychology: free will, self-actualisation and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, focus on the self, congruence, the role of conditions of worth. The influence on counselling psychology.
Humanistic psychology differs from most other approaches in psychology by focusing on conscious experience rather than on behaviour, on personal responsibility and free will rather than on determinism and on discussion of experience rather than on use of the experimental method. Developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow in the 1950s humanistic psychology is concerned with topics that are meaningful to human beings and emphasises the importance of the individuals striving towards personal growth and fulfilment.
Basic Assumptions of Humanistic Approach
Free Will - humanistic theories emphasise that people have full conscious control over their own destiny i.e. they have free will. This is not to say that we are free to do anything at all, as we are subject to many other forces including biological and societal influences. However humanistic psychologists believe that human beings are able to make significant personal choices within the constraints imposed by these forces.
Maslows theory, Maslow (1943)
Maslow wasn't interested in what went wrong with people but rather in what could go right with them. His hierarchy of needs emphasised the importance of personal growth and fulfilment and opened the door for later movements in psychology such as positive psychology and happiness.
Hierarchy of needs- represented in the below pyramid- the most basic physiological needs are represented at the bottom of the pyramid and the most advanced needs at the top. Each level must be fulfilled before a person can move up to a higher need. Maslow believed that the more basic the need the more powerfully it is experienced and the more difficult it is to ignore.
Free Will - humanistic theories emphasise that people have full conscious control over their own destiny i.e. they have free will. This is not to say that we are free to do anything at all, as we are subject to many other forces including biological and societal influences. However humanistic psychologists believe that human beings are able to make significant personal choices within the constraints imposed by these forces.
Maslows theory, Maslow (1943)
Maslow wasn't interested in what went wrong with people but rather in what could go right with them. His hierarchy of needs emphasised the importance of personal growth and fulfilment and opened the door for later movements in psychology such as positive psychology and happiness.
Hierarchy of needs- represented in the below pyramid- the most basic physiological needs are represented at the bottom of the pyramid and the most advanced needs at the top. Each level must be fulfilled before a person can move up to a higher need. Maslow believed that the more basic the need the more powerfully it is experienced and the more difficult it is to ignore.
Focus on the self
The self refers to how we perceive ourselves as person, Rogers (1951) claimed that people have two basic needs, positive regard from others and a feeling of self worth. Feelings of self worth develop in childhood and are formed as a result of the child's interaction with parents. Further interactions with significant others also influence the persons feelings of self worth. Rogers believes that how we feel about ourselves and our feelings of self worth are important in determining our psychological health. The closer our self concept and our ideal self are to each other the greater our feelings of self worth and the greater our psychological health.
Congruence- when there is a similarity between a persons ideal self and how they perceive themselves in real life, a state of congruence exists. However if there is a difference between the self and ideal self the person experiences a state of incongruence. The closer our self image and ideal self are to each other the greater the congruence and the higher our feelings of self worth. It is rare for a complete state of congruence to exist, with most people experiencing some degree of incongruence.
Conditions of worth- Rogers (1959)believed that more often than not people hinder the process of self actualisation. The love and acceptance given to them by others may be unconditional when a person is accepted for who they are or what they do, or conditional when they are accepted only if they do what others want them to do. When people experience conditional positive regard they develop conditions of worth, these are the conditions that they perceive to be significant. An individual may experience a sense of self acceptance only if they meet the expectations that others have set as conditions of acceptance.
The influence of counselling psychology
Rogers (1959) claimed that individuals psychological problems were a direct result of their conditions of worth and the conditional positive regard they receive from other people. He believed that counselling would help people to be able to solve their own problems in constructive ways and move towards being a more fully functioning person. Instead of acting in a directive way humanistic therapists regard themselves as guides or facilitators to help people understand themselves and to fin ways to enable their potential self actualisation. Therapists provided empathy and unconditional positive regard, expressing their acceptance and understanding regardless of the feelings and attitudes the client expresses. By doing this the therapist is able to offer an appropriately supportive environment to help dissolve the clients conditions of worth. The client would then move towards a more authentic and more true self.
The self refers to how we perceive ourselves as person, Rogers (1951) claimed that people have two basic needs, positive regard from others and a feeling of self worth. Feelings of self worth develop in childhood and are formed as a result of the child's interaction with parents. Further interactions with significant others also influence the persons feelings of self worth. Rogers believes that how we feel about ourselves and our feelings of self worth are important in determining our psychological health. The closer our self concept and our ideal self are to each other the greater our feelings of self worth and the greater our psychological health.
