Humanistic Approach

HUMANISTIC THEORY OF LEARNING

Maslow’s Theory of Motivation

HUMANISTIC APPROACH

This psychological perspective emphasizes the human capacity for choice and growth. People are seen rational (logical, reasonable, sensible), unique, and are motivated by each person’s needs, self-perception or self-concept and the desire to grow positively.

HUMANISTIC APPROACH

Humanistic theorists contend that positive self-concept and self-esteem enhances the learner’s enthusiasm to learn and the teacher’s role is more of a facilitator of learning rather than an authority on teaching.

THE THEORIST

Abraham Harold Maslow (April 1, 1908 – June 8, 1970) was an American professor of psychology at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research and Columbia University who founded humanistic psychology and created Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

He stressed the importance of focusing on the positive qualities in people, as opposed to treating them as a 'bag of symptoms.'

THEORY OF MOTIVATION

Maslow’s Theory of Motivation is based on his Hierarchy of Needs. The theory maintains that a person does not feel a higher need until the needs of the current level have been satisfied. In other words, the hierarchy suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other needs.

HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

They are the literal requirements for human survival. If these requirements are not met, the human body simply cannot continue to function.

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

Food Air

PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS

Water Clothing Sex

SAFETY AND SECURITY NEEDS

When the physical needs relatively satisfied, the individual's safety needs take precedence and dominate behavior. These needs have to do with people's yearning for a predictable orderly world in which perceived unfairness and inconsistency are under control, the familiar frequent and the unfamiliar rare.

SAFETY AND SECURITY NEEDS

Home Property Health Security Security Security

LOVE AND BELONGINGNESS

After physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, the third layer of human needs are social and involve feelings of belongingness. This aspect of Maslow's hierarchy involves emotionally based relationships in general.

LOVE AND BELONGINGNESS

Friendship Family

LOVE AND BELONGINGNESS

Sexual Intimacy

SELF-ESTEEM

All humans have a need to be respected and to have self-esteem and self-respect. Esteem presents the normal human desire to be accepted and valued by others.

People need to engage themselves to gain recognition and have an activity or activities that give the person a sense of contribution, to feel accepted and self-valued, be it in a profession or hobby.

SELF-ESTEEM

Self-Confidence Respect

SELF-ESTEEM

Achievement

SELF-ACTUALIZATION

This is the highest level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others and interested fulfilling their potential.

SELF-ACTUALIZATION

Personal Fulfillment Growth

This Humanistic Theory of Learning points out that:

Learning can only take place when basic needs have been met. Learner perceive education in more accurate terms when needs are met and learning becomes the priority. How students emotionally view the world- sets the foundation for learning.

From Maslow’s perspective, the drive to learn is intrinsic. The purpose of learning is to bring about self-actualization, and the goals of educators should include this process.

The theory explains why a hungry patient will not pay attention to health teachings until his/her physiologic need of hunger is first met before meeting his/her need for learning.

IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CLASSROOM

As educators, it is our responsibility to help the students meet the five basic levels of needs in order to motivate them to learn.

Self-Actualization Provide challenges.

Encourage autonomy.

Self-Esteem Acknowledge success.

Feedback.

Love and Belongingness

Group dynamics.

Encourage student interaction and participation.

Safety and Security Create a comfortable and safe environment.

Physiological Needs Provide bladder and stomach breaks.

Keep the pace of discussion at an appropriate rate.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES