Psychology Factsheets
www.curriculum-press.co.uk
Number 106
The Humanistic Approach to Psychology
This Factsheet:
• outlines the main assumptions, theories, applications and
implications of the humanistic approach.
• gives an overview of the methodologies used within this
perspective and provides a summary of one core study relevant
to this approach.
Exam Hint:- One of the ways to understand and describe any
psychological perspective is in relation to others; things are
defined by what they are as well as what they are not. For example:
Proponents of the humanistic approach criticise models of
psychology based on scientific methods, such as behaviourism,
which they see as dehumanising. Instead, they favour a more
phenomological approach to the study of human thought and
behaviour which views each individual holistically and emphasises
the subjective nature of experience. Also, this approach tries to
understand individuals by studying psychologically healthy
individuals rather than the psychodynamic model which is based
on studies of psychologically unhealthy individuals. Finally, the
humanistic model argues that all other approaches are
unrealistically deterministic whereas humanism emphasises the
role of personal agency and free will.
The Examiner will expect you to be able to:
• Outline and evaluate the main assumptions of the humanistic
approach
• Explain and evaluate applications and implications of the
humanistic approach
• Explain and evaluate methodologies suited to the humanistic
approach
• Describe and evaluate core studies relevant to the humanistic
approach
Theories of humanistic psychology
Introduction
Two of the most famous names in the humanistic
psychology are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
Maslow suggested that humans have a number of
basic requirements which he called a hierarchy of
needs (see illustration). The lowest level of the
pyramid contains the basic physiological needs
required for survival. Provided that these needs are
met, Maslow argued that humans also have a need
to be safe, a need to be loved and to belong and a need for esteem, in
ascending order of importance. The highest level of need is selfactualization which is the ability to both recognize and realize one’s
own potential. According to the humanistic approach, self-actualization
is the aim of all healthy individuals and achieving it is the focus of
psychological therapies based on humanistic principles.
The humanistic approach was developed in reaction to earlier
psychological perspectives which were viewed (by humanists) as
being too scientific and/or too deterministic. As the name suggests,
the humanistic approach focuses on the human-ness of thought,
feeling and behaviour. This involves a particular style of
methodology and a particular set of assumptions about the
psychology of human nature.
What is it and what is it not?
Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs
Humanistic assumptions
The humanistic perspective takes a holistic approach to
psychology. The main focus is the individual as a whole and their
unique, individual experiences. Studies from this approach are
subjective, rather than objective or scientific. Humanistic
psychologists believe that individuals exercise free will and are
responsible for their own behaviour, thoughts, health and ill health.
Psychological therapies based on humanistic assumptions aim to
promote personal agency and personal growth.
Self-actualisation
Esteem
Love/belonging
Safety
Physiological
morality,
creativity,
spontaneity,
problem solving,
Lack of prejudice,
acceptance of facts
self-esteem, confidence,
achievement, respect of others,
respect by others
friendship, family, sexual intimacy
security of: body, employment, resources,
morality, the family, health, property
breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion
Exam Hint:- Students often come unstuck with questions which ask about the implications of a theory. The term really means how
could this knowledge be used? For example, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has implications for understanding human behaviour and
his concept of self actualization has implications for psychological therapies.
1
Psychology Factsheet
106 - The Humanistic Approach to Psychology
Carl Rogers’ legacy is the person-centred approach.
This has been applied to education in the form of
student-centred learning and to treatment in the form
of client-centred therapy. In both applications, the
individual leads their own experience (i.e. of learning
or of therapy). Rogers described individuals as agents
of their own experiences with the capacity to exercise
free will. In this respect, the humanistic approach is
different from others which suggest that behaviour is
determined by internal (psychological) or external
(environmental) forces.
Exam Hint:- Make sure that you use core studies efficiently and
effectively rather than simply stating the method, findings and
conclusions. For example, the Langer and Rodin (1976) study
demonstrates the positive effect of personal agency and could therefore
be used as evidence to support ideals based on the humanistic
approach. The study also has implications for how the approach
is applied to person-centred learning and client-centred therapy.
Additionally, because this is a naturalistic experiment, it could be
used to argue against the criticism that the humanistic approach
is non-scientific.
Evaluation of the humanistic approach
Rogers described psychological health in terms
of the fully functioning person. This has been
used to understand psychological abnormality
(i.e. the failure to function adequately
explanation). As a concept, it is similar to
Maslow’s self-actualization although the ultimate
goal is quite different; for Maslow, the human
aim is reaching one’s full potential while for
Rogers, the aim is existentialism, living fully in each moment whether it
is good or bad.
