Personality Psychology Carl Rogers

History Born: January 8, 1902 in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Died: February 4, 1987. Career and Family: Began education as an agriculture major, then switched to religion. Married Helen Elliot against his parents’ wishes, began attending a liberal theological Seminary.   While there, he switched to the clinical psychology program of Columbia University, and received his Ph.D. in 1931.  In 1951 he published his major work on Person (Client) – Centered Therapy.

Concepts Actualizing Tendency Organismic Valuing “Force of Life” Built-in, biological motivation to reach potential Organismic Valuing Organisms know what is good for them

Concepts Positive Regard Conditional vs. Unconditional Instinctively valued Love, affection, attention, nurturance Conditional vs. Unconditional Individuals set criteria on their acceptance of another person Being valued for oneself unconditionally

Concepts The child has two basic needs: Positive regard from other people and Self-worth Self worth begins in childhood as the child interacts with the family. It continues as the child gets older through interactions with others.

Self Real Self Ideal Self Founded in the actualizing tendency It is the “you” that, if all goes well, you will become. Ideal Self What we think we should become Comes from conditional positive regard, being out of sync with our organismic valuing.

Self Incongruence Congruence Ideal Self Real

Incongruity Incongruity Neurosis The gap between the real self and the ideal self. It is the “you” that, if all goes well, you will become. Neurosis Being incongruent is the basis of Neurosis.

Qualities of a Therapist (or a teacher) Rogers felt that a therapist, in order to be effective, must have three very special qualities: Congruence -- genuineness, honesty with the client Empathy -- the ability to feel what the client feels Respect -- acceptance, unconditional positive regard towards the client