Chapter 10 Rogers: Person-Centered Theory 295Rogers originally saw little need for a theory of personality. But under pres-
sure from others and also to satisfy an inner need to be able to explain the phe-
nomena he was observing, he evolved his own theory, which was first tentatively
expressed in his APA presidential address (Rogers, 1947). His theory was more
fully espoused in Client-Centered Therapy (1951) and was expressed in even
greater detail in the Koch series (Rogers, 1959). However, Rogers always insisted
that the theory should remain tentative, and it is with this thought that one should
approach a discussion of Rogerian personality theory.
Person-Centered Theory
Although Rogers’ concept of humanity remained basically unchanged from the
early 1940s until his death in 1987, his therapy and theory underwent several
changes in name. During the early years, his approach was known as “nondirec-
tive,” an unfortunate term that remained associated with his name for far too long.
Later, his approach was variously termed “client-centered,” “person-centered,”
“student-centered,” “group-centered,” and “person to person.” We use the label
client-centered in reference to Rogers’ therapy and the more inclusive term person-
centered to refer to Rogerian personality theory.
In Chapter 1, we said that clearly formulated theories often are stated in
an if-then framework. Of all the theories in this book, Rogers’ person-centered
theory comes closest to meeting this standard. An example of an if-then
construction is: If certain conditions exist, then a process will occur; if this
process occurs, then certain outcomes can be expected. A more specific exam-
ple is found in therapy: If the therapist is congruent and communicates uncon-
ditional positive regard and accurate empathy to the client, then therapeutic
change will occur; if therapeutic change occurs, then the client will experience
more self-acceptance, greater trust of self, and so on. (We discuss congruence,
unconditional positive regard, and empathy more fully in the section titled
Psychotherapy.)
Basic Assumptions
What are the basic assumptions of person-centered theory? Rogers postulated two
broad assumptions—the formative tendency and the actualizing tendency.
Formative Tendency
Rogers (1978, 1980) believed that there is a tendency for all matter, both organic
and inorganic, to evolve from simpler to more complex forms. For the entire uni-
verse, a creative process, rather than a disintegrative one, is in operation. Rogers
called this process the formative tendency and pointed to many examples from
nature. For instance, complex galaxies of stars form from a less well-organized
mass; crystals such as snowflakes emerge from formless vapor; complex organisms
develop from single cells; and human consciousness evolves from a primitive
unconsciousness to a highly organized awareness.