Humanistic approaches to learning :

Abraham Maslow

Theories of SLADr M.KhatibMaryam Bolouri

The “Third Force” The Humanistic approach has emerged in the late 1960’s, primarily as a reaction to the two major views of humanity popular at that time The Freudian perspective and its emphasis on unconscious sexual and aggressive instincts The behavioral perspective, and its emphasis on the mechanical nature of responses to stimuli in the environment. The humanistic perspective, thus, as been called the “third force”.

Key Elements of the Humanistic Approach

personal responsibility

“here and now”

phenomenology of the individual

personal growth

Abraham Maslow1908-1970

Abraham Maslow was interested in exploring the sources of happy, healthy personality.

His approach was optimistic, regarding human beings as free-willed individuals, and not as captive by unconscious drives

Human nature is basically good, not evil. Normal human development involves the actualization of this inherent goodness

His contribution is in the hierarchy of needs, and in the study of the psychologically-healthy individuals.

Much of Maslow’s work was concerned with identifying the different types of needs that people have, and explaining why some people make more of their potential than others.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Maslow distinguished between D (deficiency) needs.1. Physiological needs2. Safety needs 3. Love and Belongingness needs 4. Esteem needs (you value yourself, and others also value

you)and 3 being needs (higher order needs): people strive for

more fulfillment 5. Knowing and understanding (academic achievement)6. Aesthetic appreciation7. Self actualization

ON THE WHOLE AN INDIVIDUALCANNOT SATISFY ANY LEVELUNLESS NEEDS BELOW ARE

SATISFIED

Self-Actualization- What is it? There is more to life than the absence of problems The Humanistic perspective maintain that we all have a drive toward

“self-actualization” To become that best we can become, in the context of our life (you do

not have to receive the Nobel Prize)

. MASLOW EMPHASIZES NEED FOR SELF ACTUALIZATION

ISA HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL’S PRIME MOTIVATION

but we can nearly all do more than we think we can

Nobody can do everything,

There are 4 general approaches to motivation:

1. Behavioral approaches to motivation Reward, incentives…2. Humanistic approaches to motivationinherent needs3. Cognitive approaches to motivationintrinsic motivations4. Sociocultural conceptions of motivation Identity and interpersonal relations

Humanistic approaches to motivation

According to Maslow, most theories of motivation are limited because they mainly deal with basic physiological needs such as hunger and thirst, or with the need to avoid anxiety. Such theories omit many important needs relating to personal growth

Human motivation is more than just fulfilling basic physiological needs such as reduction of eating, reduction of anxiety etc. There is also a motivation to grow.

Misconceptions about Maslow Hierarchy

You do not have to fulfill all the needs in one level to “climb” to the next level Some people who starve for their loved one, or for their life workThe needs in each level are never fully satisfied. Some of our greatest artists,

writers, philosophers and scientists, far from being contented individuals, Does this fit with Maslow’s notion that people can only become great if their

deficit needs are met? There are cultural differences in the ways the needs are regarded and are

fulfilled. Maslow’s views on people’s needs tie in very closely with the European and American ideal. But what of other cultures?

Maslow’s study of the psychologically- healthy people was Not empirically-based .He examined his friends, whom he judged to be psychologically healthy, as well as historical figures. His analysis was “holistic” and subjective

Applications Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has been applied into understanding job

satisfaction and vocational choicesMaslow takes an active interest in the area of work. “If you’re

unhappy with your work, you have lost one of the most important means of self-fulfilment”

(Maslow 1971). It helps us understand that intellectual, emotional, and physical

needs are interrelated and if the class is fearful, students are likely to be concerned more with deficiency needs and less with being ones.

The ideal university would have no formal credits, required courses, or degrees. It would serve as an educational retreat where people could explore various subjects, discover their own true interests and identities, and

appreciate the joys of learning and the preciousness of life (Maslow, 1971)

Reference:

Gross, R.D. (1996): Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behaviour.

Woolfolk, A. E., Winne, P. H., & Perry, N. E. (2003). Educational Psychology (2nd ed.). Toronto: Pearsoon Education.

http://www.ship.edu/%7Ecgboeree/perscontents.html