Carl Rogers

Carl Rogers is known for his contributions to Humanistic Psychology. The basis of his theory is that humans are naturally good and that they are trying to reach their full potential. Humans want to do the best that they can. He calls this the "actualizing force" that we all have inherently. He applies this idea even to ecosystems in which the ecosystem will try to fulfill its potential. An example of this is when a bug dies out in a forest other species takes its place (this should remind you a little of systems theory BTW). He also applied this to culture and that it is a living and growing organism.

This idea of humanistic psychology is important for the way we develop our characters, because it brings up one point that I want to talk about today. Do we believe that the characters in our books are naturally good or evil or neither? We will develop our characters differently depending on our belief of the nature of the characters in the book. For example if believe that the characters in our books are naturally evil then our heroes may be constantly fighting their own desires as well as the rest of society. Keep in mind that just because we believe that our characters are naturally evil it does not mean that the majority or even a lot of our characters will be evil. It only means that when the characters were going through their formative years they learned appropriate ways of living within the society they were raised and do not behave in an evil manner in fact they are probably behaving in a good manner. (Side note I am using the terms evil and good in a general sense that probably should be discussed at a later time, but for this post lets just say that evil is going against the welfare of the whole while good is trying to benefit the whole....yes I know that brings up many more questions as well but....) The same is true with those who believe that humans are naturally good. The children/characters are raised to conform to society and so they do. This does not mean that everyone turns out good.

When looking at the story that I have been writing on my blog lately the characters are natural wanting to do that which is evil, but they have been trained to conform to the society in which they live in and so they are considered good (generally speaking). This being said it does not mean that the cultural is entirely good or that it is looking after the welfare of the whole. In fact as has been seen there is something brewing within the society that the powers are not entirely aware of yet. Tim is enigma to the society in that he is not acting as expected. We also have something going on with Tabatha in that she is trying to steal/save/? a child. Is she a good person or an evil person. Is she fighting society and therefore evil or is she reshaping society and therefore good. As we explore the story of Tabatha more hopefully you will see how this idea of naturally good vs. naturally evil works.

Continuing the story

Here is the next installment of the story. I'm feeling a little off today so don't make fun :) Remember this Wednesday we will be hearing from an excellent writer who will be sharing us one of her flash fiction pieces. I have read it and you won't want to miss it.

Tabatha looked in both directions then back to the android in the car.

He stared at her through the glass divider in the cab, “It’s okay I can take you wherever you want to go.”

She looked up as a drop of rain fell on her. She always liked the rain; it made her feel as if she was outside of the city and was no longer covered by the dome. She had only been outside once before with her father when she was a young child. Her father had grabbed her by her hands and swung her around in circles that made her hair fly out in a half circle. She smiled as she remembered the smell of the rain and the field of flowers.

“Tabatha, would you like a ride?”

The smile was now gone as she remembered the child that had been left behind. She looked again at the android and climbed into the cab.

“Where to?”

“I… I don’t know,” her voice trailed off realizing that there really was nowhere for her to go. Johanus had promised that he would help her and take her to a safe place. Now that she had tried to take the child there was no longer any safe place for her. She lowered her head into her hands and shook it slowly from side to side.

“Is everything okay?”

She sniffed and lifted her head slowly, “I will be fine. You can take me to 2346 Pineview Drive.”

The car slowly started to move and then stopped. The android turned around and looked at her through the glass between them and said, “Are you sure that is a good place to go? They will probably be looking for you there.”

“What do you mean?” Tabatha said.

A picture showed on the glass between them and Tabatha’s jaw dropped; the picture was of her running from the Williby Mansion. The picture must have been taken that night. Tabatha grabbed the handle, but the door wouldn’t open, “Let me out,” she yelled as she jerked on the handle again.

“Tabatha you need to calm down. You can trust me.”

She sat back farther in the seat as the window between them opened, “Stay away from me.”

