Module 8.1 - Carl Rogers: Person-Centered Theory

Carl Rogers

a psychotherapist who is widely recognized for his therapeutic approach, and later on developed a humanistic theory of personality

client-centered therapy

this term is used to describe Roger's therapeutic approach

person-centered theory

a personality theory proposed by Carl Rogers

if-then framework

Roger used this standard of a well-defined theory on developing his own

Formative Tendency

Actualizing Tendency

person-centered theory basic assumptions

formative tendency

the tendency of all mater to evolve in simpler to more complex forms

creative process

according to rogers, how does the entire universe operate rather than just a disintegrative process?

Actualizing Tendency

the tendency of living matters to move toward completion and fulfillment of potential

actualization

it is the only motive that a human possess according to rogers

maintenance

enhancement

what are the subsets of actualizing tendency?

maintenance

- basic needs such as food, air, and safety

- the tendency to resist change and to seek the status quo

lowers steps in Maslow's hierarchy of needs

a humanistic concept that is similar to Maintenance of Rogers

enhancement

- people are willing to learn and change

- the tendency to become more, develop, and achieve growth

creative power

a power that one has to to solve problems, to alter their self-concepts, and to become increasingly self-directed

people perceive experience as their reality

How do people perceive their experience?

because people know their reality better than anyone

why do humans need not to be directed, controlled, exhorted, or manipulated in order to spur them toward actualization?

congruent or authentic, and demonstrates empathy and unconditional positive regard

(congruence, empathy, unconditional positive regard)

people must be involved in a relationship whose partner meets these three conditions for actualization tendency

psychological growth

it will occur if the three conditions are present in a relationship

necessary and sufficient

rogers rregarded these three conditions as both __________ and ____________ conditions for becoming a fully functioning or self-actualizing person

self-actualization

it is the primary tendency of the organism to maintain, actualize and enhance itself

self-concept and ideal self

what are the subsets of self-actualization?

self-concept

It includes all those aspects of one's being and one's experiences that are perceived in awareness (though not always accurately) by the individual.

ideal self

one's view of self as one wishes to be.

ideal self

it contains all those attributes, usually positive, that people aspire to possess.

incongruent and unhealthy

personality that a wide gap between the ideal self and the self-concept indicates

Psychologically healthy people

they perceive little discrepancy between their self-concept and what they ideally would like to be

contact

minimum experience necessary for becoming a person

positive regard

the person develops a need to be loved, liked, or accepted by another person.

positive self-regard

defined as the experience of prizing or valuing one's self.

Receiving positive regard from others

it is necessary for positive self-regard

unconditional positive regard

The need to be liked, prized, or accepted by another person without any conditions or qualifications.

conditions of worth

incongruence

defensiveness

disorganization

what are the barriers to psychological health according to rogers?

conditions of worth

- If we perceive that some of our behaviors are approved and some are disapproved

- if we feel we are regarded only under certain circumstances

external evaluations

it is our perceptions of how other people view us

incongruence

It is when the self-concept that emerges includes vague perceptions that are not in harmony with our organismic experiences

discrepant and inconsistent

a behavior that is a result of incongruence of perceived self and organismic experience

vulnerability

it is when people are unaware of the discrepancy between their organismic self and their significant experience

anxiety and threat

they are experienced when we gain awareness of incongruence

anxiety

A state of uneasiness or tension whose cause is unknown (experienced when we are DIMLY aware of the incongruence)

threat

an awareness that our self is no longer whole or congruent (experienced when we are FULLY aware of the incongruence)

defensiveness

- it is the protection of the self-concept against anxiety and threat

- it prevents discrepancy between our organismic experience and our perceived self

denial and distortion

the two chief defenses that keeps our perception of our organismic experiences consistent with self-concept

denial

refusing to perceive an experience in awareness

distortion

misinterpretation of experience or not truly understanding its meaning

disorganization

- it happens when our defensive behavior fail

- it is the point which the incongruence manifests as confusing or psychotic behavior after failing to distort or deny them