WHAT MAKES THEORY USEFUL?

FALSIFIABLE - The main premises of the person-centered theory can be supported or rejected by empirical research, making it
a falsifiable framework that can be subjected to careful examination and analysis.
ORGANIZE DATA - Person-centered theory fosters a greater knowledge of people and their circumstances through an all-
inclusive approach, enabling academics and researchers to organize data in a way that is true and reflective of the variety of
people.
GUIDES ACTION - Students are given a realistic framework by Rogers' person-centered theory that can inspire compassionate
actions and improve their capacity to assist and support others.
INTERNALLY CONSISTENT - In order to ensure a thorough and integrated approach to treatment, Rogers' person-centered
theory consistently aligns its concepts and procedures. This promotes positive development and helps the client's journey towards
self-actualization.
PARSIMONIOUS - Rogers' person-centered theory is a parsimonious and widely accepted approach in the field of psychology
because of how clear and straightforward it is.

DIMENSIONS FOR A CONCEPT OF HUMANITY

FREE CHOICE - Rogers held that people are more likely to make decisions that are in line with their real selves and, as a result,
experience greater fulfillment and psychological well-being when they are free to explore their own potential. As a result, Rogers'
Person-Centered Theory encourages the idea that people have the freedom to select the routes that will lead to their own self-
actualization.
DETERMINISM - The complex interplay between a person's personal experiences and the actions that come from them is
explained by Roger's person-centered theory, giving light on the deterministic elements influencing human development.

SUMMARY DISCUSSION

Person-centered theory, commonly referred to as client-centered treatment, is a humanistic method of psychology and
psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers. The significance of the person's subjective experience as well as their capacity for self-
awareness and self-direction are emphasized.

FORMATIVE TENDENCY - The formative tendency in Carl Rogers' person-centered theory refers to people's natural desire to
advance and change. Rogers contends that people have an inherent desire to realize their individual potential and improve upon
themselves. This early-life tendency is based on the idea that people have innate wisdom and self-awareness that can lead them to
personal development and fulfillment. (DI KO SURE)

ACTUALIZING TENDENCY - According to this belief, everyone has a natural desire to realize their maximum potential and
improve upon themselves. According to Rogers, everyone has an innate desire to achieve self-actualization, and with the right
circumstances and assistance, everyone may mature and develop into their true selves.

THE SELF AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION - According to Rogers, the self is a constantly shifting and complicated
combination of beliefs, values, and experiences that a person perceives to be who they genuinely are. On the other hand, the
process of pursuing personal development and fully realizing one's potential is known as self-actualization.

THE SELF-CONCEPT - Three components define a person's self-concept: one's self-image, or how they view themselves; one's
self-esteem, or how much they value themselves; and one's ideal self, or the person they hope to become. According to Rogers,
psychological distress results from a lack of congruence between an individual's self-concept and their real experiences. In order
to preserve a healthy self-concept, it is essential for people to have high self-esteem and to be accepted and understood by others.

LEVELS OF AWARENESS - Individuals have preconscious, conscious, and unconscious degrees of awareness, in accordance
with Rogers. Preconscious thoughts and feelings are those that are just below the level of consciousness and are reachable with a
little effort. Our immediate knowledge of ideas, feelings, and experiences is referred to as the conscious level. Last but not least,
the unconscious level houses memories, aspirations, and thoughts that are not conscious.

DENIAL OF POSITIVE EXPERIENCES - According to Rogers, people frequently try to shield themselves from perceived
dangers to their self-concept by denying favorable events. This denial is a result of a fear of being exposed and the probable loss
of control that might follow. In essence, people may downplay pleasant events to preserve their sense of security and to support
their preexisting self-perceptions. However, people can promote personal growth and expand their self-concept in a more
meaningful and gratifying way by welcoming pleasant experiences and moving outside of their comfort zone.

BECOMING A PERSON - Aligning one's self-concept with their actual experiences and feelings, in Rogers' view, is a lifelong
process that leads to complete human functioning. This calls for introspection, acceptance of oneself, and sincere connections
with others. People can grow into their real selves and build a congruent sense of self through nurturing an environment of
acceptance, empathy, and understanding.

CONDITIONS OF WORTH - According to Carl Rogers' idea, "conditions of worth" are restrictions or demands placed on a
person by others that prevent them from receiving unqualified positive attention and obstruct their effort for self-actualization.
These requirements determine a person's worthiness based on particular behaviors or accomplishments, and are frequently
imposed by significant individuals like parents or society.

INCONGRUENCE – When an individual's self-concept and their actual experiences or behaviors fall at conflict, according to
Rogers, incongruence develops. As a result of this incongruence, people may experience psychological distress and turn to self-
defeating behaviors like denial or knowledge distortion. According to Rogers, incongruence can be resolved through a therapy
procedure that includes congruence from the therapist, unconditional positive regard, and sympathetic understanding.

VULNERABILITY - This approach recognizes that vulnerability can be influenced by societal, environmental, and psychological
factors in addition to personal traits and features.

ANXIETY AND THREAT - According to Rogers, anxiety develops when people are exposed to circumstances that threaten
their sense of self or reveal discrepancies between their perspective of themselves and the world around them. Rogers claimed
that humans have an intrinsic propensity to look for congruence between their perceived selves and their real experiences through
the concept of the "organic valuing process." Anxiety manifests itself as a signal for people to address risks or inconsistencies and
work toward self-actualization.

