The Humanist Approach

Overview of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH04OsNuvcw

Humanists

Psychologists who believe people work hard to become the best they could possibly become

School of thought is neither biology nor empirical behaviour Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers – believed they were into a new

frontier of understanding, founded the Humanist School of Thought Rogers and Maslow’s views were different Rogers believed that every living creature has actualizing tendency Maslow believed only 2% of the human population are self-actualizing Both believed that neither psychoanalysts nor the behaviourists

acknowledged the role of values, intentions, and meaning in understanding human behaviour

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)

Hierarchy of Needs (1943) – used to explain and understand human motivation

Believed that human nature was either neutral or inherently good Maslow is credited with being founder of the Humanist approach to

psychology His argument: some needs take precedence over others For example: when we are critically ill, our need for sleep overtakes

our need for self-esteem. Once rested and healthy, we can resume fulfilling our esteem needs and return to work.

In Canada, Hierarchy of Needs is in accordance with Canadian norms and standards of living

Maslow applied the principle of homeostasis – the body’s desire to maintain balance (internal monitor that alerts us when we need something)

First 4 needs (Physiological, safety and security, love and belonging, esteem needs) are primarily physical in nature and go unnoticed unless they are not met. These are the D-needs or deficit needs

When not met, an individual experiences anxiety and its needs have to be fulfilled

Physiological needs

Oxygen, water, minerals, food, sleep (what our bodies need) Basic needs Obtaining water and food is not a problem in Canada – in other parts

of the world it is the primary motivational force

Safety and Security Needs

Once our physiological needs are met, we need to obtain safety and security

Job security, benefits, union protection, economic stability, universal health coverage

The need to feel safe overrides the need for love and belonging Still seen as a basic need

Love and Belonging Needs

Once we feel safe and secure, we want to “fit in” with our families and friends

We want to be accepted and we conform to the implicit or explicit behavioural codes of the social, community, and work groups we join

Failure to reach belonging needs results in alienation, isolation and loneliness

Esteem Needs

Then we strive for recognition Maslow said that esteem needs have a “lower” and “higher” order “Lower-order” esteem needs are satisfied when we experience

respect and recognition from others (often temporary, it can be lost just as easily as it was gained)

“Higher-order” self-esteem are based on the respect we have for ourselves (not as easily lost)

From Deficit to Being

Once these primary physical needs were met, we are free to pursue needs which are more psychological

We strive to use our capacities and develop to our fullest Maslow expanded theory to include cognitive and aesthetic needs

and self-actualizing needs He called this Being or B-needs

Cognitive needs

“A desire to understand, to systematize, to organize, to analyze, to look for relations and meanings”

Aesthetic Needs

Believing that we turn from ugliness and that we feel calmer and healthier in beautiful surroundings

Self-actualization

Individualized expression of self in terms of doing what we believe we are best suited for

Mother Theresa is an example Peak moments – we are able to transcend physical and social

conventions Only 2% of the population and few, if any, young people could attain

self-actualization because of social and economic pressures keep our internal monitors directed at filling deficits

A fun way to look at the Hierarchy of needs Through “Up” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iucf76E-R2s

Test yourself

https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/social-science/psychology/i2p401/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-exercise