Humanistic psychology is a perspective that emphasizes looking at the whole person and the uniqueness of everyone. Humanistic psychology begins with the existential assumptions that people have free will and are motivated to achieve their potential and self-actualize. 2/28/2024 What is Humanism? 2
Person-Centered Therapy Rogers developed client-centered therapy (later re-named ‘person-centered’), a non-directive therapy, allowing clients to deal with what they considered important, at their own pace. 2/28/2024 3
Personality Development Central to Rogers’ personality theory is the notion of self or self-concept This is “the organized, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself.” Carl Rogers’ self-concept is a central theme in his humanistic theory of psychology. It encompasses an individual’s self-image (how they see themselves), self-esteem (how much value they place on themselves), and ideal self (the person they aspire to be). 2/28/2024 4
Carl Rogers Quotes 2/28/2024 5 The very essence of the creative is its novelty, and hence we have no standard by which to judge it. (Rogers, 1961, p. 351) The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction not a destination. (Rogers, 1967, p. 187)