Rogerian Theory

Abstract

Carl Rogers contributed a great deal to not just psychology, but psychotherapy. He was raised in a relatively normal American family around the turn of the century. His later studies, subsequent clinical experience, and research lead him to the conclusion that all living beings strive for biological success. Humans also strive for this success but are often thwarted by society, giving rise to a real self and an ideal self. Disparages between these two selves gives rise to neurosis and psychosis. Rogerian therapy attempts to lead clients to self actualization, realizing what one’s real self desires, with passive and indirect assistance.

Personality Synopsis, Carl Rogers

Introduction

The purpose of this article is to give a brief biography of Carl Rogers, an overview of his most influential theories, and the lasting impact of the man and his theories on clinical psychology. Rogers’ most influential theory was his person-centered approach to therapy. This approached has expanded to include such topics as leadership, education, and group work in general.

Attachment 1 is my supplemental bibliography, listing multiple sources that I have attained information from during the courses of Psychology of Personality and Psychology of Adjustment, spring of 2008.

Brief Biography

Born to an American family January 8, 1902, Carl Rogers was the typical boy of a typical American family of that time. In a suburb of Chicago, called Oak Park, the young Rogers was the son of a civil engineer in a religious Christian family. Later, the family would move to a farm where Rogers would endure the heavy load of chores and strict discipline that is needed for that way of life (Boeree, 2006).

Rogers would later choose to attend Wisconsin University to study Agriculture, and soon switching studies to religion. However, as most college students do, Rogers began to loose faith in the particulars of his religious upbringing, and eventually settled on Psychology as a career path. After receiving a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin, he would go on to receive a PhD in Psychotherapy at Chicago University (Boeree, 2006).

Rogers used his degree to help children through the Rochester Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and then later he would become a professor at Ohio State University. Following this prestigious position, Rogers would go on to Professor at the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin, become president of the American Association for Applied Psychology, the American Psychological Association and first president of the American Academy of Psychotherapist, Win the Nicholas Murray Butler Silver, become a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in Behavioral Sciences, be selected as the American Humanist of the year in 1964, and receive several honorary degrees from various Universities (Hall, 1997).

Obviously a very accomplished man, Rogers can attribute these honors mostly to his theory of Personality Development, a basis for what would later be called Client-Centered Therapy. The two main publications of Rogers’ that explained this theory were Client-Centered Therapy, and On Becoming a Person . The books emphasized the creation of a positive and non-judgmental environment during therapy, allowing the client to determine the speed and direction of their own psychological progression (Heffner, 2003).

Theory Overview

In essence, Rogerian theory is based upon the simple idea of self preservation. All beings, from slugs to trees to humans, strive to better themselves. All life forms will attempt to achieve their greatest potential. This idea is called actualizing tendency. Actualizing tendency is the force that makes people eat well, exercise, learn, and find a mate. Every action is an attempt to better one’s self in this theory. However, this tendency towards self improvement has been corrupted (Boeree, 2006).

Humans satisfy this primordial need in ways that nature did not intend or account for. When a person’s sweet tooth is acting up, for example, this urge is intended to encourage the finding of fruit (possibly the need for Vitamin C). Unfortunately, the modern era offers the sweetness of refined sugar to satisfy this craving. Where we try to better ourselves, the culture around us has prevented that betterment with an illusory satisfaction. This is an example of human culture evolving to satisfy a craving but not the corresponding need. The craving is for sweetness, but the need is for Vitamin C. Other examples of culture getting in the way of actualizing tendency would be using sex to fill a romantic void, or using a shopping spree to relieve anxiety (Boeree, 2006).

Culture can also shape us through what Rogers calls �Conditions of Worth.’ We are rewarded for good actions with biological necessities more often than treats. Children receive desert only when the dinner plate is clean, and sexual behavior is repressed outside of the bedroom. There are of course many other examples, but these types of needs being satisfied only upon meeting of certain conditions is a dangerous thing. We may begin to only respect and accept ourselves if we fulfill society’s expectations of us, rather than doing what we feel is best. This way of thinking lead to the Victorian era sexual repression and Inquisitorial religious persecution. The inner self that wishes for your own �Oragnismic Valuing’, that is the desire to fulfill your biological needs without regard to cultural restrictions, is what Rogers calls the �Real Self’ (Boeree, 2006).

Since this Real Self is very different from who you believe you should be, or your �Ideal Self,’ there is a disconnect that can be the cause of serious problems. The gap between your Real Self and your Ideal Self is called incongruity. When there is a great difference between who you are and who you think you should be, anxiety arises. The greater that incongruity, the greater the anxiety. The greater the chance for anxiety, the greater the chance for neurosis or even psychosis. And so by denying our very basic needs as humans in order to satisfy our society, we may very well end up on the wrong side of a therapy session. Rogerian therapy is aimed at avoiding this situation through