It Has Been Claimed That the Humanistic Approach Has Little to Offer Psychology. Outline and Evaluate the Humanistic Approach in Psychology. Refer to at Least One Other Approach in Your Answer (12 Marks)

It has been claimed that the humanistic approach has little to offer psychology. Outline and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology. Refer to at least one other approach in your answer (12 marks)

The humanistic approach is an approach put together by Maslow and Rogers to explain human behaviour.

the humanistic approach considers an individuals subjective experience to be very important in an individuals action and their conscious experiences. They believe that behaviour will differ amongst individuals as everyone has had different experiences and therefore does not not reduce behaviour to a single component. Behaviour can only be understood through an empathetic approach, uncovering the meanings placed on behaviour. The The humanistic approach takes on a holistic view putting the person at the centre of the research and looking at the person as a whole, which is why they do not reduce behaviour down to a simple stimulus response link or biological factors instead they look at all the interactions and factors which may determine an individuals behaviour.

Maslow came up with a hierarchy for an individual to go through in their life until they are at a stable state which is what he called self actualisation. The order which this goes in is psychological needs, safety needs, belonging, esteem and self actualisation which is the last stage for an individual to become a fully functioning person. The humanistic approach also sees individuals as active agents in control of their own behaviour and who are striving to be the best they possibly can, they believe that individuals have free will and can make their own choices and are determined by anything.

contradictory to the humanistic approach is the behaviourist approach which only looks at observable and testable behaviour, they would argue that we do not have free will but are determined by factors in our environment. The behaviourist would therefore criticise the humanistic approach and believe that they...