fei75766_ch10_309-344.indd 315  02/06/20 12:29 PM
Chapter 10    Rogers: Person-Centered Theory 315
Actualizing Tendency
Aninterrelated andmore pertinent assumption istheactualizing tendency, ortheten-
dency within allhumans (andother animals andplants) tomove toward completion 
orfulfillment ofpotentials (Rogers, 1959, 1980). Thistendency istheonlymotive 
people possess. Theneed tosatisfy one’s hunger drive, toexpress deep emotions 
when theyarefelt,andtoaccept one’s selfareallexamples ofthesingle motive of
actualization. Because eachperson operates asonecomplete organism, actualization 
involves thewhole person—physiological andintellectual, rational andemotional, 
conscious andunconscious.
Tendencies tomaintain andtoenhance theorganism aresubsumed within 
theactualizing tendency. Theneed formaintenance issimilar tothelower steps on
Maslow’s hierarchy ofneeds (seeChapter 9).Itincludes suchbasic needs asfood, 
air,andsafety; butitalsoincludes thetendency toresist change andtoseekthestatus 
quo.Theconservative nature ofmaintenance needs isexpressed inpeople’s desire 
toprotect theircurrent, comfortable self-concept. People fightagainst newideas; 
theydistort experiences thatdonotquite fit;theyfindchange painful andgrowth 
frightening.
Even though people haveastrong desire tomaintain thestatus quo,theyare
willing tolearn andtochange. Thisneed tobecome more, todevelop, andtoachieve 
growth iscalled enhancement. Theneed forenhancing theselfisseeninpeople’s will-
ingness tolearn things thatarenotimmediately rewarding. Other thanenhancement, 
what motivates achild towalk? Crawling cansatisfy theneed formobility, whereas 
walking isassociated withfalling andwithpain. Rogers’ position isthatpeople are
willing tofacethreat andpainbecause ofabiologically based tendency fortheorgan -
ismtofulfill itsbasic nature.
Enhancement needs areexpressed inavariety offorms, including curiosity, 
playfulness, self-exploration, friendship, andconfidence thatonecanachieve psycho -
logical growth. People havewithin themselves thecreative power tosolve problems, 
toaltertheirself-concepts, andtobecome increasingly self-directed. Individuals per-
ceive theirexperiences asreality, andtheyknow theirreality better thananyone else.
They donotneed tobedirected, controlled, exhorted, ormanipulated inorder tospur
them toward actualization.
Theactualization tendency isnotlimited tohumans. Other animals andeven
plants haveaninherent tendency togrow toward reaching their genetic potential—
provided certain conditions arepresent. Forexample, inorder forabellpepper 
plant toreach itsfullproductive potential, itmust havewater, sunlight, andanutri -
entsoil.Similarly, ahuman’s actualization tendency isrealized onlyunder certain 
conditions. Specifically, people must beinvolved inarelationship withapartner 
whoiscongruent, orauthentic, andwhodemonstrates empathy andunconditional 
positive regard. Rogers (1961) emphasized thathaving apartner whopossesses 
these three qualities doesnotcause people tomove toward constructive personal 
change. Itdoes, however, permit them toactualize their innate tendency toward 
self-fulfillment.
Rogers contended thatwhenever congruence, unconditional positive regard, 
andempathy arepresent inarelationship, psychological growth willinvariably occur. Final PDF to printer