When it comes to the theories of personality they
can vary depending on the person that developed the theory, however the
theories agree that certain aspects such as the structures, development, and
processes are all involved in a person’s personality. In the psychodynamic
theory a person’s behaviors are studied with emphasis being placed on the
person’s motivation and the link between the conscious as well as unconscious
mind. The theory originally developed by Sigmund Freud has been enhanced and
expanded over the years by different theorists with their own ideas, beliefs,
and takes on a person’s personality. This paper will discuss Freud, Erikson,
and two other psychoanalytic theorists, addressing why Freud’s work was so
influential, how the analysts that followed Freud dissent from his viewpoint,
the links of the theorists, and three psychoanalytic concepts which are
relevant in today’s culture.
Freud’s Work
Much of the influence of Freud’s work comes from the
techniques and approaches he used while developing theories. While his work may be met with skepticism the
work is not totally disregarded but rather used as a starting point for a lot
of psychologists. After the death of Freud’s father in 1897, Freud became
depressed and as a result began to self-analyze this to bring about
understanding his dilemma, which was fundamental to his development of
psychoanalysis (Feist & Feist, 2009). From this point Freud developed
theories about a person’s development and the mind. Freud believed that the mind received mental
energy from the physical energies of the body, but the energy was limited, it
could be blocked or redirected, and if it was used on one thing there was less
available for other purposes (Feist & Feist, 2009). This expanded into
Freud’s understanding that a person’s body was looking for a state of balance
as the body was creating states of tension. For instance a child cries while
hungry, upon receiving food their body balances again and they quiet down,
returning to a balanced state. With this work Freud was able to demonstrate
that some of the behaviors individuals display are a result of biological
mechanisms that were innate to humans.
Freud’s drive to understand the structure of a person’s
mind as well as how it was used drove him to develop the theory that there were
two complemented models the conscious and unconscious mind. Later broken into
the theory of the Id, Ego, and Superego Freud believed that each was a
“distinct system which carried out particular types of psychological function (Feist
& Feist, 2009). With the work and theories that were done by Freud he was
able to determine neurotic symptoms which can be caused by the traumas
psychologically that a person encounters. In connection with his theories on
ego defenses Feist and Feist (2009), state that even if a person is
uncomfortable with Freud’s ideas on the unconscious mind it is clearly seen how
individuals can engage in manipulations of memories and reality to suit their
needs.
Freud’s theories on the id was that it resided in the
unconscious taking place as a part of instinct or desire for gratification
(Cervone & Pervin, 2013). The ego satisfies the id through opportunities
and based on the demands of a person’s superego. The superego according to
Cervone and Pervin (2013), functions to involve moral aspects of social
behavior containing ideals to strive for and ethical standards which cause
guilt if violated (p. 85). Freud believed that a person used the id, ego, and
superego in order to justify and pursue gratification of instincts and
pleasure. Defense mechanisms such as regression, rationalization, denial,
displacement, etc. all helped the individual in times when the ego needed to
misconstrue undesirable impulses and attempt to block them from becoming
conscious (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). Freud believed these things impacted
the person’s psychosexual development and sexual motivations which were
instinctual and expressed through arousing factors that impacted nearly all
aspects of a person’s life and development. Freud believed that development was
impacted by the five stages of psychosexual development like anal, oral,
genital, latency, and phallic as a person’s behaviors or character could change
due to over-gratification or under-gratification of these development stages (Cervone
& Pervin, 2013).
Erikson’s Viewpoint
Erikson believed that a person’s personality
developed as they matured and went through social experiences. Development of
the personality according to Erikson was done through psychosexual as well as
psychosocial (McAdams, 2006). Erikson’s development of individuals took on a
few roles beginning first with the stage of trust versus mistrust. McAdams (2006), states that this was the
first stage in which a child learned about trust or mistrust in relationship with
the child’s mother or caregiver. This was the first of the psychosocial stages
that included autonomy versus shame, initiative versus guilt, industry and
inferiority, identity and role diffusion, intimacy and isolation, generativity
and stagnation, and finally integrity and despair (McAdams, 2006). Erikson
viewed genital and latency stages as when individuals would develop senses of
success or inferiority as well as develop their sense of identity. According to
McAdams (2006), adolescence was a time for development of an ego identity in
which the individual had confidence accrued around how they viewed themselves
based on past experiences that they had and the perceptions of other
individuals. Not having a grasp on who the individual is or how others view the
individual could lead the individual into feelings of despair and not knowing
where the individual’s life was head.
Additionally, achieving an identity after
exploration allowed for an individual to function at a higher level
psychologically, thinking independently, resistant to group conformity or
manipulation (McAdams, 2006). Individuals that experience an identity crisis
struggle with who the individual is and suffer socially as a result.
Individuals in crisis do not explore like other individuals do and are more
susceptible to group conformity. Self-esteem in these individuals is lacking
making them sensitive to it and they experience trouble with intimacy (McAdams,
2006).
Bowlby’s Viewpoint
John Bowlby dissent from Freud’s view on
development through four named characteristics of attachment including
proximity maintenance, safe haven, secure base, and separation distress.
According to Friedman and Schustack, (2009), proximity maintenance is the need
of individuals to be near others, safe have deals with individuals faced with
fear or threat returning to an attachment figure, secure base deals with
attachment figures acting as security figures while a child explores their
environment, and separation distress is absence of an attachment figure. Bowlby’s
beliefs were that children who were raised in confidence that their attachment
figure was always going to be there were less likely to display or experience
fear. Bowlby believed confidence was affected during critical development
periods starting in infancy building expectations which would remain unchanged
through an individual’s life and were tied with an individual’s experiences (Friedman
& Schustack, 2009).
Today’s Culture and Psychoanalytic Theories
In today’s culture many psychologists still hold
skepticism for the work for Freud and his theories, while other psychologists
are supportive of them and use them in their own work. Today Freud’s psychoanalytic theories are
used in a few different things such as therapy and is a part of the
psychodynamic theories in which have been built off Freud’s theories and work
but incorporate other’s theories as well. Cervone and Pervin (2013), state that
“an evaluation of psychoanalysis suggests its tremendous contribution in
calling attention too many important phenomena and developing techniques for
research and therapy” (p.158). While the problem still lies in the concepts
which many believe were poorly designed and problems being able to test
specific hypothesis Freud’s work has been influential if for the only reason of
being a starting point to work from (Cervone & Pervin, 2013).
Conclusion
When it comes to the theories of personality they
can vary depending on the person that developed the theory, however the
theories agree that certain aspects such as the structures, development, and
processes are all involved in a person’s personality. Much of the influence of
Freud’s work comes from the techniques and approaches he used while developing
theories. While his work may be met with
skepticism the work is not totally disregarded but rather used as a starting
point for a lot of psychologists. With the work and theories that were done by
Freud he was able to determine neurotic symptoms which can be caused by the traumas
psychologically that a person encounters. In connection with his theories on
ego defenses Feist and Feist (2009), state that even if a person is
uncomfortable with Freud’s ideas on the unconscious mind it is clearly seen how
individuals can engage in manipulations of memories and reality to suit their
needs.
Reference
Cervone, D., &
Pervin, L. A. (2013). Personality: Theory and research (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Friedman, H.S. & Schustack, M.W.
(2009) Personality: Classic theories and modern research (4th ed.).
Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
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