Contributions to the History of Psychology: LXII. Carl Rogers' Naturalistic System of Ethics

Abstract

This essay is an historical contribution to the current interest in values in the social sciences. It describes the humanistic system of ethics espoused by Carl Rogers (1902–1987) that in the 1960s fueled the establishment of a “third force” or humanistic movement in American psychology. This essay includes a biographical sketch of Rogers' views on values and examines how his belief in naturalism in ethics relates to his view on human nature. More specifically, it discusses the values implied in Rogerian client-centered therapy. It describes the values of the “fully functioning” person and deals with the concepts of authenticity and organismic awareness.