The Humanistic Approach

Background
In 1950, humanistic psychology gave rise after Behaviorism and
psychoanalysis. Humanistic psychology was popularized during the 1950s
and 1960s following WWII and the Cold War. During this time period,
psychologists were seeking a more optimistic approach in response to the
stresses that came with war.
Humanism was largely influenced by early Greek philosophers, as well as
Europeans of the Renaissance era, who believed that human beings were
unique.
Assumptions
Humanistic psychologists start from the assumption that every person has
their own unique way of perceiving and understanding the world and that
the things they do only make sense in this light. Humanism emphasizes on
holism. Humanistic psychologists priority is understanding peoples
subjectivity. As a result, they reject the objective scientific method as a
way of studying people. Humanistic psychologists endorse the idea that
people have free will and are capable of choosing their own actions. They
also take the view that all people have a tendency towards growth and the
fulfillment of their potential.
Carl Rogers :
His idea about behaviour centres on the self, which is the persons
consciousness of their own identity. Rogers believed that people could only
fulfill their potential for growth if they had a basically positive view of
themselves (positive self regard). This can only happen if they have the
unconditional positive regards of others. However, most people dont
perceive the positive regard of others as being unconditional. They think
that they will be respected and valued if they meet certain conditions of
worth. These conditions create incongruity within the self between the real
self and the ideal self.
Abraham Maslow :
Maslow acknowledged that people have a variety of needs that differ in
immediacy and which need satisfying at different times. He arranged
these needs in a hierarchy, whereby the more basic needs towards the
bottom take precedence over those higher up. Maslow believed that those
who satisfied all their needs might become self-actualisers: rare,
remarkable people who fulfill their potential completely. However, he also
thought that prolonged periods where a particular need was not satisfied
could result in a sort of fixation.
How do humanistic psychologists study human behaviour?
Through qualitative methods, e.g.:
unstructured interviewing
observation (participant)
diaries, letters, biographies.

Principles

The humanistic approach emphasizes on students' choice and

control over the course of their education. Humanistic teachers
believe it is important for students to be motivated and engaged in
the material they are learning, and this happens when the topic is
something that the students need and want to know.
Humanistic education tends to focus on the concerns and interests
of the students intertwining with the intellect. It is believed that the
overall mood and feeling of the students can either hinder or foster
the process of learning.
Humanistic teachers do not separate the cognitive and affective
domains since they believe that both feelings and knowledge are
important to the learning process.
Self Evaluation is the most important way of assessment. Grading
encourages students to work for a grade and not for intrinsic
satisfaction. Besides, testing is not considered as a tool that provides
sufficient educational feedback to the teacher.

Teacher as a Facilitator
Their job is to foster an engaging environment for the students and to
promote meaningful learning.
The role of the student
The students role consists of exploring and observing. Students can use
self-evaluation techniques to monitor their own behaviors and make
necessary changes. Students also need to take responsibility for their own
learning and keep their goals realistic.
Criticism
Lack of objectivity and rigour in humanistic methods.
Unscientific, vague and open to bias methods.
Positive view of human nature.
Individualistic, self-obsessed outlook.