What Is Unconditional Positive Regard?
Carl Rogers referred to an attitude of total acceptance toward another person as unconditional positive regard.
Rogers believed that it was essential for therapists to show unconditional positive regard to their clients.
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How people think about themselves and how they value themselves plays a major role in well-being.
As people age, other people’s regard plays more of a role in shaping a person’s self-image.
Congruent individuals will have a lot of overlap between their self-image and their notion of their ideal self.
An incongruent individual will have little overlap between their self-image and ideal self.
Rogers also believed that receiving unconditional positive regard could help people become congruent once more.
This can therefore help them achieve better psychological well-being.
Many suggest that the answer is no.
However, some experts suggest that it is possible for therapists totryto feel such regard toward their clients.
It is also important to note that such acceptance does not constitute permissiveness or an endorsement of all behaviors.
Imagine a situation in which a therapist is working with a sex offender.
Your acceptance may create the conditions needed for change."
A 2018 meta-analysis found that unconditional positive regard was associated with improved therapy outcomes.
Outside of therapeutic contexts, it can also serve as an important foundation forbuilding trustand intimacy in close relationships.
you might show people unconditional positive regard by being accepting of people’s experiences andvalidating their feelings.
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