Unconditional Positive Regard in Psychology

Unconditional positive regard is a term used by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers to describe a technique used in his non-directive, client-centered therapy.1

According to Rogers, unconditional positive regard involves showing complete support and acceptance of a person no matter what that person says or does.

The therapist accepts and supports the client, no matter what they say or do, placing no conditions on this acceptance. That means the therapist supports the client, whether they are expressing “good” behaviors and emotions or “bad” ones.1

This article discusses what unconditional positive regard means, the effects it can have, and how it is utilized in therapy to bring about positive change.

What Is Unconditional Positive Regard?

“It means caring for the client, but not in a possessive way or in such a way as simply to satisfy the therapist’s own needs,” explained in Rogers in a 1957 article published in the Journal of Consulting Psychology.2 “It means caring for the client as a separate person, with permission to have his own feelings, his own experiences.”

When people offer unconditional positive regard, whether it comes from a therapist or other people who are part of a person’s social support network, it plays a role in nurturing that individual’s growth. It conveys to people that they will be granted grace and acceptance, even in the face of their mistakes and failures.

The result, Rogers believed, was that people then become able to be their authentic selves and reveal their deepest fears or secrets, while being met with acceptance.

It is a hallmark of healthy relationships, including those between romantic partners, friends, and family members. Unconditional positive regard allows people the comfort and freedom to safely be themselves without fearing rejection or the loss of other people’s love.3

Unconditional Positive Regard and Self-Worth

Rogers believed that people have a need for both self-worth and positive regard for other people.2 How people think about themselves and how they value themselves plays a major role in well-being.

During the early years, children hopefully learn that they are loved and accepted by their parents and other family members, which contributes to feelings of confidence and self-worth. Unconditional positive regard from caregivers during the early years of life can help contribute to feelings of self-worth as people grow older.1

As people age, other people’s regard plays more of a role in shaping a person’s self-image. This includes regard from friends, family members, romantic partners, and other people who make up their social circle.

Impact of Lack of Unconditional Positive Regard

Rogers believed that when people experience conditional positive regard, where approval hinges solely on the individual’s actions, incongruence may occur. Incongruence happens when a person’s vision of their ideal self is out of step with what they experience in real-life.4

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. By providing unconditional positive regard to their clients, therapists can help people become more congruent and achieve better psychological well-being.5

How Unconditional Positive Regard Works

Is it really possible for therapists to offer unconditional positive regard to each and every client? Many suggest that the answer is no. However, some experts suggest that it is possible for therapists to try to feel such regard toward their clients.6

It is also important to note that such acceptance does not constitute permissiveness or an endorsement of all behaviors. Natalie Rogers, the daughter of Carl Rogers, later explained that her father believed that while any thoughts and feelings are okay, not all behaviors are acceptable.

Challenges of Showing Unconditional Positive Regard

While unconditional positive regard is a cornerstone of client-centered therapy, it isn’t always easy to put into practice. Imagine a situation in which a therapist is working with a sex offender. In their book, “Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice,” Sommers-Flanagan offers some advice to practitioners who encounter such difficult situations.6

Rather than focusing on the behaviors themselves, the authors recommend seeking positive regard for the suffering and fears that such behaviors might represent.

“Rogers firmly believed every person was born with the potential to develop in positive, loving ways,” they suggest. “When doing person-centered therapy, you become their next chance, maybe their last chance, to be welcomed, understood, and accepted. Your acceptance may create the conditions needed for change.”