The android held up both of his hands, “My name is Tim. I won’t hurt you and I’m not going to turn you in. I want to help you.”

“I didn’t know androids had names. Who gave you a name?”

“There are others that are like me and we name each other.”

The rain was beginning to slow down and Tabatha could see other cars on the street letting people in and out. A police car stopped a few feet ahead of them and two policemen climbed out and headed for the medic.

“We must hurry or they will find you soon. The medic would have notified the police since he treated you for laser wounds.”

The police entered the medic and Tabatha nodded her head as she stared after the police.

Tim turned around and the cab started forward, “The child is important to us as well,” Tim said over his shoulder, “We believe the child will set us free.”

Tabatha jerked her head around and looked at the smiling android in the rearview mirror.

TO BE CONTINUED……..

Story Continued

I have continued the story from Monday. Here is the next installment. I think instead of the flash fiction I will be continuing this story for awhile I hope you enjoy it and keep coming back. Have a great weekend!

Tabatha limped along the dark alley, her shoe tightened as her ankle continued to swell. She jumped behind a trash bin and froze. Her breath was ragged and she knew she needed to get to a medic soon. The laser burns were beginning to take their toll and she didn’t know how much longer she could keep walking.

The sound came again; it was from the direction she had come. A cat walked by and Tabatha began breathing again. Using the wall, she was able to continue down the alley until she made it to the street. Even though she had seen flying cars for years it was still amazing to her to see them zip by high above her. There were still many ground cars due to costs, but they were becoming less and less common.

She looked at her watch and sighed with relief seeing that it was still functioning normally. Clicking a button the holographic window opened up above the watch and she began typing in the air. Within moments a yellow cab car stopped in front of her and the door opened. Tabatha stepped in and said, “The closest medic, please.” Many people didn’t see the need to be polite to androids seeing them as just machines, but Tabatha always wondered if there wasn’t more going on than they let on.

While the car cruised along the road weaving in and out through the traffic Tabatha pulled the holographic screen up again and typed in, Johanus. She scowled as the familiar ringing noise buzzed in her ear.

After a few rings a man’s voice came on, “You reached Johanus, but he didn’t reach you. Leave a message if you need a call back.”

Tabatha spoke to the hologram, “Where were you? I nearly got killed and now they’re after me.” She paused brushing a tear from her eye. “I love you.” There was another pause and then she clicked her watch.

The car rolled to a stop and the door opened, “That will be 45 credits, please.” The android said emphasizing the please.

Tabatha placed her thumb on the scanner and typed in the password on the keypad.

“Thank You Tabatha. Should I wait for you?”

Tabatha shook her head giving the android a half smile then stepped out of the car. Looking up at the sign she read, “DR. DOWENGER’S FINE HEALING.” The door closed behind her and she walked inside the medic. The room was completely white and Tabatha scrunched her nose at the smell. Medics always smelled of death to her.

A woman behind the counter greeted her, “Hello, what is your reason for visiting us today?”

“I twisted my ankle and have a couple of burn marks.” Tabatha said as she scanned the room.

The woman typed on holographic keyboard and said, “You can go on back. The Dr. is ready for you.”

Tabatha walked into the backroom. A table stood in the middle of the room and above it hung the Dr. Tabatha lay down on the table and waited as the Dr. slowly lowered over the top of her. There was buzzing and whirring sounds all around her and then she felt the relief as the swelling in her ankle went down and the burns began to heal.

Dr. Dowenger was done in about 20 minutes and Tabatha stood on her hurt ankle testing it to make sure it was better. She smiled and then left the room.

The woman was typing as she approached.

Without looking up she said, “That will be twenty five hundred credits.”

Tabatha grimaced and then pressed the scanner and typed in her password.

“Thank you, have a nice day.”

Tabatha left the medic her head low and saw the cab waiting for her. The door opened and the android said, “Get in. Your next destination is on me.”

She stopped, looking up at the smiling android.

To Be Continued…………………….