Humanistic Approach Summary

Key Features Methodology

Qualitative Research ways of collecting data
concerned with describing meaning, rather
than with drawing statistical inferences.
EG: Case Studies and Interviews

Idiographic Approach comes from the Greek
word idios meaning own or private.
Focus to discover what makes each of us
unique.

Congruence Suitableness of one thing to
another; agreement; consistency.

Self Concept (e.g. self-worth, self-image,
self actualization)

Holism (e.g. study to whole person)

Hierarchy of needs

Free Will
Qualitative Methods words, verbal analysis,
logical deduction and rhetorical
constructions.

Case Study

Informal Interviews

Q-Sort Method Developed by Stephenson,
1953. Is used in personality assessment

Open-ended Questionnaires

Inter-rater/coder reliability is assessed by
having two or more independent judges
score the test. The scores are then compared
to determine the consistency of the raters
estimates.
Basic Assumptions Areas of Application
Humans have free will; not all behavior is
determined.

All individuals are unique and have an
innate (inborn) drive to achieve their
maximum potential.

A proper understanding of human behavior
can only be achieved by studying humans -
not animals.

Psychology should study the individual case
(idiographic) rather than the average
performance of groups (nomothetic).
Person Centered Therapy is assessed by
having two or more independent judges
score the test. The scores are then compared
to determine the consistency of the raters
estimates.

Qualitative Methods

Abnormal behavior (incongruent, low self-
worth)

Education

Motivation

Strengths

Limitations
Shifted the focus of behavior to the
individual / whole person rather than the
unconscious mind, genes, observable
behavior etc.

Humanistic psychology satisfies most
people's idea of what being human means
because it values personal ideals and self-
fulfillment.

Qualitative data gives genuine insight and
more holistic information into behavior.

Highlights the value of more individualistic
and idiographic methods of study.
Ignores biology (e.g. testosterone).

Unscientific subjective concepts.

E.g. cannot objectively measure self-
actualization.

Humanism ignores the unconscious mind.

Behaviorism human and animal behavior
can be compared.

Qualitative data is difficult to compare.

Ethnocentric (biased towards Western
culture).

Their belief in free will is in opposition to
the deterministic laws of science.
Contributors to the Growth of Humanistic Psychology
There have been many individuals who have contributed to the growth of humanistic
psychology:
Snyggs and Combs: Snyggs and Combs (1949) helped to develop the field of phenomenology
(THE BELIEF THAT A PERSON WILL BEHAVE IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH HIS
PERCEPTUAL FIELD). . Humanistic psychologists draw on this phenomenological belief
because they strive to take into account a persons perception of an event when studying human
behavior.
Maslow: Co-Founder of Humanistic Psychology with Carl Rogers. In the mid-1950s, he
emphasized the need for psychology to focus on human potentialities rather than just human
deficiencies; he desired a more positive approach toward psychology. Maslow's work has helped
in the understanding of motivation and self-actualization, one of the goals of humanistic
education.
Morris: Morris (1954) believed that humans are able to think about their thought process and
then criticize and correct it.

Rogers: Carl Rogers made his impact on humanistic psychology in its application to education.
He developed an educational philosophy that emphasizes the importance of forming personal
meanings during the learning process and the emotional climate needed for creating such
meanings. In addition, he focused on the emotional relationship between the teacher and the
student.