Rogers

Carl Ransom Rogers (January 8, 1902 – February 4, 1987) was an influential American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology. He is widely considered one of the founding figures of psychotherapy research and was honored for his pioneering research with the Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions by the American Psychological Association in 1956.

Early Life and Education

Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He was the fourth of six children. His father was a civil engineer and his mother was a homemaker and devout Christian. Rogers was educated in a strict religious and ethical environment.

He initially enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to study agriculture, but later switched to history and then to religion. After attending a 1922 Christian conference in China, he began to question his religious beliefs and decided to pursue a career in psychology.

Rogers earned his Master's degree in 1928 and a Ph.D. in 1931 from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Career

Rogers began his career working with children at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in Rochester, New York. In 1940, he became a professor of clinical psychology at Ohio State University, where he wrote his first book, Counseling and Psychotherapy (1942).

In 1945, he was invited to set up a counseling center at the University of Chicago, where he developed his client-centered approach. His book Client-Centered Therapy (1951) outlined his theory.

Rogers taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1957 to 1963, during which time he wrote On Becoming a Person (1961).

Contributions to Psychology

Rogers is best known for his contributions to humanistic psychology and his development of client-centered therapy, also known as person-centered therapy. This approach emphasizes the importance of the individual's subjective experience and the innate drive towards self-actualization.

Rogers believed that for a person to "grow," they need an environment that provides them with genuineness, acceptance, and empathy.

Legacy

Rogers' work has had a significant impact on both psychology and education. His ideas have influenced the development of counseling, psychotherapy, and education.

See Also

• Humanistic psychology
• Client-centered therapy
• Self-actualization
• American Psychological Association

References

• Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications, and Theory. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
• Rogers, C. R. (1961). On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

External Links

• Carl Rogers Institute