Person-Centered Theory

Presented by:Mary Anne A. Portuguez, MP, RPm

Carl Rogers• “In a psychological climate which

is nurturant of growth and choice, I have never known an individual to choose the cruel or destructive path….it is cultural influences which are the major factor in our evil behaviors.”

Brief Biography• Carl grew up on a farm in Illinois, developing an

interest in biology & agriculture. • Expressing emotions was not allowed in the Rogers

household & it took its toll on Carl who developed an ulcer at 15.• Rogers went to the University of Wisconsin to study

agriculture in 1919.• Traveled to China and exposed to Eastern religion----

this is a turning point in his religious up-bringing.

Biography…• He finished his degree and left for Union Theological

Seminary in NY to become a minister.• 1926 left seminary to study psychology.• He gained recognition when he won the APA award for

distinguished scientific contribution in 1956.• In 1963, he moved to La Jolla, California. Developed the

Center for Studies of the Person.• He continued his scientific efforts, writing, holding

workshops, etc. until he died in 1987.

Basic Tenet

Rogers believed that humans are basically good. He argued that we have an innate drive to reach an optimal sense of

ourselves & satisfaction with our lives.

The Actualizing Tendency• We do not behave irrationally, as psychoanalysis

assumed--we move with ordered complexity toward our goals

• This tendency leads to complexity, independence, and social responsibility

• The motivation intrinsic to each person is basically good and healthy

Person-Centered Theory - The Actualizing Tendency• A person who pays attention to the organismic valuing process is self-

actualizing or fully functioning

• A person who is fully functioning has several characteristics: openness to experience, existential living, organismic trusting, experiential freedom, and creativity

Characteristics of a Fully Functioning Person

• 1. These people are open to their experiences. They strive to experience life to its fullest & are willing to take some risks.• 2. These people live in the present (here & now). • 3. These folks trust their own feelings & instincts. They aren’t held

back by old standards or concern for what others might think.• 4. These folks are less concern with social conventions.

Conditions of Worth & Unconditional Positive Regard

• Rogers argues that most of us grow up in an atmosphere where we are given love & support as long as we behave the way we are expected to.

• This is what he calls Conditional positive regard. The emphasis is that love is given conditionally (with a string attached).

If we don’t do what our parents want us to do?

• Rogers argued that in these cases, parents withhold their love from us. • As a result of this, children learn to abandon their true feelings,

wishes, & desires, for those of their parents.• This paves the way for us to become alienated from our true selves.

Unconditional positive regard

• We need this to accept all parts of our personality.

• With this we know we are loved & valued for being who we are.

• Parents can do this, by it clear that their love is not contingent on the child’s behavior (even when such behavior is abhored).

Conditions in Person-Centered Therapy• Direction comes from the client rather than from the

therapist’s insights, so referred to as nondirective therapy, later client-centered therapy• Empathy• Congruence/Genuineness• Unconditional Positive Regard