BES3148 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY

CARL ROGERS

Phenomenological theory

biographical sketch
- The family members were self-reliant yet inwardly dependent upon one another
- With a strict upbringing and many chores he became rather isolated, independent
and self-disciplined
® Father = successful civil engineer
® Mother = housewife & devout Christian
- Although married, he spent much time in solitary pursuits, especially reading
adventure books
- Despite being an excellent student, he was never able to participate in
extracurricular activities with other students
- Developed a passionate interest in nature and adopted a scientific attitude toward
farming
- Became involved in religious activities
- Realized that the goal of helping distressed persons was one that the ministry and
mental health professions shared

view of human nature

- Roger’s phenomenological position: “what is real to an individual is that which exists
within the person’s internal frame of reference or subjective world, including everything
in his awareness at any point in time.”
- The “self” is based largely on the social evaluations he/she has experienced (self-concept)
- A phenomenological reality develops:
® A person’s private perception of reality (whether or not it agrees with objective
reality)
® Experience is the highest authority
® If you think you are not good-looking or smart, this is part of your self-concept
regardless of reality
® 3 perspectives of phenomenlogy = Theories of Personality, Research, and Gestalt
- Personality and behavior are largely a function of the person’s unique perception
- Rogers hypothesized that all behavior is energized and guided by a single unitary motive
which he called the actualizing tendency
BES3148 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
CARL ROGERS

® The tendency within all humans to move toward completion or fulfillment of

potentials
- All life experiences are evaluated in terms of how well they serve the actualizing
tendency
® This assumption is reflected in another term called organismic valuing process
® Experiences perceived as enhancing the self are sought after and assigned a
positive value, while those that hinder actualization of self are avoided and
assigned negative value

- Variously termed as: “non-directive”, “client-centered”, “person-centered”

- Non-directive = the client is the one to direct where the path is going in terms
of sharing, not the therapist
- Known for the technique that Rogerians are known for: reflection
- For example:
® “I feel like a shit.” (client)
® Reflection: “So, life’s getting you down, right?”

Self-concept
- Often reflects how we view ourselves in relation to the various roles we play in life
- Not only our perceptions of what we are like but also what we think we ought to be and
would like to be
a. Real self
- The aspect of your being that is founded in the actualizing tendency, follows organismic
valuing and receives positive self-regard.
b. Ideal self
- Reflects those attributes that the person would like to possess but currently does not have.
c. Fully functioning person
- A term used by Rogers to designate individuals who are using their capacities and talents,
realizing their potentials, and moving toward complete knowdge of themselves and their
full range of experiences
- Once a therapist feels you’re already a fully functioning person, they end the therapy

Take note

- When a gap exists between the real self and the ideal self, the “I am” and the “I should,”
incongruity occur
BES3148 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
CARL ROGERS

- All persons have a strong desire to be loved and accepted by others that matter to them =
need for positive regard
- When a person is accepted and respected for what he or she is without any ifs or buts, =
unconditional positive regard
® Hindi ka na nagttry ng malala para mahalin ka ng iba

- In order for a vulnerable or anxious people to grow psychologically, they must

come into contact with a therapist who is congruent and whom they perceive as
providing an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance and accurate empathy
- Rogers’ famous requirements of an effective therapist:
a. Congruence: genuineness, honesty with the client
b. Empathy: the ability to feel what the client feels
c. Respect: acceptance, unconditional positive regard for the client

Therapeutic Change
If the following conditions exist:
a. A vulnerable or anxious client
b. Contacts a counselor who
possesses
c. Congruence in the relationship
d. Unconditional positive regard for
client
e. Empathic understanding for the
client’s internal frame of
reference
f. The client perceives Conditions
3,4, and 5, the three necessary
and sufficient conditions for
therapeutic growth.
Then therapeutic change occurs and the
client will:
a. Become more congruent
b. Be less defensive
c. Become more open to experiences
d. Have a more realistic view of the world
e. Develop positive self-regard
f. Close the gap between ideal self & the
real self
g. Be less vulnerable to threat
h. Become less anxious
i. Take ownership of experiences
j. Become more accepting of others
k. Become more congruent in
relationships with others
BES3148 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
CARL ROGERS

Common to fully functioning people

1. Openness to experience
- The opposite of defensiveness
- If we cannot be open to feelings, we cannot be open to actualization
2. Existential Living
- The present is the only reality we have; living in the here-and-now
3. Organismic Trusting
- We should allow ourselves to be guided by the organismic valuing process
- This means learning to trust ourselves; do what feels right and what comes natural
4. Experiential Freedom
- Rogers believes that the fully-functioning person acknowledges the feelings of freedom
and takes responsibility for his choices
- If you have already accepted reality, how are you using your freedom?
5. Creativity
- If we are free and responsible, we will act accordingly
- This can be through creativity in the arts or sciences, through social concern and parental
love or simply by doing one’s best at one’s job

Take note

- Self-reliant = kaya mo support sarili mo