Human Givens

Human Givens approach or Human Givens Psychotherapy is form of psychology and psychotherapy developed by Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell introduced in their 2003 book Human Givens: A new approach to emotional health and clear thinking.^[1] It is self-described as a "bio-psycho-social" approach to psychotherapy, and at its core attempts to find and address unmet innate needs common to all humans, termed givens. Use of the Human Givens approach is not currently widespread;^[2] but its supporters are building evidence and its ideas are extending into the UK public workplace.^[3]

Description of the Human Given Approach

The basic assumptions of the Human Givens approach are that humans have evolved innate physical and emotional needs called ‘human givens’. Human beings instinctively seek to meet these needs in their environment. When a person’s innate needs are met in the environment, he or she will flourish. When these needs are not met in a balanced way, mental distress results. The focus of the therapy is the discovery and rectification of any blocks to these needs being met. The emotional needs include:

Security – safe territory and an environment which allows full maturity and development

Attention (to give and receive it) – a form of "mental nutrition

Sense of autonomy and control – having volition to make responsible choices

Being emotionally connected to others

Feeling part of a wider community

Friendship and intimacy with someone who is accepting of the total person, flaws included

Privacy – opportunity to reflect and consolidate experience

Sense of status within social groupings

Sense of competence and achievement

Meaning and purpose

Evidence of notability, research and criticism of the Human Givens approach

A study published by the Mental Health Review^[4] calls for further research to be undertaken to examine the effectiveness of Human Givens therapy. It suggests that current Human Givens published empirical evidence mainly relies on case studies, expert opinion and anecdotal evidence. The review by the Centre for Ageing and Mental Health at Staffordshire University^[5] searched for publications on Human Givens Therapy from 1992 to 2008 using a variety of data bases (including Allied Health Source; PsycINFO; PubMed). Out of a total of 876 items only 95 sources were accepted as meeting the criteria of evidence of which the authors conclude are ‘largely based on expert opinion or anecdote’ and is 'overwhelmingly positive in respect of therapeutic outcomes'^[6] More recently several ongoing research projects have been initiated by the Human Givens Research Practice Network.^[7]

The Human Givens model recognises itself to be eclectic in nature and its founders explicitly acknowledge that the approach integrates best practice and thinking drawn from existing psychological models such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy and Client Centred Counselling ^[8] as well as much of their own recent research, most notably Griffin’s “expectation fulfilment theory of dreaming” ^{[9] [10]}

The New Scientist^[11] and the Washington Times^[12][13] have both featured interviews with Joe Griffin on the Human Givens approach. The British Medical Journal^[14] and the Nursing Times ^[15] have both written articles which have referred to the Human Givens Approach.

In The British Medical Journal^[16] the author asks the question 'so where's the evidence?' and Ivan Tyrell,who is the director of Director of the European Therapy Studies Institute and the Human Givens Institute^[17], comments 'People are starting to do it [research]—but we aren't doing it ourselves. If a plane is flying, you don't need to keep showing that it's possible to fly.’^[18].

Most recently, a lengthy article discussing the Human Givens Approach has been published in the May 2010 edition of the Arab Journal of Psychiatry^[19]

Expectation fulfilment theory of dreaming and its link to Human Givens therapy

The expectation fulfilment theory of dreaming, proposed by Joe Griffin in 1993^[20] posits that the prime function of dreams is to metaphorically act out non-discharged emotional arousals (expectations) that were not acted out during the previous day. It theorises that excessive worrying while awake arouses the autonomic nervous system which then increases the need to dream during REM sleep, which deprives the individual of the refreshment of the mind brought about by regenerative slow-wave sleep. It regards worry as a misuse of the imagination. Griffin and Tyrrell proffer a connection between REM state dreaming and hypnotic phenomenon, and define hypnosis as "any artificial means of accessing the REM state"

Depression

The Human Givens approach to treating depression emerged from research into sleep and especially the brain state indicated by the rapid eye movements seen during dream sleep.^[21] New Scientist interviewed Joe Griffin about this explanation for why depressed people dream more intensely than non-depressed people and why all depressed people wake up tired and find it difficult to motivate themselves^[22][23]

Practising Human Givens psychotherapists use a number of techniques to get the subject to use imagination in a healthier way which they propose restores a more balanced sleep pattern and consequently can lift the depression

References

Human Givens Publications

Tyrrell, Ivan; Joe Griffin (2004). Human Givens. HG Publishing. ISBN 1-899398-31-7

Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (2004) "How to lift depression fast." UK, HG Publishing. ISBN 1 899398 41 4

Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (2007) "How to master anxiety: Stress, panic attacks, phobias, psychological trauma and more." UK, HG Publishing. ISBN 1 899398 81 3

Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (2004) "Dreaming Reality: How dreaming keeps us sane, or can drive us mad." UK, HG Publishing. ISBN 1 899398 36 8

Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (2004) "Freedom from addiction: The secret behind successful addiction busting." UK, HG Publishing. ISBN 1 899398 46 5

Griffin, J. & Tyrrell, I. (2004) "Release from anger: Practical help for controlling unreasonable rage." UK, HG Publishing. ISBN 978-1-899398-07-2

Griffin, Joe. An Idea in Practice: using the Human Givens approach. Human Givens Publishing. ISBN 978-1899398966.

Tyrrell, Ivan; Joe Griffin (2004). Dreaming Reality. HG Publishing. ISBN 1-899398-36-8.