The Self-Actualising Tendency

Introduction

This essay will consider the terms ‘the self-actualising tendency’ and ‘the fully functioning person,’ and how they tie in with Roger’s six necessary and sufficient conditions for constructive personality change (Rogers, 1957). The essay will incorporate theoretical published evidence to support my understanding of the essay question. A summation will be given at the end to conclude the essay.

1. Two persons are in psychological contact.

The Relationship:

“I am hypothesising that significant positive personality change does not occur except in a relationship.” (Rogers, 1990: 221) Rogers believed that great importance should be placed on the need for a minimal psychological meeting of minds to occur in order to bring about a positive degree of personality change. This relationship however minimal seems to be the foundation from where all the other conditions rise from. It appears this condition, which was described by Rogers as a ‘pre-condition,’ is of considerable importance, as any foundation is for growth. (Rogers, 1990)

1

When the client becomes used to being in the moment with the therapist, the client begins to see how they function within the relationship, it seems the most important thing during these transactions, is the felt sense by both parties that they are truly engaged in a real and open experience. The essence of the experience appears to be more important than the actual words spoken, it is the quality and depth of the experience that seems to bring about the freedom to let go, releasing emotions that have been trapped inside, without fear of judgment or criticism. It appears that as the client begins the journey to search out their inner needs, and set aside other people’s values, the actua...

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...ered framework’ in S. Koch (ed.), Psychology: A study of a science. Volume. 3. Formulations of the person and the social context. New York: McGraw Hill

Rogers, Carl R. (1963) "The actualizing tendency in relation to ‘motives’ and to consciousness." In Nebraska symposium on motivation. Ed. Marshall R. Jones. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press

Rogers, C. R. (1967) On Becoming a Person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. London: Constable

Rogers, C. R. (1980) A Way of Being. New York: Houghton Mifflin

Rogers, C.R. (1986a) Rogers, Kohut, and Erickson. Person-centred review, 1(2),

125-140

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Rogers, C. R. (1990) The Carl Rogers reader. London: Constable

Tolan, J. (2012) Skills in person-centred counselling and psychotherapy.

London: SAGE Publications Ltd

Vincent, S. (2005) Being empathic, a guide for counsellors and therapists. Oxon: Radcliffe Publishing Ltd