Humanistic Theories: Carl Rogers

Humanistic Humanistic Theories:Theories:

Carl RogersCarl Rogers


Carl RogersCarl RogersClick Speaker icon to play narration

Humanistic Humanistic TheoriesTheories


HumanismHumanism• Humanism is often referred to as the Humanism is often referred to as the

“Third Wave.”“Third Wave.”• Did not like the determinism of Did not like the determinism of

Psychoanalysis and Behaviorism.Psychoanalysis and Behaviorism.• Did not like personality theories based Did not like personality theories based

upon abnormal behavior.upon abnormal behavior.• Felt human beings were capable of Felt human beings were capable of

incredible acts of creativity, incredible acts of creativity, selflessness, and high levels of selflessness, and high levels of spirituality.spirituality.

Carl RogersCarl RogersClick Speaker icon to play narration

HumanismHumanism• Believed humans basically Believed humans basically

“good” and worthy of respect.“good” and worthy of respect.• Human beings all have a natural Human beings all have a natural

growth mechanism inside of growth mechanism inside of them if environmental conditions them if environmental conditions are good.are good.


Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas• The SelfThe Self• Self-actualizationSelf-actualization• Organismic valuing processOrganismic valuing process

– Davis (1928) infant food study. 8-Davis (1928) infant food study. 8-10 mo. Old infants.10 mo. Old infants.

• Conditional vs. unconditional Conditional vs. unconditional positive regard.positive regard.

• The “Fully Functioning” person.The “Fully Functioning” person.Carl RogersCarl Rogers

Click Speaker icon to play narration

Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas• The “Fully Functioning” person.The “Fully Functioning” person.• A growing openness to experience – they move away from A growing openness to experience – they move away from

defensiveness and have no need for subception (a perceptual defensiveness and have no need for subception (a perceptual defense that involves unconsciously applying strategies to defense that involves unconsciously applying strategies to prevent a troubling stimulus from entering consciousness). prevent a troubling stimulus from entering consciousness).

• An increasingly existential lifestyle – living each moment fully An increasingly existential lifestyle – living each moment fully – not distorting the moment to fit personality or self concept – not distorting the moment to fit personality or self concept but allowing personality and self concept to emanate from the but allowing personality and self concept to emanate from the experience. This results in excitement, daring, adaptability, experience. This results in excitement, daring, adaptability, tolerance, spontaneity, and a lack of rigidity and suggests a tolerance, spontaneity, and a lack of rigidity and suggests a foundation of trust. "To open one's spirit to what is going on foundation of trust. "To open one's spirit to what is going on now, and discover in that present process whatever structure now, and discover in that present process whatever structure it appears to have"(Rogers 1961it appears to have"(Rogers 1961[7]) )

• Increasing organismic trust – they trust their own judgment Increasing organismic trust – they trust their own judgment and their ability to choose behaviour that is appropriate for and their ability to choose behaviour that is appropriate for each moment. They do not rely on existing codes and social each moment. They do not rely on existing codes and social norms but trust that as they are open to experiences they will norms but trust that as they are open to experiences they will be able to trust their own sense of right and wrong. be able to trust their own sense of right and wrong.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers#cite_note-r61-6

Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas• The “Fully Functioning” person.The “Fully Functioning” person.• Freedom of choice – not being shackled by the Freedom of choice – not being shackled by the

restrictions that influence an incongruent individual, restrictions that influence an incongruent individual, they are able to make a wider range of choices more they are able to make a wider range of choices more freely. They believe that they play a role in determining freely. They believe that they play a role in determining their own behaviour and so feel responsible for their their own behaviour and so feel responsible for their own behaviour. own behaviour.

• Creativity – it follows that they will feel more free to be Creativity – it follows that they will feel more free to be creative. They will also be more creative in the way creative. They will also be more creative in the way they adapt to their own circumstances without feeling a they adapt to their own circumstances without feeling a need to conform. need to conform.

• Reliability and constructiveness – they can be trusted to Reliability and constructiveness – they can be trusted to act constructively. An individual who is open to all their act constructively. An individual who is open to all their needs will be able to maintain a balance between them. needs will be able to maintain a balance between them. Even aggressive needs will be matched and balanced by Even aggressive needs will be matched and balanced by intrinsic goodness in congruent individuals. intrinsic goodness in congruent individuals.



Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas• The “Fully Functioning” person.The “Fully Functioning” person.• they experience joy and pain, love and they experience joy and pain, love and

heartbreak, fear and courage more intensely. heartbreak, fear and courage more intensely. Rogers' description of Rogers' description of the good lifethe good life: :

• ““This process of the good life is not, I am This process of the good life is not, I am convinced, a life for the faint-hearted. It convinced, a life for the faint-hearted. It involves the stretching and growing of involves the stretching and growing of becoming more and more of one's becoming more and more of one's potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It means launching oneself fully into the stream means launching oneself fully into the stream of life.of life. (Rogers 1961 (Rogers 1961[7]))



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Rogers#cite_note-r61-6

Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas•The SelfThe Self

– 3 Aspects of self3 Aspects of self•Real SelfReal Self•Perceived SelfPerceived Self•Ideal SelfIdeal Self

Real Self Ideal SelfPerceived Self


Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas•The Self- CongruencyThe Self- Congruency• Example: I am a good student, I see Example: I am a good student, I see

myself that way, I enjoy it, I strive to myself that way, I enjoy it, I strive to become even more of a scholar.become even more of a scholar.



Rogers: Core ideasRogers: Core ideas•The Self- IncongruencyThe Self- Incongruency•Example: I strive to be a Example: I strive to be a

good student, I don’t like good student, I don’t like studying, people see me as a studying, people see me as a student though.student though.

Real Self Ideal SelfPerceived Self


(Person Centered)--Carl (Person Centered)--Carl RogersRogers

• The therapist tries to create a The therapist tries to create a safe supportive environment safe supportive environment in which the patient (client) in which the patient (client) feels safe to grow.feels safe to grow.

• Achieved through:Achieved through:– WarmthWarmth– GenuineGenuine– Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard– EmpathyEmpathy


Person Centered Person Centered TherapyTherapy

• Critique—PositiveCritique—Positive• Talked about the positives in our Talked about the positives in our

personalities. personalities. • Effective Psychotherapy, simple to learn.Effective Psychotherapy, simple to learn.

• Generated much discussion and Generated much discussion and research.research.

• If we had a national religion, it would be If we had a national religion, it would be Humanism. Very influential.Humanism. Very influential.


Person Centered Person Centered TherapyTherapy

• Critique—NegativeCritique—Negative• No real modifications in theory since No real modifications in theory since

1953.1953.• Too Optimistic? Look at the headlines. Is Too Optimistic? Look at the headlines. Is

mankind really that good?mankind really that good?• Organismic Valuing Process really doesn’t Organismic Valuing Process really doesn’t

work. Food makes us feel good but too work. Food makes us feel good but too much can kill us.much can kill us.

• Incredibly Self centered. Makes us selfish.Incredibly Self centered. Makes us selfish.


Humanistic Theories: Carl Rogers

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