A brief literature review 

As part of my literature review I will discuss a topic called the humanistic approach in psychology. In order to discuss this topic I will use two books. Simply psychology by Eysenck and psychology for social care by O'Brien.

Humanistic approach was introduced by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow in the United States around the 1950's. They became a huge influence in the Humanistic approach to psychology. (Spark Notes. 2012)

"Humanist psychologists focused on personal responsibility, free will, and the individual's striving for personal growth". (Eysenck. 2002 p.264)

"Humanism proposed that an individual's ultimate goal was towards growth and potential".

 (O'Brien. 2011p.67)

Maslow put forward a Hierarchy of needs; this would allow people to become motivated and to reach their potential. It stated that our physiological needs like food, water, sleep and shelter, have to be met before we can move up the ladder towards reaching our full potential, this is called self-actualization. 

(Eysenck. 2002 p.264)

According to Maslow he believed that one level of his hierarchy of needs had to be meet to a certain degree, before we can move to the next level. When humans are faced with poverty the needs like esteem and self-actualization are not relevant to the individual because people are trying to meet the physiological needs which are at the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
 (O'Brien. 2011. p.69)

After discussing Maslow and his Hierarchy of needs with reference to two books, I

 think that learning about Humanistic approach in psychology is very important when studying to be a social care practitioner. It allows us to come to terms with how people react and think. Having a good knowledge on Maslow and his hierarchy of needs will help us to understand service user's goals and aspirations for their future.

Reference list

SparkNotes. (2012) Spark notes. [online] Available from: http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/personality/section4.rhtml.  Accessed: [04/12/12]

O'Brien, E. (Ed) (2012) Psychology for social care. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan.

Eysenck, W, M. (Ed) (2002) Simply psychology. 2nd edition. UK: Psychology press.

Schop, C. (2009) Selfmade miracle. [online] Available from: http://www.selfmademiracle.com/tag/safety-needs/. Accessed: [04/12/12]