[3]The concept of unconditional positive regard was developed by Carl Rogers in 1956,[4] expanding on the earlier (1954) work of Stanley Standal.
While working at the clinic, Rogers became influenced by Jessie Taft, a social worker who believed that the relationship between the therapist and the patient was the most influential part of treatment.
[7] Rogers defined unconditional positive regard by individually explaining the key elements of the term.
He explained that unconditional means, "No conditions of acceptance...It is at the opposite pole from a selective evaluating attitude."
[11] Rogers believed that unconditional positive regard is essential for healthy development and tried to establish it as a therapeutic component.
Through providing unconditional positive regard, humanistic therapists seek to help their clients accept and take responsibility for themselves.
In the counseling relationship, that anticipation presents as Hope—an optimism that something good and positive will develop to bring about constructive change in the client's personality.
Thus, unconditional positive regard means that the therapist has and shows overall acceptance of the client by setting aside their own personal opinions and biases.
The main factor in unconditional positive regard is the ability to isolate behaviors from the person who displays them.
[13] David G. Myers says the following in his textbook, Psychology: Eighth Edition in Modules:People also nurture our growth by being accepting—by offering us what Rogers called unconditional positive regard.
In a good marriage, a close family, or an intimate friendship, we are free to be spontaneous without fearing the loss of others' esteem.
[14]Unconditional positive regard can be facilitated by keeping in mind Rogers' belief that all people have the internal resources required for personal growth.
The more real-life examples from Patterson's article gives an idea of how successful unconditional positive regard can be if used appropriately and correctly.
Client: ...ever recovering to the extent where I could become self-supporting and live alone I thought that I was doomed to hospitalization for the rest of my life and seeing some of the people over in the main building, some of those old people who are, who need a lot of attention and all that sort of thing, is the only picture I could see of my own future, just one of complete hopelessness, that there was any... Therapist: Mhm Therapist: (Interrupting) You didn't see any hope at all, did you?
[19] Albert Ellis has criticized unconditional positive regard stating that such an attitude is, in fact, conditional.