The Ecosystemic Approach to Personality

There has been considerable interest recently in the ecosystemic approach, particularly with regard to interpersonal relations and groups (Cooper & Upton, 1990a, 1990b; Upton & Cooper, 1990; Tyler, 1992). This paper shows how the personality theories of George Kelly and Carl Rogers embody many of the principles of ecosystemics. By considering the work of these two important figures in this way, further light is thrown on the nature of the ecosystemic approach itself and its connection with humanistic psychology.