Humanism-Rogers

• • The humanistic approach in psychology, pioneered by Carl Rogers, focuses on the individual's capacity for personal growth, free will, and self-fulfilment.
  • Rogers emphasized the importance of understanding human behaviour from the perspective of the individual and developed a theory based on the concept of the self and the need for self actualisation.
• Self Actualization is the process whereby an individual realises their full potential
• • Rogers theory centres on how individuals perceive themselves and how this affects their personal growth. The main concepts of the theory are:...
• 1. The self and self-concept

  • Self-concept refers to how individuals see themselves, their attributes and who they think they are. It includes two components.

  -The actual self: who the person believes they currently are.

  -The ideal self: who the person would like to be.

  • According to Rogers, a person's self-concept plays a key role in determining their behaviour and psychological health.
• 2. Congruence and Incongruence

  • Congruence- This occurs when there is a match between an individual's self-concept (how they view themselves) and their experiences in reality (how they interact with the world). A high level of congruence leads to a sense of well-being.
  • Incongruence- When there is a mismatch between the self-concept and reality, the individual experiences anxiety and dissatisfaction. For example, if a person's ideal self is very different from their actual self, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
• 3. Conditions of worth

  • Rogers believed that many people develop conditions of worth, which are expectations or standards imposed by others(often parents or society) about how one should behave in order to be loved or accepted.
  • These conditions of worth can cause individuals to behave in ways that are not true to their actual self, leading to incongruence and psychological distress.
• 4. Unconditional positive regard

  • Rogers argued that for people to achieve self-actualisation (reaching their full potential), they need to experience unconditional positive regard from others, particularly during childhood. This means receiving love and acceptance regardless of their behaviour.
  • When people are accepted for who they are without judgement, they are more likely to develop congruence between their self-concept and reality, which promotes psychological well-being.
• 5. The fully functioning person

  • Rogers believed that individuals who experience congruence and unconditional positive regard can become what he called fully functioning persons.
  • These individuals are open to experience, live authentically, trust their feelings and are constantly striving for personal growth and self-actualisation.
• Key features of rogers theory:

  • Free will-rogers emphasized that humans have the ability to make choices and have control over their own lives.
  • Focus on personal growth-Unlike other theories that focus on pathology, Rogers theory is optimistic, focusing on the potential for healthy growth.
  • person centred therapy- Rogers applied his theory in therapeutic settings, where the therapist provides an environment of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence to help clients achieve self-actualisation.
• What does Rogers' theory emphasize about individuals?


  Individuals have the power to shape their own lives through their choices.
• Why is the focus on free will and personal agency in Rogers' theory considered empowering?


  It promotes the idea that people can change and grow throughout their lives.
• What therapy was developed from Rogers' theory?


  Person-centred therapy.
• What are the key components of Rogers' approach in therapy?


  Empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard.
• How do the conditions of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard help clients?


  They help clients feel understood and supported, aiding their self-actualization process.
• What has research shown about the conditions in Rogers' therapy?


  These conditions can lead to positive therapeutic outcomes.
• What are some weaknesses of Rogers' concepts in therapy?


  They are difficult to scientifically measure.
• Why is it challenging to evaluate Rogers' theory through scientific research?


  Because some core ideas are subjective and not easily quantifiable.
• What do critics argue about Rogers' theory regarding individual motivation?


  They argue it is overly idealistic, assuming individuals are always motivated towards growth.
• What is a potential behavior that contradicts the assumption of self-actualization in Rogers' theory?


  Exhibiting harmful or self-destructive behavior.
• In what type of environment might individuals still exhibit harmful behavior, according to critics of Rogers' theory?


  In supportive environments.