to evaluate self-concept, rogers uses a q-sort technique, in which a person recieves a set of cards with appropriate self-statements such as 'i am a good person' the individual then sorts the cards in piles from least to most personally descriptive. the person is asked to make two sorts of the cards. the first describes who the person really is (real self). the second describes what the person believes he or she should be (idea self).rogers's theory predicts that large discrepancies between the real and idea selves reflect poor adjustment and low self-esteem (rogers,1961)