The Humanistic The Humanistic ApproachApproach

‘‘THE THIRD FORCE’THE THIRD FORCE’

Carl Rogers (1961)Carl Rogers (1961)

Abraham Maslow (1970)Abraham Maslow (1970)

Basic assumptionsBasic assumptions

The approach assumes that every The approach assumes that every person is unique and that psychology person is unique and that psychology should focus on the subjective feelings should focus on the subjective feelings and thoughts of the person.and thoughts of the person.

This is described as an ideographic This is described as an ideographic approach. The focus is on each approach. The focus is on each individual, not whole populations.individual, not whole populations.

All people have All people have free willfree will, and that their , and that their behaviour is not determined by behaviour is not determined by unconscious forces (psychodynamic) or unconscious forces (psychodynamic) or stimulus-response sequences stimulus-response sequences (behaviourism).(behaviourism).

People must be viewed from a holistic People must be viewed from a holistic point of view. Instead of reducing point of view. Instead of reducing behaviour and thought to smaller behaviour and thought to smaller elements the focus should be the whole elements the focus should be the whole person.person.

Assumptions ContinuedAssumptions Continued People are essentially good and will grow People are essentially good and will grow

psychologically if given positive regard at all psychologically if given positive regard at all times.times.

People strive to realise their full potential in life People strive to realise their full potential in life – called self actualisation– called self actualisation

People are motivated by a hierarchy of needs, People are motivated by a hierarchy of needs, with basic needs at the bottom of the hierarchy with basic needs at the bottom of the hierarchy and self-actualisation needs at the top.and self-actualisation needs at the top.

Psychological therapies should be client-Psychological therapies should be client-centred and involve warmth, empathy and centred and involve warmth, empathy and genuineness.genuineness.

Psychological problems are due to a Psychological problems are due to a difference between a person’s perceived difference between a person’s perceived self and their ideal self.self and their ideal self.

The scientific method is not appropriate The scientific method is not appropriate to help our understanding of people. The to help our understanding of people. The focus must be on subjective experience, focus must be on subjective experience, known by the term phenomenology, known by the term phenomenology, which is to do with a person’s own which is to do with a person’s own experience of the here and now.experience of the here and now.

The self and self-concept are The self and self-concept are fundamental, and conscious report is all fundamental, and conscious report is all that counts.that counts.

Free WillFree Will Humanists believe that every person has Humanists believe that every person has

active agency, this means they are able active agency, this means they are able to change and decide on their own to change and decide on their own development. People can change their development. People can change their actions and the environment in which actions and the environment in which they live.they live.

This means that people are responsible This means that people are responsible for their own actions and for their own for their own actions and for their own personal growth.personal growth.

Humanistic Humanistic PsychotherapyPsychotherapy

In terms of this, people are encouraged In terms of this, people are encouraged to understand how free will may be to understand how free will may be constrained. People cannot go around constrained. People cannot go around doing whatever they want all the time. doing whatever they want all the time. What other people want, the morals and What other people want, the morals and the laws of society, and family values, for the laws of society, and family values, for example, may all constrain free will.example, may all constrain free will.

In order to function properly in society, In order to function properly in society, the person has to understand these the person has to understand these constraints and learn to live with them.constraints and learn to live with them.

Self and Self Self and Self ActualisationActualisation

SelfSelf

Self ConceptSelf Concept

Ideal self vs Actual selfIdeal self vs Actual self

Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard

Carl Rogers (1980)Carl Rogers (1980)

The concept of The concept of selfself develops and develops and emerges during childhood. The child emerges during childhood. The child develops an awareness of the self and ‘develops an awareness of the self and ‘II’ ’ or ‘or ‘meme’ experiences.’ experiences.

As the child grows older they become As the child grows older they become aware of their own identity, personality aware of their own identity, personality characteristics, likes and dislikes, and so characteristics, likes and dislikes, and so on.on.

The self includes all aspects of personal The self includes all aspects of personal experience and a sense of ‘being’.experience and a sense of ‘being’.

Through the feeling of the self develops Through the feeling of the self develops the the self-conceptself-concept. The most important . The most important part of this being the part of this being the ideal selfideal self.

If there is a significant difference between these two elements then a state of discomfort or incongruence is said to exist.

It is the aim of Humanistic Psychotherapy to lessen this difference and bring about a state of congruence.

Self - ActualisationSelf - Actualisation

Both Rogers and Maslow believed that Both Rogers and Maslow believed that every person has an innate tendency to every person has an innate tendency to realise their full potential, or self-realise their full potential, or self-actualise.actualise.

This may be achieved in different ways This may be achieved in different ways by different people. Some may achieve it by different people. Some may achieve it through religious devotion, others through religious devotion, others through cooking, and others through through cooking, and others through writing poetry.writing poetry.

Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

As each need is satisfied, the person As each need is satisfied, the person may go up the hierarchy and attempt to may go up the hierarchy and attempt to satisfy the next need. People who suffer satisfy the next need. People who suffer extreme poverty or privation may spend extreme poverty or privation may spend all their time trying to satisfy the basic all their time trying to satisfy the basic physiological and safety needs, and may physiological and safety needs, and may never achieve the higher needs.never achieve the higher needs.

Hierarchy explainedHierarchy explained

The first four needs are deficiency needs The first four needs are deficiency needs (trying to make or achieve what is (trying to make or achieve what is essential to live), while the fifth need, essential to live), while the fifth need, self-actualisation, is a growth need.self-actualisation, is a growth need.

Maslow said there are 3 main Maslow said there are 3 main preconditions for a person to be able to preconditions for a person to be able to self actualise:self actualise:

No restraints imposed by others on what No restraints imposed by others on what you can do;you can do;

Little or no distraction from deficiency Little or no distraction from deficiency needs;needs;

An ability to know yourself very well.An ability to know yourself very well.

Key characteristics of Key characteristics of people who self-actualise people who self-actualise (Maslow 1970)(Maslow 1970)

Accurate perceptions of the world;Accurate perceptions of the world; Acceptance of other people;Acceptance of other people; Creative;Creative; Good sense of humour;Good sense of humour; Detached and needing privacy.Detached and needing privacy.

Maslow described the experience of self-Maslow described the experience of self-actualisation as having a ‘peak actualisation as having a ‘peak experience’.experience’.

Some may regard self-actualisation as a Some may regard self-actualisation as a deeply religious experience or mythical deeply religious experience or mythical experience that is of great significance in experience that is of great significance in their life.their life.

Moments of self-actualisation do not Moments of self-actualisation do not often occur in life and some people may often occur in life and some people may never achieve this.never achieve this.