Carl Rogers – Humanistic Psychology
“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”
(Carl Rogers, 1961)
Overview
Carl Rogers was a key figure in the Humanistic
approach, which emerged as a response to the
determinism of psychoanalysis and behaviourism.
He believed that every person has an innate drive
towards personal growth and self-actualisation.
Key Concepts
The Self.
- Self-concept: The way we see ourselves (selfimage, self-worth, and ideal self).
- Rogers believed the self develops during
childhood and is influenced by interactions with
others.
- Psychological health is achieved when a person's
self-concept is positive and realistic.
Congruence
- Congruence refers to the match between an individual's self-concept and their ideal self.
- High congruence: Leads to higher self-worth and better psychological health.
- Incongruence: Occurs when there is a large gap between who we are and who we want to
be, which can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.
Conditions of Worth
- These are expectations or standards placed on us by others.
- When people receive love or approval conditionally, they may deny parts of themselves to
gain acceptance.
- This can lead to incongruence and a lack of self-acceptance.
- Rogers emphasised Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR): accepting someone without
judgement, no matter what.
Person-Centred Therapy (PCT)
Developed by Rogers to help individuals achieve congruence and personal growth. The
therapist provides:
- Empathy
- Genuineness
- Unconditional Positive Regard
This supportive environment allows clients to explore their true selves and move towards
self-actualisation.
Humanistic Assumptions
- People are active agents in their own development.
- Every individual is unique and should be treated as such.
- Emphasis on free will and personal responsibility.
Summary Table
Concept
Self-Concept
Congruence
Incongruence
Conditions of Worth
Unconditional Positive Regard
Meaning
How a person sees themselves (includes
self-worth and ideal self)
Match between self-concept and ideal self
Mismatch between how we see ourselves
and who we want to be
Standards we believe we must meet to be
valued or accepted
Acceptance without judgement
“When I accept myself just as I am, then I can change” – Carl Rogers