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The Perils of Autobiography: Evidence, Meaning, Reliability, and Context in the Historiographical Canon on Carl Ransom Rogers, 1950s–2020s.

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Title: The Perils of Autobiography: Evidence, Meaning, Reliability, and Context in the Historiographical Canon on Carl Ransom Rogers, 1950s–2020s.
Authors: Fierro, Catriel (AUTHOR)
Source: Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science. Mar2026, Vol. 60 Issue 1, p1-27. 27p.
Subjects: Autobiography, Historiography, Life history interviews, Theory of knowledge, Archival research, Client-centered psychotherapy, Rogers, Carl R. (Carl Ransom), 1902-1987, Research methodology, Psychology
Abstract: This article examines the historical canon on Carl Ransom Rogers (1902–1987) as a case study in the epistemological and methodological shortcomings of ‘insider’ psycho-biographical narratives in the historiography of psychology. Most accounts of Rogers, written by Rogerian practitioners, rely heavily on a limited cluster of biographies and autobiographical recollections treated as transparent self-reports confirming the personal, developmental origins of his theories. I suggest such dependence has produced an ‘echo-chamber’ historiography: a closed system of citation, repetition, and uncritical reverence for inherited narratives privileging Rogers’ first-person accounts. Through methodological criticism of published historical scholarship and archival reconstruction of Rogers’ mid-century writings and professional context, I show that his autobiographical texts emerged from specific institutional, rhetorical, and personal circumstances rather than spontaneous self-disclosure. By situating these materials within broader debates on the historiography of the human sciences, I argue that the Rogerian canon exemplifies how disciplinary self-legitimation can distort historical explanation by collapsing history, memory, and celebration. I conclude by calling for a reflexive historiography grounded in archival evidence, methodological pluralism, and epistemic caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The Perils of Autobiography: Evidence, Meaning, Reliability, and Context in the Historiographical Canon on Carl Ransom Rogers, 1950s–2020s.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Autobiography%22">Autobiography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Historiography%22">Historiography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Life+history+interviews%22">Life history interviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Theory+of+knowledge%22">Theory of knowledge</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Archival+research%22">Archival research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Client-centered+psychotherapy%22">Client-centered psychotherapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rogers%2C+Carl+R%2E+%28Carl+Ransom%29%2C+1902-1987%22">Rogers, Carl R. (Carl Ransom), 1902-1987</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology%22">Psychology</searchLink>
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  Data: This article examines the historical canon on Carl Ransom Rogers (1902–1987) as a case study in the epistemological and methodological shortcomings of ‘insider’ psycho-biographical narratives in the historiography of psychology. Most accounts of Rogers, written by Rogerian practitioners, rely heavily on a limited cluster of biographies and autobiographical recollections treated as transparent self-reports confirming the personal, developmental origins of his theories. I suggest such dependence has produced an ‘echo-chamber’ historiography: a closed system of citation, repetition, and uncritical reverence for inherited narratives privileging Rogers’ first-person accounts. Through methodological criticism of published historical scholarship and archival reconstruction of Rogers’ mid-century writings and professional context, I show that his autobiographical texts emerged from specific institutional, rhetorical, and personal circumstances rather than spontaneous self-disclosure. By situating these materials within broader debates on the historiography of the human sciences, I argue that the Rogerian canon exemplifies how disciplinary self-legitimation can distort historical explanation by collapsing history, memory, and celebration. I conclude by calling for a reflexive historiography grounded in archival evidence, methodological pluralism, and epistemic caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192216283
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Life history interviews
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      – SubjectFull: Theory of knowledge
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              Text: Mar2026
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