Self-Concept, Locus of Evaluation (Person-Centred Approach)

Rogers had a positive view on human nature and personality development. He thought people are striving to grow and fulfil their potential or self-actualize, especially in a loving and supportive environment. If one gets unconditional positive regard and accepted for who he/she is, that person will grow. This is also called actualising tendency. This way the person can be confident, have a healthy self-image, face challenges and accept failure too. In addition, this person has an awareness of own feelings and others’ too and has trust. It’s also called internal locus of evaluation, when one trusts one’s own judgement and does not want or need others’ approval.

 

 

However, this is not always the case. Sadly, people get positive regard by imposing conditions on them. People’s self-worth is distorted by responses from significant others in childhood and also by societal and cultural pressure, so the organismic valuing process is affected by all these external constraints. As a result, a person can be defensive, may avoid challenges and can be guarded with people.

In Rogers’ theory the self concept is the person’s conceptual construction of himself/herself. Self-worth is what one thinks about oneself, self image is how one sees oneself and the ideal self is how one would like to be. Or, in other words we have an actual and an ideal self. If there is a conflict between the two, one feels disturbed or incongruent, searching for guidance and approval from outside. (external locus of evaluation)

Usually the client enters therapy in this state of confusion or incongruence. Luckily, the self concept is alterable, attitudes and behaviours can be modified. When the client and the therapist form a new relationship in which his/ her subjective reality is acknowledged and appreciated, the client may develop a sense of self-worth, maybe for the first time in his/her life. The person-centred counsellor can facilitate this new environment by being congruent and displaying empathy and UCR. The client can recover and flourish in this new environment.

Bibliography:

Margaret Hough Counselling Skills and Theory, Hodder Education, 2017

Dave Mearns & Brian Thorne, Person Centred Counselling in Action