Subject: Psychology Topic: Personality Development Name(s): Anthonette Anthony, Tisha Carrette, Onipha Tappin, Kendra Titus Teacher:

Sis Josiah Date: 27/06/2011

Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgement Introduction Carl Rogers Biography Theory How Humanistic Approach is used to explain personality development...................................................................................... Arguments for and against the Humanistic Approach Conclusions References .. .................

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Introduction
This project provides you with an overview of the development of the humanistic approach, the persons contributing to this theory, the pros and cons, its history and much more. The humanistic approach covers a broad range of topics and branches off from the personality development theory. Personality is defined in Wikipedia as a dynamic and organised set of characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations and behaviours in various situations. Humanistic Approach is the theoretical viewpoint on personality that generally emphasizes the inherent goodness of people, human potential, self actualization, the self concept and personality development.

Acknowledgements
First of all we would like to thank our all mighty father for giving us the strength and patience for completing this project, the makers of the psychology textbook, and the kind individuals at the library who helped us find the information needed for this assignment. We would also like to thank each other for putting the time and effort into the research for without each other the project would not have been possible. THANK YOU.

Carl Rogers Biography

Biography of Carl Rogers

Carl R. Rogers is known as the father of client-centered therapy. He dedicated himself to humanistic psychology and is well known for his theory of personality development. Dr. Carl Rogers was born on January 8, 1902, in Oak Park, Illinois. His father Walter A. Rogers was a civil engineer and his mother, Julia M. Cushing was a housewife and devout Pentecostal Christian. Carl was the fourth of their six children. Dr Rogers was very smart and could read well before kindergarten. Following an education in a strict religious vicarage of Jimpley and ethical environment as an altar boy, he became a very isolated, independent and

disciplined person, and acquired a knowledge and an appreciation for the scientific method in a practical world. His first career choice was agriculture, at the University of Wisconsin Madison, followed by history and then religion. At age 20, following his 1922 trip to Peking, China, for an international Christian conference, he started to doubt his religious convictions. To help him clarify his career choice, he attended a seminar entitled Why am I entering the Ministry? after which he decided to change his career. After two years he left the seminary to attend Teachers College, Columbia University, obtaining an MA in 1928 and a PhD in 1931. While completing his doctoral work, he engaged in child study. He began developing his humanistic concept while working with abused children. He claimed that psychoanalytic, experimental, and behavioral therapists were preventing their clients from ever reaching self- realization and self-growth due to their authoritive analysis. He argued that therapists should allow patients to discover the solution for themselves. This theory developed as a result of Rogers s frustration with authoritive analysis that therapists were imposing upon their patients. He is well known for his emphasis on personal awareness and allowing clients to have increasing flexibility in determining the treatment. Rogers believed that it was important for the individual to learn to understand himself and make independent choices that are significant in understanding the problem. He question the standard methodologies and procedures of psychology due to the fact that he obtained better results upon simply listening and allowing his patient to determine the rate of treatment. He received various awards and recognitions for his contributions to the world of psychology. He was given the Nicholas

Murray Butler Silver Medal from Columbia University in 1955, a special contribution award from the American Psychological Association in 1956 for his research in psychotherapy, a distinguished professional contribution award in 1972 from the American Psychological Association and a distinguished professional psychologist award from the Division of Psychotherapy. Throughout the rest of his career, he received numerous amounts of other prestige awards. Sadly, in 1987 Carl Rogers died of a heart attack in San Diego, California.

Theory

Overview of Carl Rogers s theory

Rogers s theory for personality development was known as client-centered therapy since the basis of the therapy was designed around the client. According to Rogers each person ahs within them the inherent tendency to continue to grow and develop. As a result of this the individual s self-esteem and selfactualization is continually influenced. This development can only be achieved through what Rogers refers to as unconditional positive regard. In order for an individual to experience total self-actualization the therapist must express complete acceptance of the patient. Rogers found that this was best achieved through the method of reflection , in which the therapist continually restates what the patient has said in an attempt to show complete acceptance and to allow the patient to recognize any negative feelings that they may be feeling. Throughout the counselling session the therapist may make small interruptive remarks in order to help identify certain factors. For the most part the patient is allowed to direct the course of the session.

Theorist who agreed and disagreed to the Humanistic Theory

Agree Freudian perspective, liked its focus on making one s present and future life more palatable, rather than dredging up painful memories of an unalterable past. They also liked the fact that the theory showed attention to mental health rather han mental disorder.

Disagree