Final answer:
Anxiety and feelings of guilt often stem from a conflict between the ideal self, who we aspire to be, and the real self, our actual identity. Achieving congruence between these two aspects of the self is essential for psychological wellbeing, as proposed by humanistic theorist Carl Rogers. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anxiety, guilt, or even self-hatred can result when conflict arises between the ideal self and the other selves. The ideal self is the person we would like to be, encompassing our goals, aspirations, and standards for ourselves. On the other hand, the real self is the person who we actually are, inclusive of our current traits and behaviors.
Carl Rogers, a humanistic theorist, focused on the alignment of these two selves and believed that when there is a great discrepancy between our ideal and real selves, known as incongruence, individuals can experience distress and a sense of maladjustment.
Such psychological discomfort is akin to Freud's perspective on anxiety resulting from the ego's difficulty in mediating between the id’s demands and the superego’s moralistic standards. Therefore, achieving congruence, a state where our thoughts about our real self and ideal self are very similar, can lead to a greater sense of self-worth and a more harmonious life.