Congruence- when there is a similarity between a persons ideal self and how they perceive themselves in real life, a state of congruence exists. However if there is a difference between the self and ideal self the person experiences a state of incongruence. The closer our self image and ideal self are to each other the greater the congruence and the higher our feelings of self worth. It is rare for a complete state of congruence to exist, with most people experiencing some degree of incongruence.
Conditions of worth- Rogers (1959)believed that more often than not people hinder the process of self actualisation. The love and acceptance given to them by others may be unconditional when a person is accepted for who they are or what they do, or conditional when they are accepted only if they do what others want them to do. When people experience conditional positive regard they develop conditions of worth, these are the conditions that they perceive to be significant. An individual may experience a sense of self acceptance only if they meet the expectations that others have set as conditions of acceptance.
The influence of counselling psychology
Rogers (1959) claimed that individuals psychological problems were a direct result of their conditions of worth and the conditional positive regard they receive from other people. He believed that counselling would help people to be able to solve their own problems in constructive ways and move towards being a more fully functioning person. Instead of acting in a directive way humanistic therapists regard themselves as guides or facilitators to help people understand themselves and to fin ways to enable their potential self actualisation. Therapists provided empathy and unconditional positive regard, expressing their acceptance and understanding regardless of the feelings and attitudes the client expresses. By doing this the therapist is able to offer an appropriately supportive environment to help dissolve the clients conditions of worth. The client would then move towards a more authentic and more true self.
Evaluation
Strengths
Maslow's hierarchy is linked to economic development
Hagerty (1999) looked at the relationship between economic growth and measures of Maslow's need levels in 88 countries over a 34 year period. He found that countries in the early stages of economic development were characterised by lower level needs and only in advanced stages of economic development did esteem needs and self-actualisation become important. Education enrolment rates are a significant indication of the drive of the self-actualisation because education is seen as a measure of people's desire to better themselves.
Research support for conditions of worth- research with adolescents has shown evidence consistent with Rogers view, doing things to meet others expectations even when they clash with their own values. Harter et al (1996) discovered that teenagers who feel that they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain their parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves. It was found that teenagers who create "false self behaviour" doing things to meet other peoples expectations even when they clash with their own views. Harter found teenagers that feel they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves, and more likely to develop depression.
Limitations
Humanistic research methods- evaluating these research methods is difficult because most of the evidence used to support this approach fails to establish a causal relationship between variables.
The humanistic approach is unrealistic- it presents an overly idealised and unrealistic view of human nature.
Cultural differences in the hierarchy of needs- Maslow acknowledges in a later development of his theory that some peoples needs may appear in a different order or may even be absent all together. Nevis (1983) found in China that belongingness needs were seen as more fundamental than physiological needs and that self-actualisation was defined in more terms of individual development.
Strengths
Maslow's hierarchy is linked to economic development
Hagerty (1999) looked at the relationship between economic growth and measures of Maslow's need levels in 88 countries over a 34 year period. He found that countries in the early stages of economic development were characterised by lower level needs and only in advanced stages of economic development did esteem needs and self-actualisation become important. Education enrolment rates are a significant indication of the drive of the self-actualisation because education is seen as a measure of people's desire to better themselves.
Research support for conditions of worth- research with adolescents has shown evidence consistent with Rogers view, doing things to meet others expectations even when they clash with their own values. Harter et al (1996) discovered that teenagers who feel that they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain their parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves. It was found that teenagers who create "false self behaviour" doing things to meet other peoples expectations even when they clash with their own views. Harter found teenagers that feel they have to fulfil certain conditions in order to gain parents approval frequently end up not liking themselves, and more likely to develop depression.
Limitations
Humanistic research methods- evaluating these research methods is difficult because most of the evidence used to support this approach fails to establish a causal relationship between variables.
The humanistic approach is unrealistic- it presents an overly idealised and unrealistic view of human nature.
Cultural differences in the hierarchy of needs- Maslow acknowledges in a later development of his theory that some peoples needs may appear in a different order or may even be absent all together. Nevis (1983) found in China that belongingness needs were seen as more fundamental than physiological needs and that self-actualisation was defined in more terms of individual development.
Activities
What is free will? DISCUSSION
Explain what is meant by the terms free will, self-actualisation, congruence and conditions of worth.
Outline Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
How do we demonstrate that we have achieved certain levels on the Maslow hierarchy needs chart, do we know? if so how? DISCUSSION.
Outline and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology.
Prepare a 5 minute presentation on key aspects of the humanistic approach.
What is free will? DISCUSSION
Explain what is meant by the terms free will, self-actualisation, congruence and conditions of worth.
Outline Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
How do we demonstrate that we have achieved certain levels on the Maslow hierarchy needs chart, do we know? if so how? DISCUSSION.
Outline and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology.
Prepare a 5 minute presentation on key aspects of the humanistic approach.