Carl Rogers Theory of Personality

Carl Rogers Theory of Personality

Introduction to the Personality Theory of Carl Rogers

Twentieth Century psychologists Carl Rogers (1902-1987) was a founder of the Humanistic approach to human psychology (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2008). His theories were derivative of earlier phenomenological theorists and were predicated largely on the proposition that the natural state of every individual is to seek continual, life-long psychological development. However, whereas other schools of psychology defined the process of psychological growth in terms of chronological stages of development, Rogers suggested principles of self-actualization that were not linked directly to chronological age in the manner of some of his contemporaries in other schools of psychology (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2008; McWilliams, 2004).

Two of the most important elements of Rogers' contribution to the field of client-centered psychology are his nineteen fundamental propositions through which he defined the progressive psychological development of the individuals and his list of seven behavioral characteristics that define both the process and the specific stages of self-actualization (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007). Additionally, Rogers also introduced his concept of psychological congruity and incongruity in connection with the development of what other contemporary theorists refer to generally as genuine self-esteem. Rogers' concept of congruity vs. incongruity also explains the typical response of the individual to the failure to achieve genuine self-esteem (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007).

Rogers' Nineteen Fundamental Propositions

Rogers introduced the following nineteen propositions that summarize his main theory of the psychology of human personality (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007): (1) Every person exists in an ever-changing phenomenal field in which he or she is the center. (2) Every person perceives a reality based on his or her subjective experience of that phenomenal field. (3) Every person responds as an "organized whole" to his or her reality. (4) That perception of the individual's reality contributes directly to what becomes differentiated as the self of the individual. (5) The personality that develops is substantially a function of interactions with the external environment and the perceived responses of others. (6) Every person has a natural inclination to protect and actualize the perceived reality of the individual. (7) The idiosyncratic internal frame of reference of the individual always provides the best perspective for understanding human behavior. (8) The collective behavior of the individual represents the constant attempt to satisfy needs in relation to the idiosyncratic reality as it is experienced. (9) Emotions are generated by the perception of the individual of perceived responses of others and in proportion to their perceived significance. (10) The importance of values connected to experiences represents a mix of those internal values of the individual in combination with those absorbed from others but without conscious realization of their external origin. (11) Life experiences tend to be either symbolized, perceived in some relation to the self, ignored, or denied, based on their relation to the self-concept of the individual. (12) Generally, behavior represents a set of responses linked to the individual's concept of self. (13) Certain behaviors are generated by organic experiences and needs that have not been acknowledged and which are, therefore, not "owned" by the individual. (14) Psychological adjustment is a state in which the concept of the self fully integrates and assimilates experiences in a manner that is consistent with self-concept. (15) Psychological maladjustment occurs when there is no such integration and assimilation. (16) The individual has a natural tendency to perceive as a threat any experience that challenges integration and assimilation. (17) Sometimes, the individual can revise the self-concept to reconcile inconsistent external perceptions. (18) Achieving that reconcilement corresponds to better understanding and acceptance of others. (19) Individuals who successfully undergo significant reconcilement consciously revise their self-concept through the realization of the process of introjection (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007).

Rogers' Seven Behavioral Characteristics of the Fully Functioning Person

Rogers referred to the "fully functioning" person and suggested the following seven behavioral characteristics consistent with that goal (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007): (1) Openness to genuine experience without distortion. (2) A "foundation of trust" that permits living life fully and without distortion to comport with self-concept. (3) The ability to trust one's own perceptions, judgments, and analyses independently. (4) Perceived autonomous freedom of choice in connection with self-responsibility. (5) Increasing creativity that emanates from psychological autonomy and independence. (6) The ability to integrate impulses and external circumstances constructively and in a balanced manner. (7) The ability to perceive and live a "rich full life" in which the individual is fully capable of appreciating the positives, acknowledging and dealing appropriately with the negatives, and making the most positive contributions possible to his or her life as well as to the lives of others (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007).