Rogers distinguishes which concepts relating to the self?

• A. Self concept, Real self, Ideal self
• B. Id, Ego, Superego
• C. Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious
• D. Behavior, Cognition, Emotion

Answer: (A)

Rogers’ focus is on how a person experiences and organizes their sense of self, using three related ideas: the self-concept, the real self, and the ideal self. The self-concept is the overall picture we have of ourselves—our traits, abilities, and general identity. The real self refers to who we actually are in reality, while the ideal self is the person we aspire to become. How well the real self and the ideal self fit with the self-concept affects our sense of congruence; when they align, we feel authentic and motivated, and when they clash, we experience anxiety and defensive behaviors. The other options come from different theories—Freud’s id, ego, and superego; Freud’s conscious, preconscious, and unconscious mind; or a broad split of behavior, cognition, and emotion—not Rogers’ distinctive self framework.