The Role of Carl Rogers’ Core Conditions in HumanKind

            Human life is only sustained when the species is surrounded by itself. While this is fact, the human species looks upon itself with dissatisfaction. In my experience, humans have a difficult time relating to one another. Some occasions present the objective of relating to another human more easily than others. The circumstances seem to always be shifting. Relating to one person is never quite like relating to another person. Relating to a person on a sunny joyful day is not quite like relating to that same person on a day when everything has gone wrong. Our temperaments and dispositions are fluid. This presents a challenge in which Carl Rogers has presented a remedy. His three core conditions, genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard can help individuals relate to themselves and others on good days and bad.

            Rogers puts genuineness simply. It is, to him, a condition that is not always natural. Genuineness as he puts it is when a person is aware of their current experience inside (their feelings and emotions) and their awareness is apparent through their communication.  Congruence and transparency are related to genuineness. This is because the condition, like congruence and transparency, is founded in honesty. Honesty must not only come outwardly but inwardly as well. To achieve genuineness, one must be able to be honest with themselves about their current inside experience.

            Humans can relate to each other more efficiently by utilizing genuineness. When all truths are out on the table, communication can be more direct and productive. While humans are intelligent, they are not mind readers. Letting others know our current experience is a way of stating our needs, rather than expecting that our needs will be met. It allows people to meet each other where they are at, which will promote compassion and compromise.

            Non-conditional positive regard is compassion and acceptance. Once a person is genuine, others can accept them for who they are. Because non-conditional positive regard is acceptance without judgment.  Between two people, non-conditional positive regard can build trust, which will allow genuineness to come about more easily. This condition is important because it recognizes that any one person’s experience cannot be claimed as our own. It reminds us that we each have something unique to offer others and learn from others. To be open to true selves, we must be open to the true people around us.

            Empathy is Rogers’ most researched condition. The secret behind empathy is active listening. Though usually misinterpreted as an active expression onto others, empathy is simply being attentive to the feelings and emotions behind the words being said. Empathy is not chiming in from our own experience, or projecting our assumed feelings about another person’s experience. This would be holding the power over the person, rather than allowing them to actualize their power within. Empathy is asking questions that may lead someone to better understand their own power and experience.

            Truthfully, not one of these conditions could exist without the other. Together they are a powerful trio that gives agency to individuals to support themselves and those around them. In any profession these conditions can be useful. That is because as humans in general these conditions are vital. Without these conditions, unhealthy perceptions of self are formed. With them, humans have the opportunity to understand and experience, wholly, the experience of life on earth.

Sources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMi7uY83z-U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_DP_b9n_M8
http://hubpages.com/education/The-core-conditions-which-Carl-Rogers-considered-essential-for-effective-counselling

DISC Personality Report vs. Bolton's Inventory

While there are a vast number of different personality and behavioral inventories, here I will compare just one to Bolton’s inventory.

The DISC Personality Report is available online for free. It is meant to be quick and effective for any common person looking to predict their behavior, thus relate to others. Results of the report are based on four factors: dominance, influence, steadiness and compliance. The inventory consists of twenty-eight separate boxes of four statements. Individuals are meant to choose the statement they believe fits them most and the statement that fits them least in each box.

Bolton’s inventory also consists of four categories, as does the DISC. The DISC Personality Report defines individuals by the percentage of dominance, influence, steadiness and compliance an individual matches with through the prompts.  Some might say that Bolton does the same with his four personality types: driver, expressive, analytical, and amiable. However, Bolton attempts to illustrate individuals by assigning them one category that corresponds two factors: responsiveness and relativeness.

 My experience with the DISC Personality Report has not been as pleasant as that of Bolton’s. Both inventories have been difficult, however I feel that the DISC Personality Report is redundant, oddly worded, and unfair in the similarity of its options. This leads to a confusing and drawn out experience. I relate distinctly to the results that have been produced by Bolton. I do not, however, relate much at all to those produced by the DISC Personality Report.

Personality can be measured in two different ways. Both of these inventories can be categorized as objective tests. More specifically, both inventories utilize the self-study measure because the participants are seeking the results for themselves. It is noted that objective tests, rather than projective measures, tend to be more successful. However, they can only be valid if the participant is willing to be accurately self-reflective.

My strong opinion here is that psychological analyses must be mindful of users in order to generate accurate results. DISC Personality Report and Bolton’s attempt to collect data in similar fashions but only one is successful. I believe that the confusing, and lengthy questionnaire of the DISC does not foster open willingness of the participant to honestly reflect. Additionally, the complex organization of data leaves the participant lost in translation. Bolton’s precise and simple order of collecting and presenting data is more informative and useful for users.

Works Cited

"DISC Personality Test | Take This Free DISC Types Test Online at 123test.com." DISC Personality Test. 123 Test, 2016. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. https://www.123test.com/disc-personality-test/

"Overview of Personality Assessment - Boundless Open Textbook." Boundless. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016. https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/personality-16/assessing-personality-84/overview-of-personality-assessment-321-12856/