Carl Rogers Research Paper

Carl Rogers rejected the deterministic nature of both psychoanalysis and behaviorism. His theory implicates that humans behave they way that they do based on how we perceive a certain situation. As Rogers stated, “no one else can know how we perceive; we are the best experts on ourselves.” Carl Rogers believed that the one motive of humans was to self actualize; become the highest version of “human-beingness” possible. While this seems like a basic ideal in many psychotherapies, Rogers’ philosophy includes the idea that every person is supposed to develop differently based on their specific personality. Congruence is important in this actualization; people who are self actualizing have an “ideal self,” which is in line with their actual behavior.

Once these needs are met, it is important to use needs outside of the realm to motivate growth. This will help a person progress towards being a fully functional individual. All of these elements help an individual become fully functional. Alike a lot of his peers, Carl Rogers strived to reach satisfaction in life with his approach. Along with these elements, unconditional/conditional regard is another idea in which a fully functioning individual thrives. Conditional positive regard is the idea that love is given based on conditions; whereas unconditional love is love given without any conditions. Because conditional positive regard is received by most people, most individuals give up the ability to achieve their desired and true feelings, leading to incongruence within that individual. Abandoning desired and true feelings puts a limit of the fully functioning individual, based on Roger’s definition. Incongruence may also occur if experience is distorted in the self-image. Roger’s approach states that the self is composed three

Even the name of this approach creates a difference between approaches of the past; in the past the people who came to therapy were called patients, but in this approach they are known as clients. This idea created an idea of equal partnership within the therapeutic relationship, rather than an expert treating a patient. Within this approach, it is the job of the client to improve his or her own life, not the job of the therapist. The therapist is there more as a guide to finding one’s true self, rather than the person in the session who is to give all of the answers away. Because of this unique relationship in each situation, there is a lack of techniques to use within the therapeutic session. The relationship itself is the variable in the process, not what the therapist says or