Carl RogersCarl Rogers

The Humanistic ApproachThe Humanistic Approach

BiographyBiography Carl grew up on a farm in Illinois, developing Carl grew up on a farm in Illinois, developing

an interest in biology & agriculture. an interest in biology & agriculture. Expressing emotions was not allowed in the Expressing emotions was not allowed in the

Rogers household & it took its toll on Carl Rogers household & it took its toll on Carl who developed an ulcer at 15.who developed an ulcer at 15.

Rogers went to the University of Wisconsin Rogers went to the University of Wisconsin to study agriculture in 1919.to study agriculture in 1919.

He changed careers becoming interested in He changed careers becoming interested in religious studies. He finished his degree religious studies. He finished his degree and left for Union Theological Seminary in and left for Union Theological Seminary in NY to become a ministerNY to become a minister..

BiographyBiography Rogers view of humanistic psychology was at Rogers view of humanistic psychology was at

odds with Freudian theory & behaviorism.odds with Freudian theory & behaviorism. He gained recognition when he won the APA He gained recognition when he won the APA

award for distinguished scientific contribution award for distinguished scientific contribution in 1956.in 1956.

In 1963, he moved to LaJolla, California. In 1963, he moved to LaJolla, California. Developed the Center for Studies of the Person.Developed the Center for Studies of the Person.

He continued his scientific efforts, writing, He continued his scientific efforts, writing, holding workshops, etc. until he died in 1987.holding workshops, etc. until he died in 1987.

Carl Rogers: Person-Carl Rogers: Person-Centered ApproachCentered Approach

Rogers believed that humans are Rogers believed that humans are basically good.basically good.

He argued that we He argued that we have an innate have an innate drive to reach an optimal sense of drive to reach an optimal sense of ourselves & satisfaction with our lives.ourselves & satisfaction with our lives.

He felt that the process by which we He felt that the process by which we do this, not the end result is what do this, not the end result is what matters.matters.

A person who does this is what he A person who does this is what he calls a “Fully Functioning Person.”calls a “Fully Functioning Person.”

Basic PremiseBasic Premise

Humans are motivated through Humans are motivated through an innate potential to actualize, an innate potential to actualize, maintain and enhance the selfmaintain and enhance the self

Sees people as basically goodSees people as basically good

Experiential WorldExperiential World

PhenomenologyPhenomenology– The reality of our environment The reality of our environment

depends on our perception of itdepends on our perception of it– Subjective perception of realitySubjective perception of reality

PersonalityPersonality

No aspect is predeterminedNo aspect is predetermined Actualizing tendency: Innate, but Actualizing tendency: Innate, but

more influenced by social factors more influenced by social factors than biologicalthan biological

Accounts for childhood, but later Accounts for childhood, but later experiences are more importantexperiences are more important

Optimistic, positive view of change asOptimistic, positive view of change as

possible at any point over the lifespanpossible at any point over the lifespan

Emergence of Self-Emergence of Self-ConceptConcept Self-concept: How I see myselfSelf-concept: How I see myself As infants grow, they develop the As infants grow, they develop the

need for positive regardneed for positive regard Positive regard: Acceptance, love Positive regard: Acceptance, love

and approval from othersand approval from others Child does not receive positive Child does not receive positive

regard: fails to develop actualizing regard: fails to develop actualizing tendency fullytendency fully

If we don’t do what our parents want If we don’t do what our parents want us to do?us to do?

Rogers argued that in these cases, Rogers argued that in these cases, parents withhold their love from us. parents withhold their love from us.

As a result of this, children learn to As a result of this, children learn to abandon their true feelings, wishes, & abandon their true feelings, wishes, & desires, for those of their parents.desires, for those of their parents.

This paves the way for us to become This paves the way for us to become alienated from our true selves. alienated from our true selves.

Unconditional Positive Unconditional Positive RegardRegard Approval granted regardless of Approval granted regardless of

behaviorbehavior Conditions of worthConditions of worth Conditional positive regardConditional positive regard Positive self-regardPositive self-regard

– Eventually grant positive regard to Eventually grant positive regard to ourselvesourselves

Conditions of Worth & Unconditional Conditions of Worth & Unconditional Positive RegardPositive Regard

Rogers argues that most of us grow up Rogers argues that most of us grow up in an atmosphere where we are given in an atmosphere where we are given love & support as long as we behave love & support as long as we behave the way we are expected to.the way we are expected to.

