How could Freud and Rogers have created theories that differ so fundamentally? If Rogers and Freud and changed places (turn of the century Vienna versus mid-20th-century US), would they still have developed the same theories?
To a great extent we are products of our cultures, so switching would probably change their theories. However, critical life events also contributed to their theoretical viewpoints.
Google both of their names for more information.
For example, Goggling "Carl Rogers theory" got me this:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=carl+rogers+theory&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
Freud and Rogers developed theories that differ fundamentally due to their different backgrounds, influences, and perspectives on human nature. To understand why they developed different theories, it is important to explore their unique approaches and contextual factors.
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was working and formulating his theories in turn-of-the-century Vienna, a time when psychoanalytic ideas were gaining prominence. Freud's theories were heavily influenced by his medical background and interest in the unconscious mind. He focused on the role of unconscious desires, instincts, and childhood experiences in shaping human behavior. Freud believed that repressed sexual and aggressive urges were fundamental drivers of human behavior and that understanding and resolving these conflicts was crucial for psychological well-being.
Carl Rogers, on the other hand, emerged in the mid-20th-century US, during a period when humanistic psychology was gaining traction as an alternative to psychoanalysis. Rogers' theories were rooted in his belief in the basic goodness and potential for growth in individuals. He emphasized the importance of self-actualization, personal agency, and the fulfillment of psychological needs for positive mental health. Rogers' approach emphasized empathy, unconditional positive regard, and an emphasis on the individual's unique experiences and self-perception.
If Rogers and Freud had switched places in terms of time and location, it is highly likely that their theories would have been different. The social, cultural, and intellectual contexts of their respective periods played a significant role in shaping their theories. Freud's focus on deeper, unconscious processes and unconscious desires, which were heavily influenced by Victorian-era Vienna, may have been different if he had been located in mid-20th-century US, where different social and cultural factors were at play.
Likewise, Rogers' humanistic perspective, which emphasized an individual's growth potential and self-actualization, was influenced by the optimistic and individualistic climate of mid-20th-century US. If he had been located in turn-of-the-century Vienna, where the dominant theories focused on psychoanalysis and early psychiatry, it is likely that Rogers' emphasis on empathy, self-perception, and the individual's subjective experience would have been different.
In summary, Freud and Rogers developed different theories due to their unique contexts, backgrounds, and influences. Their theories adapted to the prevailing intellectual and cultural atmosphere of their times. If they had switched their locations and time periods, it is likely that they would have developed different theories that were more aligned with the dominant psychological paradigms of those particular contexts.