Phenomenal Field Theory

“Self-Awareness” by Alexandra Person is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Phenomenal Field Theory

Snygg and Combs’ phenomenal field theory, outlined in Individual Behaviour: A New Frame of Reference for Psychology (1949), posits that all behaviour is completely determined by the individual’s phenomenal field, which they described as the individuals total subjective awareness of reality, including perceptions, feelings, thoughts, and values. webspace.ship

Historical Background

Donald Snygg introduced phenomenological ideas in “Motivation” (1935), critiquing behaviourism for ignoring subjectivity amid Gestalt and early US phenomenology (e.g., Spiegelberg). Arthur Combs, Snygg’s student with clinical experience, co-developed the theory post-WWII, drawing from pragmatism, James, Adler’s self-striving, and Gestalt field theory amid psychology’s positivist dominance. Influenced Rogers’ self-theory via phenomenal field/self-concept. beeleaf

The influence of James and others

William James (1842–1910), founder of American psychology/philosophy, influenced via Principles of Psychology (1890), emphasizing “stream of consciousness,” self as knower/known (I/me), and pragmatic truth-testing aligning with phenomenal subjectivity.

Arthur Combs (1912–1999), Snygg’s student with counselling/clinical background, expanded theory at Teachers College/Columbia then UConn. psychclassics.yorku

Post-WWII (1949 book), amid behaviourist dominance (Watson/Skinner positivism reducing mind to stimuli/responses), Snygg/Combs revived subjectivity from:

Pragmatism (James/Dewey): Functionalism, ideas as tools; James’ “pure experience” prefigures phenomenal field. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
Alfred Adler (1870–1937): Individual psychology’s self-striving (Überkompensation), private logic shaping world-view, inferiority compensation fuelling phenomenal self-maintenance. webspace.ship
Gestalt Field Theory (Wertheimer/Köhler/Koffka): Holistic wholes (Gestalten), field forces determining perception/motivation. webspace.ship

This synthesized humanistic alternative, directly shaping Rogers’ 1951 self-theory/19 propositions, where phenomenal field matches Snygg/Combs exactly. jstage.jst

Core Theory

Phenomenal Field: Private world governing behaviour; psychology studies inferred fields via observation/tests/interviews. This is the view of oneself from within. arxiv

Phenomenal Self: The core self-image; unified motive to maintain/enhance it via differentiation (extracting meaningful figures from ground). onlinelibrary.wiley

Threat/Defense: Menace to self prompts adaptive reorganization or maladaptive fixes (defenses). eric.ed

Education/therapy: facilitates field reorganization for adequacy. journals.sagepub

Modern Applications of the theory

Phenomenal field concepts (subjective reality determining behaviour, self-maintenance motive) inform contemporary person-centred therapy (PCT), education, coaching, and perceptual psychology, emphasizing internal frames for change. beeleaf

Therapy and Counselling

PCT/Rogerian practice: Therapists enter client’s phenomenal field via empathy to facilitate self-congruence; used for trauma, addiction (e.g., motivational interviewing adapts field attunement). Gestalt therapy applies field dynamics for awareness of figure/ground. sciencedirect

Education and Development

Combs’ legacy: Teacher training/perceptual barriers—educators map students’ fields to tailor instruction, reducing “threat”; modern SEL programs, coaching enhance self-concept via field reorganization. sagepub

Other Modern Applications

Organizational coaching: Maps employee fields for motivation. Qualitative research (IPA/micro-phenomenology): Infers fields for lived experience studies. Positive psychology/self-actualization interventions draw self-enhancement motive. ebsco

Influence on Carl Rogers

Phenomenal field theory profoundly shaped Rogers’ self-theory (1951 Client-Centred Therapy), providing phenomenological grounding for his 19 propositions by framing behaviour as determined by subjective reality, shifting him from technique-focused nondirective therapy to organismic valuing/self-congruence. Snygg/Combs’ field/self-maintenance integrated with Rogers’ actualizing tendency, explaining distortion/incongruence from conditional regard; self as gestalt in field. beeleaf

Theoretical Impacts

Pre-1940s Rogers emphasized diagnosis/directives; post-Snygg/Combs (1949), phenomenal field became core: “Only reality for subject is their own” (Rogers 1951), enabling internal locus, growth via field reorganization. astorianpsych

Accessing for Empathic Relationship

Empathy accesses field via therapist’s accurate, non-judgmental inference/entering of client’s perceptual world (Rogers 1959/1975). Steps/process:

Therapist congruence/UPR suspends own field.
Deep listening/reflecting hypotheses about client’s experiencing.
Client verifies (“You feel…”), refining until resonance (“Yes, that’s it”).
Achieves via scales (Barrett-Lennard Empathic Understanding), yielding mutuality/field expansion. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih

Resonance

In a Rogerian context, resonance describes the mutual attunement and harmonious “meeting” in the therapeutic relationship where the client’s phenomenal world is accurately sensed and reflected by the therapist’s empathy, fostering profound connection and growth. Emerges when core conditions (congruence, UPR, empathy) occur, then those fields should align, and the client can verify (“That resonates!”), reducing defensiveness. tandfonline

Theoretical Role

Rogers later (1970s relational phase) emphasized “meeting on common ground”; resonance as organismic validation, echoing Buberian I-Thou via UPR reciprocity. Not static, but dynamic process amplifying actualizing tendency. frontiersin

Practical Manifestation

Therapist: Felt emotional harmony with client’s experiencing.
Client: Somatic “yes” of being understood, enabling deeper exploration.
Measured via relational depth scales; risks fusion if ungrounded. tandfonline

Congruence

Rogers’ congruence is a central component of person-centred theory (On Becoming a Person, 1961), It denotes consistency across organismic experiencing (felt total self), awareness (symbolized cognition), and communication (external expression), enabling authenticity. simplypsychology

Theoretical Foundation

From 19 Propositions (1951): Incongruence arises when experiences contradict self-concept (due to conditional worth), distorting symbolization. Congruence integrates via unconditional positive regard (UPR), yielding fluid fully functioning person: open to experience, existential living. semanticscholar

Forms and Applications

Therapist Congruence (Genuineness): No professional façade; transparent feelings (e.g., warmth/anger) known/symbolized/communicated appropriately for client safety. Multi-dimensional (Cornelius-White): flow (non-defensive), authenticity, organismic integration. cortland
Client Self-Congruence: Self-concept/ideal-self align with experience; therapeutic goal via empathy/UPR fostering accurate awareness/self-acceptance. No distinct “forms” beyond therapist/client, but process (ongoing revision) vs state (rare total). tandfonline

Measurement and Outcomes

Strathclyde Inventory (SI) tracks congruent functioning (self-trust to openness); mutuality boosts progress. Critiques: Risks overexposure; Rogers evolved to relational. journals.sagepub