carl rogers (1902–87) was born in oak park, illinois, a suburb of chicago. he came from a large, rather strict religious family. in his later writings, he has talked about his boyhood, and indicated...

carl rogers (1902–87) was born in oak park, illinois, a suburb of chicago. he came from a large, rather strict religious family. in his later writings, he has talked about his boyhood, and indicated that the rigid beliefs he grew up with contributed to feelings of loneliness and being an outsider (rogers 1973). he sought refuge in his studies, and was an excellent student in high school. only when he left home to attend the university of wisconsin did he begin to develop wider horizons. in his second year, he began to study for the ministry, and the following year went to china in conjunction with a christian student organization. the trip gave him new confi dence, as well as an appreciation for other perspectives on life. he started graduate studies at union theological seminary, but then decided to continue in psychology at columbia university instead. the shift occurred partly from increasing doubts about his religious commitment, and partly through the realization that one could take a counselling role outside the church. after obtaining his phd in 1931, he began his career working in a child guidance centre in rochester, new york, and also began developing his theoretical ideas. by 1945, he had become a professor at the university of chicago, and was elected president of the american psychological association in 1946. over a long and active career, he taught at several universities and lectured widely. his later years were spent at the center for the studies of the person in la Jolla, california, which he had founded. he died in 1987 at the age of 85.