The Humanistic Psychology of Carl Rogers

Abstract Carl Rogers was one of the most influential psychologists of all time, but surprisingly, also one of the most misunderstood. His ideas are often diluted and misrepresented. This book provides an in-depth understanding of Rogers’s approach and its contemporary significance. In the history of psychology, Rogers developed the first ever research program to investigate the effectiveness of psychotherapy. Out of his research and clinical observations he developed client-centered therapy—the first evidence-based psychotherapy. This challenged the medicalization of human distress instead offering a social psychological alternative. He talked about fully functioning decades before positive psychology was developed and hypothesized that human relationships, rather than techniques, are necessary and sufficient in therapy for constructive personality change to take place. Rogers went on to develop his thinking beyond therapy into what became known as the person-centered approach, applying his ideas to business, conflict resolution, education, and management—all contexts in which human relationships matter. He called it a “quiet revolution,” realizing that what he had developed was a way of being in the world and with other people that challenged hierarchical structures of power and control. He sparked a revolution in practice that is still relevant today.