Carl Rogers

Carl Ransom Rogers (January 8, 1902–February 4, 1987) was an influential American psychologist. Along with Abraham Maslow, Rogers was the founder of the humanist approach to psychology and was instrumental in the development of non-directive psychotherapy, which he called person-centered psychotherapy.

Biography

Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. His father was an civil engineer and his mother was a housewife and devout Christian; Rogers was the fourth of six children.

Related Topics:
Oak Park - Illinois - Chicago suburb - Civil engineer - Housewife - Christian

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Rogers could read by kindergarten, and his education started in the second grade. Following an education in a strict religious and ethical environment, he became a rather isolated, independent and disciplined person, and acquired a knowledge and an appreciation for the scientific method in a practical world. His first career choice was agriculture, followed by religion. At age 20, following his 1922 trip to Beijing, China, for an international Christian conference, he started to doubt his religious convictions. To help him clarify his career choice, he attended to a seminar entitled Why am I entering the Ministry?, after which he decided to change career.

Related Topics:
Scientific method - Agriculture - Religion - 1922 - Beijing - China - Ministry

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After two years he left the seminary and took his M.A. (1928) and his Ph.D. (1931) from Columbia University's Teachers College. While completing his doctoral work, he engaged in child study at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, in Rochester, New York, becoming the agency's director in 1930.

Related Topics:
Seminary - 1928 - 1931 - Columbia University - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children - Rochester, New York - 1930

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He was offered a full professorship at Ohio State University in 1940. In 1942, he wrote his first book, Counseling and Psychotherapy. In it, Rogers suggested that the client, by establishing a relationship with an understanding, accepting therapist, can resolve difficulties and gain the insight necessary to restructure his life.

Related Topics:
Ohio State University - 1940 - 1942 - Counseling and Psychotherapy - Therapist

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Then, in 1945, he was invited to set up a counseling center at the University of Chicago. It was while working there, in 1951, he published his major work, Client-Centered Therapy, wherein he outlines his basic theory. In 1956 Rogers became the first President of the American Academy of Psychotherapists. In 1957 he arrived at the University of Wisconsin. However, following several internal conflicts at the department of psychology at Wisconsin, Rogers became disillusioned with academia.

Related Topics:
1945 - University of Chicago - 1951 - Client-Centered Therapy - 1956 - American Academy of Psychotherapists - 1957 - University of Wisconsin - Academia

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In 1964, Rogers was selected 'humanist of the year' by the American Humanist Association, and he received an offer to join the staff of the Western Behavioral Studies Institute (WBSI) for research, which he accepted and then moved to La Jolla, California. He remained in La Jolla, doing therapy, speeches and writing until his sudden death 23 years later.

Related Topics:
1964 - Humanist - American Humanist Association - Western Behavioral Studies Institute - La Jolla, California

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