Freudian & Humanistic Theories Study Notes
MODULE 19: Freudian & Humanistic Theories
A. Freud's Psychodynamic Theory
Definition
Freud's theory of personality begins with controversial assumptions about childhood and unconscious forces influencing behavior.
Understanding Ted Haggard's Case
To comprehend Haggard's self-confessed “sexual immorality,” Freud would investigate his childhood experiences and unconscious thoughts.
Haggard's religious upbringing might have greatly influenced his psyche, demonstrating a conflict between outward morality and private desires.
Freud's Psychoanalysis
Freud's psychoanalysis includes:
Method of Psychotherapy (elaborated in Module 24)
Theory of Personality Development
Key Assumption: Unconscious Psychological Forces can have a profound influence on personality.
Freud discovered that physical symptoms in patients might stem from unresolved psychological issues.
Conscious vs. Unconscious Forces
Unconscious Forces: Thoughts that are repressed and not accessible voluntarily, often leading to irrational behaviors.
Conscious Thoughts: Those we are currently aware of; represent only a small part of the overall mental activity as unconscious forces often govern behavior.
Haggard conveyed a conflict of belief versus action; despite preaching against immorality, he succumbed to his desires, hinting at a struggle between his id and superego.
Unconscious Motivation
According to Freud, we act based on repressed desires that significantly shape our behaviors and thoughts.
Techniques to Discover the Unconscious
Free Association
Patients relax and freely share their thoughts; this method uncovers hidden material.
Freud viewed it as a means to access the unconscious but is debated within therapeutic communities.
Dream Interpretation
Dreams reveal hidden meanings and clues about the unconscious through the distinction between manifest content (surface) and latent content (deeper significance).
Freudian Slips
Unintentional verbal slips can reveal subconscious desires or feelings, for example, misnaming a physician as a veterinarian could imply underlying concerns.
B. Divisions of the Mind
Id, Ego, and Superego
Id: Component of personality operating on the pleasure principle (pursuit of gratification, unconscious).
Ego: Develops to mediate between id and reality, following the reality principle (satisfying desires appropriately).
Superego: Represents moral conscience integrating parental and societal standards, leading to feelings of guilt when standards are not met.
Iceberg Model: The visible part above water represents consciousness (ego), while the submerged portion represents unconscious drives (id).
Anxiety in Freudian Theory
Anxiety results from internal conflicts between the id’s desires and the superego’s moral values.
Freud identified various defense mechanisms (unconscious tactics to reduce anxiety), including rationalization, denial, repression, projection, and others.
C. Developmental Stages
Psychosexual Stages
Development occurs through five stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
Conflicts in these stages shape the personality; fixation can lead to adult personality problems.
Oral Stage (0-18 months): Centered on oral pleasures; fixation may lead to oral personality traits (overeating, smoking).
Anal Stage (1.5-3 years): Focus on bowel control; results in either anal-retentive (orderly) or anal-expulsive (messy) traits.
Phallic Stage (3-6 years): Involves Oedipus and Electra complexes, where children feel attraction toward the opposite-sex parent and rivalry toward the same-sex parent.
Latency Stage (6-puberty): Sexual urges are repressed, leading to social interactions and skill development.
Genital Stage (puberty onward): Mature sexual relationships and adult goals emerge.
Fixation
If desires during any stage are unmet (over or under-gratified), an adult may exhibit peculiar behaviors linked to that stage due to fixation.
D. Freud's Followers & Critics
Critics of Freud
Followers such as Carl Jung, Erik Erikson, and Alfred Adler diverged from Freud’s theories emphasizing social influences and personal growth rather than biological drives.
Jung introduced the Collective Unconscious, proposing that shared symbols shape personalities across cultures.
Adler emphasized social urges and overcoming feelings of inferiority, developing individual psychology.
Horney challenged Freud’s views on women, disputing notions like penis envy and focusing on social influences on personality.
E. Humanistic Theories
Introduction
Humanistic theories contrast with Freud by emphasizing personal growth and the innate potential for self-actualization.
Key Characteristics
Holistic View: Taking into account the whole person, emphasizing their unique experiences and environments.
Phenomenological Perspective: Acknowledging that each person's perception shapes their reality.
Self-Actualization: The drive to realize one’s fullest potential; seen in figures like Greg Mathis, who transformed his life despite adversity.
Abraham Maslow
Developed Hierarchy of Needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Self-Actualization represents the fulfillment of individual potentials.
Carl Rogers
Emphasized the self-concept as central to personality.
Distinguishes between the Real Self (actual experience) and the Ideal Self (aspirations).
Positive Regard is crucial for healthy personality development: unconditional positive regard fosters self-actualization.
Challenges to Humanistic Theories
Critics argue humanistic theories lack empirical support and fail to explain personality's causes, instead offering a hopeful perspective on human nature.
F. Cultural Diversity: Unexpected High Achievement
Case Study of Boat People
Indo-Chinese refugees, upon resettling in the United States, showcased remarkable academic success despite obstacles.
Social values such as commitment to education and parental involvement were significant factors for their achievements.
G. Research Focus: Shyness
Understanding Shyness
Shyness can stem from various psychological theories: due to unresolved conflicts in childhood (Freudian) or social cognitive factors (skills deficits).
H. Application: Assessment—Projective Tests
Definition and Importance
Projective tests assess personality by revealing unconscious processes. Techniques include the Rorschach and Thematic Apperception Test.
Characteristics of Projective Tests
Ambiguity allows for deeper insights into personality but raises questions about reliability and validity, evidencing a need for clinical experience in interpretation.
I. Critical Thinking: Can Personality Explain Obesity?
Case of Peter Herida
Highlighting a case where personality and psychodynamic understanding might illuminate the roots of severe obesity and behavior patterns, indicating deeper psychological conflicts at play.