Humanistic Psychology
Descriptive Points Evaluative Points
Describe and evaluate the humanistic approach in psychology.
The humanistic approach, which unlike most other approaches attempts to take a holistic approach to examining human beings, humanists reject the behaviorist approach and argue that human are not deterministic and that we do possess free will. Humanism is different to other approaches also because it rejects scientific methodology as a correct testing method to psychology; they argue that laboratory conditions are unable to effectively test real-world learning. As such most humanist research is Qualitative rather than quantitative humanist have also tried to find out causes of human motivation rather than the simple response’s highlighted in behaviorism study’s like that of Maslow’s study of human motivation proposed in 1947. Humanism for the most part also assumes that for the main part humans are good creatures and that we all strive to try to achieve self-actualization or the ideal self. Finally humanism make the assumption that humans are fundamentally different from animals as we are able to cognitively process information rather than live on primal instinct alone.
However, Humanism non-scientific methodology has been criticized and argued to be invalid as it fails to adhere to scientific practice the use of case study has been heavily criticized, e.g. Carl Rogers study of “The Self” has been called totally unscientific as it’s almost totally based upon concept’s and ideas rather than hard evidence like behaviorism animal research.
In Addition, Humanism ignores the unconscious mind, the input of biology, genetics has not been included within the humanism theory, and some extreme cases like that of Clive Wearing have shown that the unconscious mind has a place within cognitive processing. Because humanists ignore the unconscious mind, heavy criticism has come from psychoanalysts’ especially as they observe the theory that the unconscious mind is the most important part of psychology.
However, on the other hand, humanism has satisfied most people’s idea of what being human is all about because it keeps self-attainment and values close to the center of the theory, which seems to carry more meaning than the quantitative data and laws that surround behaviorism and cognitive psychology as well their deterministic approach, make them seem official.
Humanism’s acknowledgement of free will is totally contrary to the laws of science, which are in fact deterministic this goes to question what humanism really is a scientific theory which is part of psychology or speculation unto what make sup a human being.
