ABSTRACT
One of the most influential, contested, and embraced figures in twentieth century psychology, and arguably America’s most widely disseminated psychologist, Carl Ransom Rogers (1902-87) exerted an influence in humanistic thinking and action which extended far beyond the academic and the clinical milieu. Rogers’ psychology of human potential and actualization has gained significant recognition beyond the mainstream of Anglo-American academic psychology, penetrating the domains of education, health care, community action and social agency, child and adult development, communications training, parenting education, and pastoral care, as well as psychotherapy and counseling. Although a former President of the American Psychological Association-by whom he had also been honored with the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award in 1956, and a Professional Achievement Award in 1972-Rogers’ influence managed to reach the lives of “ordinary” individuals and practitioners. Rogers worked not only with patients, students, and psychologists; he was also involved in peace initiatives between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland and between rival ethnic sides in South Africa. During his final ten years of life, Rogers traveled and spoke across Western and Eastern Europe, Japan, China, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. His cross-cultural conflict resolution led to Rogers being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987-news of which only arrived after his death on February 4, 1987.
