E-Book Overview
In the few years since it was first published, this study of personal growth and creativity by one of America’s most distinguished psychologists has established itself as a classic work, one that challenges many concepts and attitudes of traditional psychology, and poses such fundamental questions as: What is the meaning of personal growth? Under what conditions is growth possible? How can one person help another? What is creativity and how can it be fostered?
Contemporary psychology derives largely from the experimental laboratory or from Freudian theory. It is thus largely preoccupied with minute aspects of animal and human behavior, or with the mentally ill. Dr. Rogers believes that psychology and psychiatry should set their sights higher, and be more concerned with growth and the potential in man. It is to this end that Dr. Rogers’ famous “ client-centered therapy” is directed. The focus of this therapy is not on methodology, but on the person as an individual, with all his various qualities and possibilities infinitely capable of development.
This philosophical and provocative book is a summing up of Dr. Rogers mature experience in psychotherapy, it is an indispensable introduction to the process of becoming, intended not only for. psychologists and psychiatrists, but for all who are interested in human personality and growth.
E-Book Content
On Becoming a Person A Therapists View o f Psychotherapy
Carl R. Rogers
Sentry E iition /970 H OUGHTON
M IF F L IN
CO M PA N Y • BO STO N
First Sentry Printing
R
Copyright © 1961 by Carl R. Rogers All rights reserved. N o part of this w o r\ may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America
Contents * Introduction
T o the Reader PART
vii I
S p e a k in g P er so n a l ly
Chapter
1
“ T h is is M e”
3 PART
II
H ow C an I Be o f H
elp ?
Chapter
2
Som e H ypotheses R egarding the Facilitation of Personal G row th
Chapter
3
T h e Characteristics o f
aH elping Relationship
39
Chapter
4
W hat W e K now About Psychotherapy — O b jectively and Subjectively
59
PART
31
III
T h e P r o c e s s o f B e c o m i n g a P e r so n
Chapter
5 Som e o f the Directions Evident in T h erapy
Chapter
6 W hat It Means to Become a Person
107
73
Chapter
7 A Process Conception o f Psychotherapy
125
C on tents
iv
PART
IV
A P h il o s o p h y o f P e r s o n s
Chapter
8
“ T o Be T h at Self W hich One T ru ly Is” : A Therapist’s V iew o f Personal G oals
163
Chapter
9
A Therapist’s V iew o f the G ood L ife: T h e Fully Functioning Person
183
PART
V
G e t t in g a t t h e F a c t s : T h e P l a c e o f R e s e a r c h in P s y c h o t h e r a p y
Chapter 10
Persons or Science? A Philosophical Question
199
Chapter 11
Personality Change in Psychotherapy
225
Chapter 12
Client-Centered T h erapy in its Context o f R e search
243
PART
VI
W h a t A r e t h e I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r L iv in g ?
Chapter 13
Personal Th oughts on Teaching and Learning
273
Chapter 14
Significant Learning: In T h erapy and in E d u cati