Roger’s Theory on Growth and Development
- Rodger’s did not do his own research but based has theory based on other people’s research
- Believes growth force is in all individuals and phenomenal field
- Self becomes separate part of phenomenal field and grow autonomous
- As the self emerges the individual develops a need for positive regard and if the need for
positive regard becomes more important than your own feelings than you will be in a state of
incongruence
- Individual’s have a need for positive regard but if that approval seeking is greater than our own
feelings we would be in incongruence
- Child grows best in an environment where the child can experience fully, accept him or herself,
feel accepted by parents even if parents disapprove of certain types of behavior
oFocus should be on behavior not the person
oEx. I feel ______ you ________ ( conflict resolution)
oModeling behavior
oEx. PJ’s in the schoolyard
Therapeutic Conditions Necessary for Change
1. Congruence – therapists are genuine, their open with the clients, their transparent, and their
themselves
a. Person to person therapy
2. Unconditional positive regard – therapist has a deep caring for the person, non-judgmental,
non-threatening, allows client to explore inner selves
3. Empathetic understanding – perceiving experiences of the clients, moment by moment, “being
with”, use active listening
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- Physiological Needs
oFood, shelter, basic needs, sleep
- Safety Needs
oFeel safe in environment
- Belonging Needs
oFeel like you connect and share loving relationships with people
- Esteem Needs
oAm I contributing? Everyday worth something?
- Self-Actualization
oAble to respond to people based on uniqueness of situation, they accept themselves
and others, able to form healthy intimate relationships, resist conformity, assert
themselves, and be spontaneous and creative
Conflict, Anxiety, Defense According to Freud and Rogers
Freud – Defense Mechanisms to deal with anxiety buil up
-purpose human beings way of distorting reality so you can handle anxiety
- Projection: attribute our own acceptable motives or characteristic to other ppl. Internal threats we
have are projected into external threats.
Ex. Cheating gf and blaming bf
- Rationalization – using contrived explanation to conceal real or unworthy motives of ones
behavior
