Lesedi Moloi 47157623

The view of the person.

Roger placed a strong focus on examining the individual, acknowledging that each person
plays an active part in realising their own potential. He thought that people may become their
best selves by taking a positive path and realising their full potential. Rogers contended that
healthy individuals are conscious of both their positive and bad traits, with the constructive
features predominating, even while they acknowledge their destructive tendencies. Rogers
opposed determinism and emphasised that personal decisions, not outside forces beyond
one's control, determine one's actions. He values freedom and the idea that every individual
is the creator of their own life. Realising one's potential can be aided or hindered by one's
surroundings, according to Rogers. People may see themselves for who they really are in
the actual world, which inspires them to reach their greatest potential. Carl Rogers promoted
the belief that people may develop and reach their full potential if they are given a real,
accepting, and empathetic atmosphere.
Case study: In Mpho’s case, Roger would argue that Mpho has the potential to become the
best version of herself. She should be aware of her traits and the impact they have on her
life both positively and negatively. Mpho’s abilities can be improved or hindered depending
on her environmental situation. If she saw herself for who she actually is, she can get the
inspiration she needs to reach her full potential.

Structure of personality:
Roger made a distinction between three structural components and personality:
1. The organism: This describes the entire person, including both mental and physical
aspects of existence. It is in constant interaction with its ever-changing dynamic
environment. The meanings ascribed to this reality and one's subjective perception of it
shape one's behaviour.
2. The sum of an individual's experiences and perceptions is represented by the
phenomenological field.
It consists of: Perceptions of outside events or objects, together with the interpretations put
on them. Personal experiences and interpretations of oneself.
3. The concept of oneself: It is an individual inside the phenomenal field.
It is made up of the following: self-perception, or how a person views oneself. views of
interpersonal interactions and the values associated with these views. The image that
people have of themselves, including their traits, looks, skills, motivations, aspirations,
values, and social interactions, is reflected in their self-concept.
According to Rogers, a person's self-concept is their conscious understanding of who they
are; it is not a mask.
Case study: Mpho has a very vague self-concept, her partner left her because of the way
she acted and she is blaming other people for her mistakes is mainly because she had never
learnt to take accountability for her actions. Her personal experiences like shape her self-
concept today like how she saw her mother being treated ultimately lead to her not
developing any form of interest in males.
The dynamics of personality.
This highlights the underlying desires that influence human behaviour.
The tendency to actualize:
[Link] life is fundamentally driven to become the best version of oneself. Because of this
innate propensity, organisms must strive for self-maintenance and expansion. This desire is
even evident in plants, as evidenced by their unwavering quest of growth in the face of
challenges like inclement weather. But in humans, the actualizing tendency shows up at
different phases of life. For instance, a baby who is learning to walk perseveres through
stumbles until they finally get the hang of it and can walk. Therapists use this innate
tendency to help their clients explore and grow as individuals.
Other basic needs: Two more critical wants that impact conduct in addition to the actualizing
tendency are: the need for positive regard People look to other people for affirmation,
acceptance, and approval. Positivity towards oneself is essential: People want a positive
self-image and to accept who they are.
The way that one feels about oneself greatly influences how one behaves. An individual
experiences harmony when their self-concept is in line with their potential. On the other
hand, incongruent functioning happens when one's self-concept deviates from one's
potential, which causes internal conflict and behavioural issues. Comprehending these
motivations aids in deciphering the intricacies of human conduct and directs therapeutic
measures.
Case study: Mpho’s behaviour is greatly influenced by how she feels about herself. She will
live in peace when her goals align with her potential, setting realistic goals and working
towards achieving them can be a small step in the right direction. Mpho needs to learn to
treat herself like the person she aspires to be and through that she will gradually improve
and become a better individual.

