Rosemarie Rizzo Parse's

Theory of Human
Becoming
 Graduated: Duquenese University, Pittsburgh
-MSN and PhD at University of Pittsburgh
Published her theory Man-Living-Health in 1981
1992: changed theory name to Theory of Human
Becoming
> The theory guided nurses in their practice to focus on
quality of life
> The theorypresents an alternative to both the conventional
biomedical approach and the bio-psycho-social-spiritual (but
still normative) approach of most other theories of nursing
Theory Development
Developed as a human science nursing
01 theory in the tradition of Dilthey,
Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, and
02
Gadamer and Science of Unitary
Human Beings by Martha Rogers.
The assumptions underpinning the
theory were synthesized from works
by the European philosophers,
Heidegger, Sartre, and Merleau-Ponty,
along with works by the pioneer
American nurse theorist, Martha
Rogers.

The theory is structured around

03 three abiding themes: meaning,
rhythmicity, and
Assumptions of the Theory
About Man

The human is coexisting while co-

constituting rhythmical patterns with
the universe.
The human is open, freely choosing
meaning in the situation, bearing
responsibility for decisions.
The human is unitary, continuously co-
constituting patterns of relating.
The human is transcending multi-
dimensionally with the possible
Assumptions of the Theory
About Becoming

Becoming is unitary human-living-

health.
Becoming is a rhythmically co-
constituting human-universe process.
Becoming is the human’s pattern of
relating value priorities.
Becoming is an intersubjective process
of transcending with the possible.
Becoming is unitary human’s emerging
Symbol of Human Becoming Theory

Black and White Center Joined

opposite paradox significant to co-created mutual human universe
ontology of human becoming and process at the ontological level &
green is hope nurse-person process
Symbol of Human Becoming Theory

Green and Black Swirls Intertwining

human-universe co creation as an ongoing
process of becoming
 Relationships of the
Different Shapes in the
Model
Powering
a way of revealing and concealing
imaging

Originating
a manifestation of enabling and
limiting valuing

Transforming
results from languaging of
connecting and separating
Summary of the Theory
Human Becoming Theory includes
Totality Paradigm
Man is a combination of biological,
psychological, sociological and
spiritual factors

Simultaneity Paradigm
Man is a unitary being in
continuous, mutual interaction
with environment

Originally Man-Living-Health
Theory
 Major Concepts and Definitions
Structuring Languaging

It is the way individuals see the world. It is how persons symbolize and express
How they visualize (imaging) it is their their imagined reality and their value
reality characteristics

Co-creating Revealing-Concealing

It is the person’s creation of patterns in

It is the way individuals disclose and keep
daily life activities that describe the
hidden the persons they are becoming.
person’s personal meanings and values.

 Major Concepts and Definitions

Enabling-Limiting Connecting

These are the freedoms and

Separating is the way a person creates
opportunities that become observable in
patterns of connecting and separating
the event of restrictions and obstacles
with people.
of everyday living.

Co-transcending Powering

Describes persons as always engaging with and
choosing from an infinite number of possibilities
about “how to be a person, what attitude or
approach to have, who to relate with, and what
interests or concerns to be bothered with”
It is the capacity to act and live with
purpose among possibilities for affirming
and holding what is cherished and at the
same time, living with loss and the risk of
death and rejection.

 Major Concepts and Definitions

Originating Transforming

Describes people’s tendency to be someone Reflects the purposive, deliberate

else while maintaining their own uniqueness. It change and the shifting views of persons
is becoming like someone else but wanting to about their lives
be different.

Application to Nursing
Nursing Practice
Administration & Leadership
A transformative approach to all levels of
nursing
Differs from the traditional nursing process,
particularly in that it does not seek to “fix”
problems
Ability to see patient’s perspective allows
nurse to “be with” patient and guide them
toward desired health outcomes
Nurse-person relationship co-creates
changing health patterns
Application to Nursing
Nursing Reasearch

Enhances understanding of human lived

experience, health, quality of life and
quality of nursing practice
Expands the theory of human becoming
Builds new nursing knowledge about
universal lived experiences which may
ultimately contribute to health and
quality of life