This is what he calls This is what he calls Conditional Conditional positive regard.positive regard. The emphasis is The emphasis is that love is given conditionally (with a that love is given conditionally (with a string attached).string attached).

Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard

We need this to accept all parts of our We need this to accept all parts of our personality.personality.

With this we know we are loved & valued With this we know we are loved & valued for being who we are. for being who we are.

Parents can do this, by making it clear that Parents can do this, by making it clear that their love is not contingent on the child’s their love is not contingent on the child’s behavior (even when such behavior is behavior (even when such behavior is abhoredabhored). ).

IncongruenceIncongruence

Discrepancy between self-concept Discrepancy between self-concept and aspects of experienceand aspects of experience

Experiences inconsistent with Experiences inconsistent with how we see ourselves cause how we see ourselves cause anxietyanxiety

Psychological Psychological adjustment/emotional healthadjustment/emotional health

Basic Human Problem: The two needs are often in conflict. Satisfying one may mean giving up the other.

Effect on Personality: We get a false picture of who we are—our interests, motivations, goals, abilities.

Our Two Selves

Real Self (“Organism”): all our experiences (feelings, wishes, perceptions)

Self-Concept: the person we think we are (e.g., “I am...”)

DefensesDefenses

Rogers identifies only two defenses:Rogers identifies only two defenses: 1. Denial – keeping a memory or 1. Denial – keeping a memory or

impulse out of awareness – similar to impulse out of awareness – similar to Freud’s idea of repressionFreud’s idea of repression

2. Perceptual Distortion – 2. Perceptual Distortion – reinterpreting the situation so that it reinterpreting the situation so that it appears to be less threatening – appears to be less threatening – covers many Freudian defense covers many Freudian defense mechanismsmechanisms

Person-Centered Person-Centered TherapyTherapy Represents a shift from medical Represents a shift from medical

model to growth modelmodel to growth model Strong emphasis on the Strong emphasis on the

therapeutic relationshiptherapeutic relationship

3 Conditions in Person-3 Conditions in Person-Centered TherapyCentered Therapy Conditions are necessary and Conditions are necessary and

sufficient for changesufficient for change– EmpathyEmpathy– Congruence/GenuinenessCongruence/Genuineness– Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard

Incongruence has many harmful effects. One is that it prevents self-actualization. You have to know who you are to fulfill your potential.

The therapist tries to bring the self-concept closer to the real self:

Real Self

Self-Concept

Congruence

Person-Centered Person-Centered Therapy: The Goal is Therapy: The Goal is CongruenceCongruence

Characteristics of Fully Characteristics of Fully Functioning Persons Functioning Persons (Self-Actualizing)(Self-Actualizing) Awareness of all experiencesAwareness of all experiences Live fully in the momentLive fully in the moment Trust own behavior and experienceTrust own behavior and experience Sense of freedom in decision Sense of freedom in decision

makingmaking Creative, flexible to changeCreative, flexible to change Recognition that difficulties will Recognition that difficulties will

inevitably ariseinevitably arise

Research in Rogers’ Research in Rogers’ TheoryTheory Q-Sort TechniqueQ-Sort Technique

– Client sorts large number of statements Client sorts large number of statements about self-concept into categoriesabout self-concept into categories

– Goal: Reduce the discrepancy between the Goal: Reduce the discrepancy between the ideal and actual selfideal and actual self

Incongruence between perceived self Incongruence between perceived self and ideal self indicates poor emotional and ideal self indicates poor emotional adjustmentadjustment

Failures to realize actualizing tendency Failures to realize actualizing tendency can lead to maladjustmentcan lead to maladjustment

Criticisms of Rogers’ Criticisms of Rogers’ TheoryTheory Ignores aspects of personality Ignores aspects of personality

that client may be unaware of, that client may be unaware of, but that still influence client’s but that still influence client’s behaviorbehavior

Ambiguous concepts: Self-Ambiguous concepts: Self-actualizing tendencyactualizing tendency

Contributions of Contributions of RogersRogers Research in psychotherapyResearch in psychotherapy Growth modelGrowth model Emphasis on developing self-Emphasis on developing self-

concept in personalityconcept in personality Conditions necessary for therapy Conditions necessary for therapy

accepted and used in many other accepted and used in many other schools of therapy schools of therapy