Strengths
Limitations
Focus on the human qualities
of individuals
It is difficult to generalize or draw
conclusions from subjective accounts
Provides data about thoughts, Ignores unconscious processes,
feelings and behaviour from a observed behaviour and physiology
subjective perspective
Uses qualitative methodology Qualitative data harder to analyse and
to provide rich data
is regarded as less scientific
Rogers’ fully functioning person
Emphasis on psychological
health, lived experience and
self-actualization
1. Lives fully in each moment
2. Is responsible for their own behaviour
3. Exercises creativity rather than conformity
4. Is reliable and balanced
5. Trusts their own sense of right and wrong
6. Does not employ psychological defenses
7. Lives a rich, full ‘good life’
These ideals have a Western culture
bias and cannot be objectively
measured
Starts from the position of the Many of the ideas are difficult to
psychologically healthy
achieve and can lead to a faulty view
individual
of abnormality
Exam Hint:- One of the safest ways to structure a question requiring
evaluation is to state a point, support it and then offer a negative
criticism, moving backwards and forwards as you go: point – support
– criticism – point – support – criticism. This will help you to stay
focused (and gain marks for clarity of expression) and it also means
that your critique will be balanced if you run out of time.
Exam Hint:- Sometimes there are negative implications as well as
positive ones and these could be used in an exam question which
asks for evaluation. For example; ‘Rogers’ idea of a fully functioning
person has implications for how we think about abnormality and this
might lead to labeling and stereotyping’.
Glossary
Methodology
Agency: Humanistic assumption that individuals are conscious agents of
their own destiny and are not determined by internal or external forces.
Deterministic: View that behaviour is controlled by internal (genes,
unconscious) or external (environment) forces; the opposite of free will.
Existentialism: The art of existing which to humanists means fully
experiencing the good and the bad of each moment.
Free will: Humanistic assumption that each individual has self-control
and responsibility for their own thoughts and behaviours; the opposite
of determinism.
Fully functioning person: Rogers suggested that this is the aim of being
human. It includes taking responsibility, being creative and experiencing
each moment fully.
Hierarchy of needs: Maslow’s theory which arranges human need in
ascending order from physiological needs at the lowest level to the ultimate
goal of self-actualization.
Holistic: Literally means ‘whole’; the humanistic approach is interested
in the ‘whole’ individual person including thoughts, feelings, experiences
and behaviours.
Person-centred approach: Applications include student-centred learning
and client-centred therapy. The individual is master of their own
experiences and is not directed by the teacher/therapist.
Phenomenological: Describes an approach to the study of thought and
behaviour which views the individual holistically and emphasises the
subjective nature of experience.
Self-actualization: Maslow believed that the ultimate aim of individuals
is to realize one’s own full potential; the highest of all human needs.
Subjective: Personal views or accounts; the opposite of objective.
The humanistic approach typically rejects scientific
methodology, such as laboratory experiments, in favour
of qualitative research methods. It also rejects research
using non-human animals which was popular with the
behaviourists. For humanists, controlled experiments
and animal studies tell us very little about human
thought and behaviour. Instead, methodology from this
perspective uses observations, questionnaires,
unstructured interviews, diaries and case studies. These
methods are a rich source of qualitative data about how humans think, act
and feel and are therefore the best way to study conscious experience.
Core study
Langer and Rodin (1976) studied the effects of enhanced personal agency.
Participants were 65 – 90 year old nursing home residents divided into
an experimental and a control group. The residents were asked to
complete a self-report questionnaire about their sense of personal agency
and happiness levels. Each group was then given a talk from the director
of the nursing home. The talk to the experimental group emphasised
personal agency and choice whereas the talk to the control group
emphasised the staff’s responsibility in caring for them. Three weeks
later another self-report questionnaire was administered to the residents.
The ‘agency induced’ group reported feeling happier, more alert, more
sociable and more in control whereas the ‘control group’ had declined in
all of these areas. Langer and Rodin concluded that a sense of personal
agency had a positive effect on emotional wellbeing in elderly residents
of a nursing home.
Acknowledgements: This Psychology Factsheet was researched and written by Jeanine Connor.
2
Psychology Factsheet
106 - The Humanistic Approach to Psychology
Worksheet: The Humanistic Approach to Psychology
Name
1. List the main assumptions of the humanistic approach to psychology.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. What are the implications for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. Describe Rogers’ concept of the fully functioning person.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Outline one application of the person-centred approach.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Outline one core study which has implications for the humanistic approach.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6. Criticize the humanistic approach from one or more other psychological approaches.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3