The Humanistic Approach focuses on subjective experience and free will. It assumes people are essentially good and strive for self-actualization. Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchy of needs where physiological and safety needs are at the bottom and self-actualization is at the top. Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy which aims to reduce incongruence between a person's actual and ideal self through unconditional positive regard. Both Rogers and Maslow believed people have an innate drive for self-actualization, which involves accurate perceptions and acceptance, and may be experienced as "peak experiences."

1. The Humanistic ApproachThe Humanistic Approach
‘‘THE THIRD FORCE’THE THIRD FORCE’
Carl Rogers (1961)Carl Rogers (1961)
Abraham Maslow (1970)Abraham Maslow (1970)

2. Basic assumptionsBasic assumptions
 The approach assumes that every personThe approach assumes that every person
is unique and that psychology shouldis unique and that psychology should
focus on the subjective feelings andfocus on the subjective feelings and
thoughts of the person.thoughts of the person.
 This is described as an ideographicThis is described as an ideographic
approach. The focus is on each individual,approach. The focus is on each individual,
not whole populations.not whole populations.

3.  All people haveAll people have free willfree will, and that their, and that their
behaviour is not determined bybehaviour is not determined by
unconscious forces (psychodynamic) orunconscious forces (psychodynamic) or
stimulus-response sequencesstimulus-response sequences
(behaviourism).(behaviourism).
 People must be viewed from a holisticPeople must be viewed from a holistic
point of view. Instead of reducingpoint of view. Instead of reducing
behaviour and thought to smallerbehaviour and thought to smaller
elements the focus should be the wholeelements the focus should be the whole
person.person.

4. Assumptions ContinuedAssumptions Continued
 People are essentially good and will growPeople are essentially good and will grow
psychologically if given positive regard at allpsychologically if given positive regard at all
times.times.
 People strive to realise their full potential in lifePeople 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 hierarchywith 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 andcentred and involve warmth, empathy and
genuineness.genuineness.

5.  Psychological problems are due to aPsychological problems are due to a
difference between a person’s perceiveddifference between a person’s perceived
self and their ideal self.self and their ideal self.
 The scientific method is not appropriateThe scientific method is not appropriate
to help our understanding of people. Theto 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 ownwhich 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 areThe self and self-concept are
fundamental, and conscious report is allfundamental, and conscious report is all
that counts.that counts.

6. Free WillFree Will
 Humanists believe that every person hasHumanists believe that every person has
active agency, this means they are ableactive agency, this means they are able
to change and decide on their ownto change and decide on their own
development. People can change theirdevelopment. People can change their
actions and the environment in whichactions and the environment in which
they live.they live.
 This means that people are responsibleThis means that people are responsible
for their own actions and for their ownfor their own actions and for their own
personal growth.personal growth.

7. Client Centred TherapyClient Centred Therapy
 In terms of this, people are encouragedIn terms of this, people are encouraged
to understand how free will may beto understand how free will may be
constrained. People cannot go aroundconstrained. People cannot go around
doing whatever they want all the time.doing whatever they want all the time.
What other people want, the morals andWhat other people want, the morals and
the laws of society, and family values, forthe 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 thesethe person has to understand these
constraints and learn to live with them.constraints and learn to live with them.

8. Self and Self ActualisationSelf and Self Actualisation
 SelfSelf
 Self ConceptSelf Concept
 Ideal self vs Actual selfIdeal self vs Actual self
 Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard

9. Carl Rogers (1980)Carl Rogers (1980)
 The concept ofThe concept of selfself develops anddevelops and
emerges during childhood. The childemerges 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 becomeAs the child grows older they become
aware of their own identity, personalityaware of their own identity, personality
characteristics, likes and dislikes, and socharacteristics, likes and dislikes, and so
on.on.

10.  The self includes all aspects of personalThe self includes all aspects of personal
experience and a sense of ‘being’.experience and a sense of ‘being’.
 Through the feeling of the self developsThrough the feeling of the self develops
thethe self-conceptself-concept. The most important. The most important
part of this being thepart 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.

11. Self - ActualisationSelf - Actualisation
 Both Rogers and Maslow believed thatBoth Rogers and Maslow believed that
every person has an innate tendency toevery person has an innate tendency to
realise their full potential, or self-actualise.realise their full potential, or self-actualise.
 This may be achieved in different ways byThis may be achieved in different ways by
different people. Some may achieve itdifferent people. Some may achieve it
through religious devotion, others throughthrough religious devotion, others through
cooking, and others through writing poetry.cooking, and others through writing poetry.

12. Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

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

14. Hierarchy explainedHierarchy explained
 The first four needs are deficiency needsThe 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, self-essential to live), while the fifth need, self-
actualisation, is a growth need.actualisation, is a growth need.
 Maslow said there are 3 mainMaslow said there are 3 main
preconditions for a person to be able topreconditions for a person to be able to
self actualise:self actualise:

15.  No restraints imposed by others on whatNo restraints imposed by others on what
you can do;you can do;
 Little or no distraction from deficiencyLittle or no distraction from deficiency
needs;needs;
 An ability to know yourself very well.An ability to know yourself very well.

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

17.  Maslow described the experience of self-Maslow described the experience of self-
actualisation as having a ‘peakactualisation as having a ‘peak
experience’.experience’.
 Some may regard self-actualisation as aSome may regard self-actualisation as a
deeply religious experience or mythicaldeeply religious experience or mythical
experience that is of great significance inexperience that is of great significance in
their life.their life.
 Moments of self-actualisation do notMoments of self-actualisation do not
often occur in life and some people mayoften occur in life and some people may
never achieve this.never achieve this.