The humanistic explanation of the self- Rodger's theory

Question 1

The humanistic approach

Answer 1

Individual experiences and interpretations about what is going on around them is important. People have freewill and can change. An optimistic approach, seeing people as good with an inbuilt need to make things better. Self-actualisation is a goal for each individual

Question 2

Rodgers’ humanistic theory of the development of self and self-esteem

Answer 2

Rodgers believed that humans are good by nature and that all aim for personal growth to reach self-actualisation. He suggested that to become the best we can be, we must have a positive self-concept and be in a state of congruence. He believed that childhood is where we develop our self-esteem, which comes from other people’s judgement

Question 3

Unconditional positive regard

Answer 3

Valuing someone for who they are with no conditions attached. This is the way to improve someone’s self-image and esteem as people can still make mistakes and be valued.

Question 4

Conditional positive regard

Answer 4

Being valued but only according to certain conditions which lowers someone self-esteem. For example, parents may only love their child if they behave well

Question 5

Congruence and incongruence

Answer 5

Rodgers felt that someone cannot work towards self-actualisation if they are incongruent as their self-image and ideal self do not match. A counsellor can help make a self-image more realistic or more ambitious depending on self-esteem. One way to achieve congruence is to tackle their self-worth

Question 6

Conditions of worth

Answer 6

Someone may have learned that to be worthy, they must fulfil certain conditions placed on them by others. People can feel like they are never good enough which can lead to incongruence and not being able to achieve self-actualisation. To achieve congruence, they need to have their worth shown to them so that they believe in it.

Question 7

Strengths of Rodgers’ theory

Answer 7

It is a positive view and focuses on the individual. This can be used to help someone move to a better mental health
It has practical applications. Counsellors give unconditional positive regard in a wide range of therapies

Question 8

Weaknesses of Rodgers’ theory

Answer 8

Rodgers’ concepts are hard to measure making his research evidence less scientific
It is only useful in certain situations e.g., when a person has low self-esteem. Not generalisable