Psychology Essay: Discuss at least two assumptions of the humanistic approach in psychology

Discuss at least two assumptions of the humanistic approach in psychology

(10 marks)

4 A01 marks = describe / name the assumptions
6 A02 marks = criticise the assumptions

Note: the more assumptions you name, the more AO2 marks you can achieve by criticising.

Humanism believes that experiments do not give genuine insights into human behaviour as they have low ecological validity (A01). Behaviourism disagrees and states that experiment are good as they can be used to objectively measure behaviour while controlling variables, and establish a cause and effect relationship (A02). Therefore, the humanistic approach does not have any empirical evidence to support its assumptions.

Humanism believes psychology should study the whole person. This is called holism (A01). The Behaviourist approach disagrees because they believe that all types of behaviour can be reduced to simple units of stimulus and response (A02).

Humanism believes psychology should study the individual case (idiographic approach) as people are unique (A01). Behaviourism disagrees and believes that psychology should study the group and everyone is the same. This is called a nomothetic approach (A02).

Humanism believes that humans are unique and cannot be compared other people or animals (A01). The biological approach disagrees and states that humans are not unique and can be compared with other animals, as both humans and animals have instincts. Behaviourism also believes that humans can be compared with animal as they can both be conditioned (A02).

Humanism believes people are motivated by the wish to grow and fulfil their potential; this is called self actualisation (you cannot get any more A01 marks – the maximum is 4 AO1 marks). The biological approach disagrees and states that humans are motivated to reproduce and pass on their genes (A02). Behaviourism also criticises that idea of self actualisation as it cannot be physically observed and scientifically measured (A02).

Humanism believes people have free will to make their own decisions in life (you cannot get any more A01 marks – the maximum is 4 AO1 marks). The behaviourist approach disagrees and states that the environment determines a person’s behaviour. Freud and believes that people have no free will and the unconscious mind determines a person’s behaviour (you cannot get any more A02 marks – the maximum is 6 AO2 marks).