Carl Rogers: Development and Establishment of Individual Psychology

Considered as one of the founders of humanistic founders in psychology, Carl Rogers was born in 1902 in Illinois, Chicago. In his childhood and as a strictly religious altar boy, Rogers was an independent, isolated, but the much disciplined individual. Attending a conference in China on Christianity, Rogers developed doubts about his Christian faith. After changing his career and joining Union Theological Seminary, Rogers became a nonbeliever in Christian doctrines and faith. After attending Teachers College in Columbia, he was engaged in children to study upon which he penned "The Clinical Treatment of the Problem Child" in 1939. Working with troubled and challenged children shaped his psychological approach to Freudian approach. With many lectures to his name, Rogers wrote and applied his teachings based on humanistic psychology, which he pioneered with Abraham Maslow. Other books include "On Becoming a Person," Carl Rogers on Personal Power" and "Freedom to Learn for the 80's. Carl Rogers died in 1987 because of a fall in which he fractured his pelvis.

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Individual Psychology

Rogers described the development and establishment of individual psychology, as based on principles instead of stages. The development of individual psychology emanates from the enhancement of self-concept in which Rogers observed that conditional and unconditional aspects dictate on the personality progression. Rogers person-centered theory argues that in a given environment, personal potential including sociability, acceptance, trustworthy, curiosity, and creativity, all depend on the current circumstances of an individual. For example, according to Rogers people raised in settings with positive regard have the chance to actualize themselves. However, people born and raised in settings with positive regard feel valuable on condition that they match the situation, known as the status of worth, according to Rogers. Meaning that for a person to develop, they need to be in a situation that offers them a chance for self-disclosure, openness, acceptance, and empathy. He further maintained that a person could achieve their aspirations in life, meaning that, for success, some issues have to be met. Rogerss personality psychology centers on the self that is the presumed consistent opinions about oneself.

The Basic Nature of Human Beings

According to Rogers, the essential nature of human beings is the need to feel, behave, experience, in a way that is consistent with the self-image reflecting all that one would like to be or the ideal self. According to Rogers, the nature of human beings is reflected in the self-concept. Self-worth or self-esteem refers to how a person thinks of himself or herself and is a concept developed right from childhood. Self-image involves how an individual sees himself or herself, and it includes self-perception. On the other hand, ideal self-entails, how one would like to be consisting of individual objectives, goals, and is forever changing. For example, the typical self during adolescents differs from the ideal self in adulthood.

Feel of Inferiority and the striving of superiority

According to the person-centered approach, superiority feelings are achieved when the environment offers a positive regard to an individual and enhances self-worth. For example, a child raised and brought up in a positive atmosphere would develop feelings of importance, worthiness, a setting that improves the individual achievement of goals and attainment of psychological health. However, a negative and poorly set environment a sense of low self-worth that arises from the feeling of unworthiness, and unhappiness. According to Rogers, a low self-worth brings forth a feeling of shamefulness, lack of confidence, and reduced interactions. Rogers believed that individuals need to be regarded with respect, affection, love, and positive evaluation to improve their social interactions. The person-centered approach, therefore, emphasized on individual needs such as unconditional positive regard.

The structure of personality

The Human personality structure is therefore made up of many interconnecting concepts that range from environmental to personal inner factors. The development of the personality image, therefore, depends on many internal and external factors. The structure of personality can be summarized in Carl Rogers quote that emphasizes on life being a journey and not a particular state.

I believe I am bright, intelligent, good looking, and with good morals. I portray a positive image of an enterprising person with a strong affiliation to good adventurous lifestyle. I look forward to building on attributes to match my inner drive of high ambitions and desire to achieve my personal goals.