Ch. 9 Phenomenological Theories (also called
Humanistic Theories)
Phenomenal field - the unique way that a person perceives the world; the subjective experiences of an individual.
Humanistic - recognizes inherent human potential.
Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987)
Structure of personality self
B primarily conscious.
B self doesn = t exist at birth, but gradually develops
B ideal self
B actual self

Process actualization -
1.
Self-actualization fully functioning individual
$ open to their experiences
$ immerse themselves in the world.
$ They trust themselves.
$ willing to take risks
$ creative and flexible security.
$ represents a way of functioning , rather than a type of person . Way to live life.
2. Need for positive regard need for acceptance, love, and approval from others
$ unconditional positive regard
$ conditions of worth

3. Incongruence/congruence (self-consistency)
Incongruence
$ causes anxiety.
$ use defenses to reduce anxiety
$ level of emotional health is related to the amount of congruence
Defenses: deny or distort
In-class assignment:
Explain the relationship between conditional positive regard and conditions of worth in your own words. Explain why Rogers often considered conditions of worth to be bad/unhealthy.

Growth and Development
$ major developmental concern
$ emphasis on parent-child relationship
$ reflected appraisal
Coopersmith (1967)- looked at origins of selfesteem. Old study but still cited often as an influential work.
Three major factors:
1.
Degree of acceptance
2.
Permissiveness and punishment
3.
Recognized rights of children
Dweck & Leggett, 1988; Dweck, 1991, 1999
$ Entity (fixed) vs. incremental (malleable) traits.
$ performance goals
$ learning goals
$ child entity theorists: self-worth
$ child incremental theorists: self-worth

Assessment
How to measure the self-concept?
Q-sort technique: large set of items
A I am intelligent @
A I often feel guilty @
A I am an impulsive person.
@
A I am self-reliant @
A I am lazy.
@
A I am generally happy.
@
A I am mood.
@
A Makes friends easily @
$ sort the cards into piles of most like me, least like me and other gradations.
$ Sort further to make subtle differentiations.
$ Can compare ideal self to actual self

Psychopathology and Behavior Change
--Absence of congruity
B focus on conditions of worth
Therapy:
1.
Crucial condition: unconditional positive regard. This climate will allow person to remove defenses.
2.
Client-centered therapy
3.
Therapist must be a.
Empathic b.
Congruent c.
Unconditional positive regard
4.
Therapist is nondirective and nonevaluative.
Techniques:
1. clarification of feelings
2. restatement of content

Abraham Maslow (1908 - 1970) self-actualization need esteem needs belonging needs safety needs physiological needs
Peak experiences
Existentialism basic issue: life inevitably ends in death, which can come at any time.
Evaluation
1.
Recognizes uniqueness of individuals B subjective experience
2.
Generally optimistic and positive view of people
3.
Lack of precision which makes testing

hypotheses difficult.
4.
Is optimistic view arbitrary?
5.
Rogers tried to link clinical work, theory, and research closely.
6.
Focused on self, nature of self.

Research on the self/self-system
(additional section if time allows)
Self-concept - how people think about themselves
 content
 organization
Knowledge can be

Procedural

Declarative self-schemas:
Markus (1977, 1987) self-concept influences the way that people deal with info. about themselves and others.
$ schematic
$ aschematic
$

Self-schemas have effects on thoughts and behavior:
1.Process efficiently
2. Memory and recall working self-concept.
Which self-aspects are activated?
A. situational factors
1. depends on situation
2. distinctiveness
B. Self-focusing cues
$ private self
$ public self

Other important issues:
1.Clarity of self-concept
2.Self-certainty
3.Role of culture
4.ideal self vs. actual self
In-class assignment:
Overall, how would you describe discrepancy between your self-concept and your ideal self?
Do any of the gaps exist because you have had others = ideal imposed on you (e.g. Rogers = conditions of worth)?