DEFENSIVENESS - A psychological strategy known as defensiveness keeps people from acknowledging and accepting their
genuine feelings, thoughts, and experiences. People often build walls and become defensive when they feel threatened or judged,
which hinders their ability to grow personally and build relationships with others. This protective conduct can take many different
forms, such as withholding or misrepresenting facts, blaming others, or avoiding awkward circumstances. By comprehending and
identifying our defensiveness, we may work to create a welcoming and uncritical atmosphere that promotes healthy relationships
and true self-expression.

DISORGANIZATION - Rogers claims that disorganization happens when there is an imbalance between the authentic self and
the ideal self, which causes emotions of insecurity and conflict. This disorderly state prevents development and self-actualization.
In order to fight the disarray, Rogers thought it was crucial to provide a supportive, judgment-free environment that encourages
self-exploration and self-acceptance.

PSYCHOTHERAPY - According to Carl Rogers' philosophy of psychotherapy, the goal of treatment is to give clients a safe space
to explore their innermost feelings and thoughts. This method, often referred to as person-centered therapy, places a strong
emphasis on the value of the therapist's empathy, unconditional positive regard, and sincerity. Making a comfortable environment
allows clients to openly express themselves and comprehend their experiences better, which promotes personal development and
self-actualization.

COUSELOR CONGRUENCE - The ability of the counselor to be genuine, honest, and transparent in the therapeutic
relationship is referred to as counselor congruence. This promotes trust between the counselor and client and enables genuine
interactions. When the counselor's inner thoughts, feelings, and attitudes match their outward behaviors and expressions toward
the client, congruence has been accomplished. Counselors can foster a secure and accepting environment that fosters client
growth and self-acceptance by modeling congruence. Overall, counselor congruence is essential to providing clients with good
counseling because it fosters deep connections and helps clients change for the better.

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARD - The ability of the therapist to completely embrace and not judge their clients,
regardless of whatever actions or behaviors they display, is referred to as unconditional positive regard. This idea is based on the
idea that people are more likely to acquire a feeling of self-worth and discover their actual potential when they are given an
environment of unconditional acceptance. Therapists can help their clients experience good change and personal growth by
taking an empathic and sincere approach.

EMPHATIC LISTENING - It is an advanced strategy for comprehending and relating to others. By completely adopting the
speaker's viewpoint, this technique encourages the development of a sincere sense of empathy and respect for their experiences.
People can experience the transforming impact of effective communication through empathic listening, strengthening
relationships and promoting personal development. Rogers' theory illuminates the way to more meaningful relationships and
understanding between people by providing insightful information about the significance of compassion and empathy in our
interactions.

STAGES OF THERAPEUTIC CHANGE - The client's recognition of the need for change, when they become aware of their
internal conflicts and sense the need to enhance their well-being, is said to be the first stage, according to Rogers. Establishing a
trusting and compassionate rapport with the therapist is necessary for the second stage, which allows the patient to freely
communicate their thoughts and feelings without worrying about being judged. The third stage is where the client starts to
examine their emotions and develop their self-concept by investigating their values, beliefs, and behaviors. In Stage 4, people start
to recognize their true feelings, ideas, and experiences as well as their underlying goals and aspirations. They start to embrace and
express who they really are, which strengthens their sense of identity and worth. In stage 5, the client's perspective changes as they
open up to new options and viewpoints, challenging their earlier ideas and presumptions. They are urged to embrace change and
explore various facets of their personalities throughout this stage. In Stage 6, people become more self-reliant and rely less on
outside approval. They develop greater self-direction, defining goals and making choices based on their own interests and values
as opposed to those of others. Clients reach a profound level of personal development and self-acceptance in Stage 7. They grow
to have a strong feeling of congruence and live according to their own principles. These phases reflect the transformational
process that patients go through in treatment, which ultimately results in increased self-awareness and self-actualization.
THEORETICAL EXPLANATION FOR THERAPEUTIC CHANGE - Congruence, unconditional positive regard, and
sympathetic understanding are a few of the characteristics that must be present for therapeutic transformation to occur. These
circumstances produce a therapeutic setting that encourages self-discovery and personal development. The client is able to begin
on a path of self-discovery and take control of their own personal experiences after feeling welcomed and understood, which
results in positive therapeutic change. Through this theoretical framework, Rogers highlights the significance of a therapy
connection that is non-judgmental and empathic in promoting self-actualization and personal development.

SELF DISCREPANCY THEORY - The self-discrepancy theory, created by renowned psychologist Carl Rogers, is a framework
that examines the discrepancies and disconnects between a person's true self, ideal self, and required self. According to Rogers,
people try to keep their numerous self-perceptions in line with one another, and any inconsistencies can have detrimental
psychological effects. The notion of the "ought self" refers to the qualities and characteristics that a person believes they ought to
have in order to live up to societal norms and expectations. The "actual self" refers to how a person currently perceives
themselves. Feelings of fear, low self-esteem, and inadequacy might be brought on by these disparities in the self-perceptions.
According to Rogers, people work to lessen these differences via self-acceptance, greater knowledge, and personal development.

MOTIVATION AND PURSUING ONE’S GOAL - In conclusion, self-determination is critical to achieving personal growth
and realizing one's potential, according to Rogers' theory of motivation and goal-setting. Rogers contends that people are
compelled to fulfill their intrinsic desire for self-actualization, which entails becoming their most genuine and true selves. An
individual must be able to reconcile their self-concept with their experiences without interference from outside influences or
standards of value for this process to be successful. In order to encourage people to follow their goals, Rogers also emphasizes the
necessity of a supportive and empathic environment where people feel appreciated, understood, and respected. Rogers' theory
emphasizes the importance of self-motivation, authenticity, and a supportive environment in helping people achieve their goals
and find personal fulfillment.