Carl Rogers: Self-Actualization Theory

Vocabulary terms and definitions based on Carl Rogers' Self-Actualization Theory notes.

Person-Centered Therapy

A non-directive or client-centered therapy where the ability to change is centered within the person.

Non-directive therapy

Another name for Person-Centered Therapy where the counselor does not lead the client.

Current feelings and emotions

The factors Rogers believed have a greater impact on personality than past events.

Fully Functioning Person

The individual who has reached the ultimate goal of actualizing the self.

Inborn tendency to actualize

The innate drive to develop abilities and potentials from biological to psychological aspects.

Self-actualization

The ultimate goal of every individual according to Rogers' theory.

Self-understanding

Also known as self-insight; involves acceptance of self and reality.

Self-insight

An acceptance of self and reality, and a sense of responsibility for the self.

Attitude toward the self

The factor Rogers found more important in predicting behavior than external childhood factors.

Actualization Tendency

The urge to actualize, maintain, and enhance the self, encompassing all needs.

Maintenance

One of the functions of the actualization tendency, providing for basic needs like food and safety.

Enhancement

A function of the actualization tendency that involves developing beyond basic survival.

Womb

The stage of development where Rogers believed the actualization tendency begins.

Organismic Valuing Process

The process of judging experiences based on their value for fostering or hindering growth.

Positive Value

The value assigned to experiences perceived as promoting actualization.

Negative Value

The value assigned to experiences perceived as undesirable or hindering growth.

The Experiential World

A frame of reference or context that influences growth, based on perception of the environment.

Experience

Described by Rogers as the "highest authority."

Phenomenology

The view that the only reality we can be certain of is our own subjective world of experience.

Subjective world of experience

Our inner perception of reality, which constitutes our only certain reality.

Self-Concept

The image of what we are, what we should be, and what we would like to be.

Differentiated experience

The process in childhood of distinguishing the self from external people, objects, and events.

Positive Regard

Includes acceptance, love, and approval from other people, notably the mother.

Universal and persistent

The primary characteristics of the need for positive regard.

Learned

The likely nature of the need for positive regard according to the transcript.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Approval granted regardless of whether a person’s behavior is desirable or undesirable.

Mother's love

In Unconditional Positive Regard, this is granted freely and fully, not dependent on behavior.

Positive Self-Regard

The condition under which we grant ourselves acceptance and approval.

Contentment with oneself

A definition of positive self-regard related to positive mental health.

Conditions of Worth

The belief that approval is only granted when expressing desirable behaviors and attitudes.

Conditional Positive Regard

When parents provide affection or approval only for specific non-annoying behaviors.

Incongruent

A state where the self-image is different from the ideal self with little overlap.

Congruent

A state where the self-image is similar to the ideal self, allowing for self-actualization.

Self-image

How we perceive ourselves, which overlaps with the ideal self in healthy people.

Ideal self

The image of what we would like to be.

Psychologically healthy people

Individuals who perceive themselves and the world as they really are.

The good life

The goal toward which a fully functioning person proceeds.

Aware of all experience

The first characteristic of a fully functioning person where no experience is distorted or denied.

Live fully and richly

The second characteristic involving participating in every moment rather than just observing.

Trust in their own organism

The third characteristic where individuals trust their own reactions over social codes.

Free to make choices

The fourth characteristic where one acts without constraints or inhibitions.

Create and live constructively

The fifth characteristic involving being flexible and seeking new challenges as conditions change.

Face difficulties

The sixth characteristic where life involves complexity, challenge, and continual testing.

State of Actualizing

The seventh characteristic where self-development is seen as constantly in progress.

"A direction, not a destination"

Rogers' quote describing the nature of being a fully functioning person.

Encounter Groups

A group therapy technique for learning about feelings and how people relate to one another.

Free will

A component of Rogers' view of human nature emphasizing personal choice.

Optimism

Rogers' perspective on human nature, emphasizing a positive outlook on growth.

Progressive

A view of human nature suggesting humans move forward and develop.

Biological aspects of being

The most basic level of potentials that the actualization tendency strives to develop.

Psychological aspects of being

The most sophisticated level of potentials reaching toward self-actualization.

Food, water, and safety

The basic requirements the actualization tendency serves to maintain survival.

Frame of reference

The context provided by our experiential world that influences growth.

Inner perception of reality

The core of phenomenology, emphasizing our personal view over objective reality.

Image of what we should be

A component of the self-concept reflecting societal or personal expectations.

Infancy

The developmental period when the need for positive regard is most notably satisfied by the mother.

Rewarding

The result of satisfying someone else's need for positive regard according to Rogers.

Desirable behaviors

Behaviors that are rewarded with approval under conditions of worth.

Undesirable behaviors

Behaviors that may lead to conditional positive regard or lack of affection.

Positive mental health

A state related to the development of positive self-regard.

Overlap

The degree of similarity between self-image and ideal self; more of this leads to congruence.

Internalize conditions of worth

What psychologically healthy children avoid doing because they received unconditional positive regard.

Deny or distort

Actions a fully functioning person does not take toward their perceptions.

Participated in fully

How a self-actualizing person engages with experiences rather than merely observing them.

Social code

External rules that fully functioning people do not let guide them over their own organism.

Constraints or inhibitions

External or internal limits that a fully functioning person feels free from when making choices.

Adaptive living

The ability to live constructively as environment conditions change.

Continually testing

The process involves in growing and using one's potential throughout life.

Self-development

A process that is always in progress for a fully functioning person.

Feelings and attitudes

The primary focus of exploration in Person-Centered Assessment.

Social nature

Rogers' view that humans are inherently social beings.

Emotional independence

A change Rogers felt globally after his trip to China in $1922$-era conference.

Delinquent children

Individuals whose treatment Rogers believed should focus more on self-attitude than external factors.

Fostering growth

The positive end of the Organismic Valuing Process spectrum.

Hindering growth

The negative end of the Organismic Valuing Process spectrum.

Broadening experiential world

The result of the actualization tendency leading an infant to grow and develop.

Universality of Positive Regard

The concept that the need for acceptance and love is found in all humans.

Persistent need

The description of the need for positive regard as something that does not go away.

Affection and love

The guides for infant behavior based on how much of these are bestowed by others.

Mutual satisfaction

The feedback loop where satisfying another's need for positive regard satisfies one's own.

Feel worthy under all conditions

A trait of psychologically healthy people who avoid conditions of worth.

All facets of the self

The multiple parts of being that a fully functioning person can develop and actualize.

Unpredicted experiences

Experiences that cannot be anticipated but are lived fully in the moment.

Intellectual judgments

Calculated thoughts that fully functioning people value less than their organismic trust.

Compelled behavior

Behaving only in one way, which a fully functioning person avoids feeling.

Continual growth

The ongoing process of using all of one's potential, creating complexity and challenge.