fei75766_ch10_309-344.indd 314  02/06/20 12:29 PM
Part III    Humanistic/Existential Theories314
Rogers originally sawlittleneed foratheory ofpersonality. Butunder pressure 
from others andalsotosatisfy aninner need tobeabletoexplain thephenomena 
hewasobserving, heevolved hisowntheory, which wasfirsttentatively expressed 
inhisAPA presidential address (Rogers, 1947). Histheory wasmore fullyespoused 
inClient-Centered Therapy (1951) andwasexpressed inevengreater detail inthe
Koch series (Rogers, 1959). However, Rogers always insisted thatthetheory should 
remain tentative, anditiswiththisthought thatoneshould approach adiscussion of
Rogerian personality theory.
Person-Centered Theory
Although Rogers’ concept ofhumanity remained basically unchanged from theearly 
1940s untilhisdeath in1987, histherapy andtheory underwent several changes in
name. During theearly years, hisapproach wasknown as“nondirective,” anunfortu -
natetermthatremained associated withhisname forfartoolong. Later, hisapproach 
wasvariously termed “client-centered,” “person-centered,” “student-centered,” “group-
centered,” and“person toperson.” Weusethelabel client-centered inreference to
Rogers’ therapy andthemore inclusive termperson-centered torefertoRogerian per-
sonality theory .
InChapter 1,wesaidthatclearly formulated theories often arestated inan
if-then framework. Ofallthetheories inthisbook, Rogers’ person-centered theory 
comes closest tomeeting thisstandard. Anexample ofanif-then  construction is:
If certain conditions exist, thenaprocess willoccur; ifthisprocess occurs, thencer-
tainoutcomes canbeexpected. Amore specific example isfound intherapy: Ifthe
therapist iscongruent andcommunicates unconditional positive regard andaccu-
rateempathy totheclient, thentherapeutic change willoccur; iftherapeutic change 
occurs, thentheclient willexperience more self-acceptance, greater trustofself,and
soon.(Wediscuss congruence, unconditional positive regard, andempathy more 
fullyinthesection titled Psychotherapy.)
Basic Assumptions
What arethebasic assumptions ofperson-centered theory? Rogers postulated two
broad assumptions—the formative tendency andtheactualizing tendency.
Formative Tendency
Rogers (1978, 1980) believed thatthere isatendency forallmatter, bothorganic and
inorganic, toevolve from simpler tomore complex forms. Fortheentire universe, 
acreative process, rather thanadisintegrative one,isinoperation. Rogers called 
thisprocess theformative tendency andpointed tomany examples from nature. For
instance, complex galaxies ofstarsform from alesswell-organized mass; crystals such
assnowflakes emerge from formless vapor; complex organisms develop from single 
cells; andhuman consciousness evolves from aprimitive unconsciousness toahighly 
organized awareness.Final PDF to printer