Development of personality:
Rogers proposed general principles of development rather than formulating specific stages.
He emphasizes the importance between an Individual’s experience and their self-concept as
a crucial aspect of human functioning and shaping. According to Rogers, the main issue in
personality development is the formation of the self-concept. Initially, an infant does not
differentiate between themselves (Him/Her) and the external world (not Him/Her). Their
phenomenal field remains undifferentiated. Overtime, differentiation occurs as the baby
begins to perceive themselves as a separate entity from their surroundings. Roger says the
organism functions at this early stage only in accordance with the organismic evaluation
process. This process directs functioning toward fulfilling the individuals own needs. Positive
and negative judgements arise from this evaluation: Hunger, cold and pain are deemed
negative. Food, water, love and security are deemed positive. The self-concept develops
gradually through interactions with the social environment. External evaluations by others
contribute to the formation of an individuals self-concept. As the self-concept develops, it
begins to exert influence on an individual’s functioning.
Case study: Mpho’s experiences shape the person she is today, from the good to the bad as
they all had an impact on the individual he’s become today. The good and bad experience
she has had all impacted the person she is now, if she wants different results, she should
take all experiences she gets and learn to be a better person from the situations and
environments she finds herself in.
Optimal development:
Psychological adjustment is the ability to adapt and deal with the ever-changing
circumstances and challenges of life. It requires altering beliefs, feelings, and behaviours to
achieve a harmonic balance between the internal and exterior worlds.
The basic consequences of this are as follows: If people have access to a greater range of
experiences and a deeper sense of integration in their self-concept, they will know
themselves better, be able to use their skills and talents, make constructive decisions, and
attain their full potential.
It is believed that each of these people is fully functional.
"A good life" is not a static condition of fulfilment, contentment, or enjoyment, nor is it a state
of decreased stress, motivation, or homeostasis. Realising one's full potential is a constant
goal for living things; it's a process rather than a static state, a journey rather than a
destination.
A well-functioning individual possesses the following characteristics:
an increasing receptivity to experience, A contemplative way of living, expanding organismic
trust, autonomy, creativity, fundamental dependability and constructiveness, a full and
abundant existence.
Case study: We could say that in a way Mpho is inhibited in most aspects of her life, looking
towards a broader part of her life could state her state of view. Seeing new and different
parts of life could infuse her belief in there being a better world and better ways to achieve
her dreams and to work towards her full potential.

Views on psychopathology:
When a person's experiences and how they see themselves change, this is known as
incongruence. This discrepancy can lead to unease, discomfort, and even psychological
distress, which often manifests as sadness or worry.
The self-concept and incongruence are related in that the former is an ordered system of
beliefs and perceptions about oneself.
When a person's emotional state and experiences don't match how they see themselves,
they could get defensive.
Incongruence creates tension since it threatens one's identity, which in turn breeds anxiety.
Threats to one's self-concept and protective behaviour: Anxiety is the emotional response
that arises when one's self-concept is under jeopardy.
Defensive conduct appears as a means of self-concept maintenance.

The two primary defensive mechanisms are as follows: Distortion: The incongruent
experience is twisted to fit the self-concept in order to preserve its integrity. Denial: The act
of ignoring and erasing from consciousness events that run counter to one's self-concept.
In Rogerian therapy, the emphasis is on the therapist's capacity to actively listen to the client
and establish a secure, accepting space where the client is free to discuss their experiences
and self-concept.
Remember that understanding incongruence allows us to identify the nuances of the human
condition and the fragile balance between self-perception and reality.
Case study: Mpho’s perception of herself is at odds with the person she is now, and this
could be the reason why she is depressed. This can also cause inconsistency with her as it
undermines her sense of self and causes worry on her part. She is in denial of the fact that
her drinking has a bid effect on her life as she chooses to focus on the fact that she finds
beneficial to herself. She uses distortion define her life as she wants it to seem and blames
other people for her misfits.
Theory evaluation:
One of Rogers' most important contributions is his emphasis on the individual and subjective
experience as the focal point, in contrast to behaviourists and psychoanalysts who highlight
the importance of external environmental influences and the unconscious process.
It is well known that Rogers thought people were extraordinarily free, capable of choosing
their own paths in life, and capable of living meaningful lives. However, it is still uncertain
whether everyone is as free as Rogers would have been because everyone must meet
conditions in order to earn good respect, and as a result, people's evaluations are frequently
based more on the values of others than on their own.
People's inherent potential also limits their freedom; they can only do as much as their
potential will allow. The essential hope of Rogers' theory seems to lie in its capacity to
support dynamic transformation, allowing the individual to get past problems in an
environment of unconditional positive regard, whether in everyday life or, if necessary,
therapy.