Carl Rogers Rogers' Humanistic Psychology

Carl Rogers Rogers' Humanistic Psychology and Coping With Death The human life cycle is marked by periods of great joy and advancement, but must also be impacted by tragedy, sadness and loss. The death of a loved one, particularly the loss of a husband or child to a wife or mother, will significantly alter the terms of one's life. The convergence of the overwhelming practical implications of this change and the devastating emotional impact will create a set of conditions with which the mourner must find ways to cope.

In spite of its occasional vulnerability to empirical scrutiny, psychologist Carl Rogers points to the humanistic philosophy as essential to helping one develop the emotional tools to cope with a loss with both practical and emotional consequences. In one regard, the work and influence of Carl Rogers have been cast into some criticism, with the high level of ego-orientation that tends to permeate modern American culture drawing connections to his humanistic philosophy.

The emphases on individualism and personal gratification as functions of healthy psychosocial orientation can often have adverse consequences that impact the disposition and expectations manifested by individuals. According to Fuller (1982), "humanistic psychology is often caricatured as having both aided and abetted the rise of modern narcissism." (p. 21) However, this is a perspective, Fuller indicates, that is inappropriately applies to discussions on Rogers.

Fuller suggests that rather than viewing the rise individualism as a justification for greater narcissism, it is more suitable to perceive this as a path to greater spiritual equanimity. Particularly in the face of psychic, social or emotional crisis -- death being classifiable as all three -- the humanistic approach is among the most appropriate paths to helping one grieve healthfully as well as come to terms with the nature of a tremendous personal loss.

This can help to provide individuals with the capacity to retain some control over their emotional, personal and professional lives as the loss turns into a state of normalcy. Here, we differentiate between the imposition of undue ego orientation and the achievement of meaningful self-actualization. For the woman suffering from the loss of her husband, for instance, the ability to achieve this can be tantamount to finding ways of living independently and maintaining perspective in the absence of a key part of one's emotional support system.

As the text by Cherry (2008) indicates, "humanistic psychology was instead focused on each individual's potential and stressed the importance of growth and self-actualization. The fundamental belief of humanistic psychology was that people are innately good, with mental and social problems resulting from deviations from this natural tendency." (p. 1) Certainly, the traumatic experience of losing a loved one qualifies as just such a deviating problem. The Rogers model for psychoanalytical treatment maintains a certain level of subjectivity that offends the empirical sense of authority often emergent from the field.