Definition:

First coined by Stanley Standal and made popular by Carl Rogers, the term unconditional positive regard refers to nonjudgmental acceptance and support of a person's traits and behaviors regardless of what that person does or says. It does not necessarily mean the actions or behaviors have approval.

Carl Rogers: "A third condition is that the therapist experiences a warm caring for the client -- a caring which is not possessive, which demands no personal gratification. It is an atmosphere which simply demonstrates 'I care'; not 'I care for you if you behave thus and so.' [Stanley] Standal has termed this attitude 'unconditional positive regard,' since it has no conditions of worth attached to it."
Source: Carl Ransom Rogers. On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy. 1961. pg. 283.

In marriage, unconditional positive regard can be very difficult. Some marriage experts believe that it is a myth to believe that a good marriage has to have unconditional positive regard.

Arnold A. Lazarus: "Another myth ...is: A good marriage is based on unconditional positive regard. ... People who endorse such unfortunate ideas (and they are far less rare than one might suppose) push their partners to the breaking point. They never find what they seek, for love and positive regard are reciprocal and conditional. Intimate relationships require the same courtesy, civility, and respect that we are apt to pay to total strangers."
Source: Arnold A. Lazarus. Marital Myths Revisited: A Fresh Look at Two Dozen Mistaken Beliefs About Marriage. 2001. pgs. 52-53.

Also Known As: UPR