Psychologist and psychotherapist Carl Rogers was born on this date in 1902. He is said to be the second most influential clinical psychologist of the 20th century after Sigmund Freud. Here are 10 facts about him:
- He was born in Oak Hill, Illinois and was the fourth of six children. His father was a civil engineer, and his mother was a housewife. He had a strict religious upbringing, and could read before he went to school.
- His middle name was Ransom.
- He had several changes of mind in regard to his future career. Since his family moved to the country when he was 12, he first thought he wanted to study agriculture, and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1919. Later, he decided he wanted to be a minister of religion and changed his major to history with the intention of studying theology afterwards. During his theological studies, however, he began to question his faith. Having taken a course on psychology, he decided to study that, instead.
- After receiving his PhD, Rogers worked in academia, holding positions at Ohio State University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin. It was during this time that Rogers developed his approach to therapy.
- What were some of his theories, then? Rogers believed that all people possess an inherent need to grow and achieve their potential. This need is one of the primary motives driving behaviour. The formation of a healthy self-concept is an ongoing process shaped by a person's life experiences, beginning in childhood and heavily influenced by the way they are parented. Unconditional love is key – children who feel that they have to “earn” their parents' love can end up feeling unworthy and lacking in self-esteem.
- Rogers developed the concept of “person-centred” therapy. A therapist’s client is the centre of their own universe and should be the driving force in their own therapy. Their therapist needs to show “unconditional positive regard” to the client, that is to accept them as they are and not judge or reproach them for expressing negative feelings.
- The goal is to become a fully functioning person. According to Rogers, fully functioning people have a number of traits, which include: living a full, rich life that involves the full spectrum of human emotions; being able to make choices and take responsibility for the choices they make; the ability to live in the moment; be open to new experiences and able to be creative and adaptable.
- He is said to have influenced the “flower power” movement of the 1960s and 70s, through a collection of essays he wrote, called Freedom to Learn. Supporters of an alternative society often referred to Roger's ideas in their literature.
- Rogers was nominate for a Nobel Peace Prize for some of his later work with the Carl Rogers Peace Project. He and his colleagues conducted experiments in cross cultural communication and peacemaking; he helped unite Catholics and Protestants in Ireland and fought to end apartheid in South Africa. When he was 85, he went to the Soviet Union, where he lectured and facilitated workshops fostering communication and creativity. He was astonished at the numbers of people there who knew about his work.
- He died in February 1987 at the age of 85.
See also Carl Rogers quotes.
New Year New Reading Challenge?
I can help. Here are links to books which meet potential criteria:
A title with three words
- Death and Faxes
- Killing Me Softly
- Settling the Score
- Secrets and Skies
- Over the Rainbow
- Closing the Circle
A title with six words
A book with a number in the title
A book with a colour in the title
Short story collections/A book with a green cover
A book published in the last year/during lockdown
A book you can finish in a day/A book under 200 pages
A book featuring characters from a deck of cards
A Book set during Christmas
A book with a place in the title
A Debut novel
A book with a plant or flower on the cover/A book about siblings
A book with a female villain or criminal
Includes space travel
Features Royalty
Books featuring skiing or snowboarding
A book with the Olympic games in it
A book with a bird in the title
A book featuring a secret society
A book featuring time travel/alternative dimensions
Raiders Trilogy:
Books featuring superheroes
Books featuring ghosts
From an Indie Publisher/Self published/An author you've not read before/A female author/A genre you wouldn't normally read/A book outside your comfort zone/A book by an author with your initials and your initials are JH
All of them!
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