Carl Rogers Born on January

Carl Rogers

Born on January 8, 1902 and dead on February 4, 1987, Carl Rogers was one of the most influential American psychologists. He founded, along with Abraham Maslow, the humanistic approach to psychology. He also developed a non-directive form of therapy which he initially termed Client-centered therapy but later on changed the name into person-centered approach (PCA) extending his theories to all people and proving they were not meant to concern only the relation between therapist and client.

Family background and career choice

He saw the light of day in Oak Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, in a strict religious and ethical environment; his parents were strict Protestants and tried to do their best to keep society from corrupting their children. His father was a civil engineer and his mother was a housewife and devout Christian; Rogers was the fourth of six children. When Carl was a teenager his family moved to a farm in Glen Ellen, Illinois. This is where his interest in the science of agriculture began to manifest itself. He decided to pursue a career in farming and therefore chose to go to college at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Later on, after college graduation, he married his girlfriend Helen, and they had a son and a daughter. He also remained faithful to his religious convictions and attended religious meetings. He decided to change his major to history instead of agriculture and become a priest after graduation. He applied to the Union Theological Seminary in New York City and in this context he also started taking psychology classes at the Teachers College of Columbia University. He later transferred completely (he left the seminary after 2 years) to the Teachers College and he later went on to pursue a career at Rochester, Ohio State University, the University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin, and the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute in California. He took his M.A. (1928) and his Ph.D. (1931) from Teachers College University (Rothman, M.).

Professional achievements

Since 1940 he engaged in an academic career by accepting a full professorship at Ohio State University. His major work was Client-Centered Therapy (1951) which also encompasses his theory.

He continued his academic career at the University of Wisconsin and then at the Western Behavioral Studies Institute, in LaJolla, California, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Contributions to Psychology

Apart from his implication in research, Rogers is well-known for his work in "client-centered" approach used in psychotherapy. He "believed that in order for a client/therapist relationship to develop the therapist must embody these characteristics unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence" (Rothmans, from Kirschenbaum, 2004). These elements are characteristic nowadays of therapeutic relationship in all therapeutic approaches, and their efficiency in therapy was proved by research. Rogers' theories are best known today as "humanistic psychology." Humanism appears as 'Third Force' of therapy views, along with the psychoanalytic and behavioral views. This perspective is focused on helping the individual help himself rather than on diagnosis. Rogers was more interested in helping the client achieve his full potential in life, process termed "self-actualization." Amy Demorest suggested concisely that in Carl Rogers' psychological theory "it is the individual's own actualizing tendency that brings order and meaning into a life, and thus understanding will only be found if we focus on the individual's subjective experience" (Demorest, 2005) and therefore Rogers' approach can be termed phenomenological. The client/person looks at the therapist for guidance, but they are the ones that engage and deal/learn in experiences. The experiences are vital for in such ways people learn autonomy and independence and do not become dependent on the therapist. Rogersians are best known for the technique called reflection of emotion by which the therapist shows his concern, understanding and acceptance of client.