The humanistic approach deals with an individual's subjective
experience, the way he/she sees the world and experiences it. In this
appoach man is inherently good, can master his destiny, strives for
grouth and self realisation, is an active and dynamic being. Humanistic
psychology was founded as an alternative to the the behaviouristic and
psychoanalitic approaches. Four principles underlie this approach: 1)
The main interest is in the sentient, experienceing individual. 2)
Research focuses on choice, creativity and self realisation. 3) When
choosing a research topic, meaning outweights objectivity. 4) Human
dignity is an absolute. Carl Rogers - believed that man's most basic
driving force is the desire to fulfill himself. His approach is called
"client in the centre therapy" - not 'patient' but 'client' in
compliance with the 4th principle.The 'self' is the main concept in
Rogers' personality theory. The 'self' is composed of all the ideas,
perceptions and values the characterise man, which include the
awareness of "what I can do". The self as is it percieved influences
man's peception of his surroundings and his behaviour. The more a man
pushes issues out of his conciousnes the more he deepens the gap
between his 'self' and the reality and increases the potential for
adjustment difficulties. Denying the self of its needs can result in
severe anxiety. Rogers claimed that ech of us has an ideal self, an
idea of the man we wish to be. The closer the ideal self is to the real
self the happier a man will be and the closer he will feel to
fulfillment. The greter the difference, the more one feels
dissatisfaction and depression. Abraham Marcello - the need hyerarchy -
suggested that needs are ayerachically ordered from basic biological
needs to aesthetic and intellectual needs. When all needs are satisfied
one reaches the highest level which is fulfillement.