Foreign thinker
Carl Rogers
Carl RogersHumanistic psychology and psychotherapyAmerican1902–1987
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
In their times
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Life and Thought
Carl Rogers was an American psychologist and one of the founders of humanistic psychology. He became widely known for his client-centered therapy and his emphasis on empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness in the therapeutic relationship. He played an important role in shifting psychotherapy from a sole focus on pathology toward personal growth, self-understanding, and human flourishing.
Carl Rogers was born in 1902 in Oak Park, Illinois, USA. He initially studied agriculture and later history and religion at the University of Wisconsin before turning to psychology and counseling. He received his doctorate from Columbia University and began his professional career in clinical psychology and child counseling.
Rogers was one of the central figures of the twentieth-century humanistic psychology movement. He developed theories of the self and argued that human beings possess an inner tendency toward growth and the realization of their capacities.
His most important contribution to psychotherapy was the client-centered, or person-centered, approach. He argued that an effective therapeutic relationship requires empathy, unconditional positive acceptance, and authenticity from the therapist. His ideas influenced psychotherapy, education, human communication, and theories of personal development.
Among his major works are Client-Centered Therapy, On Becoming a Person, and A Way of Being. Rogers continued educational, research, and peace-oriented activities in his later years and died in 1987.