...Psychoanalytic theory vs behaviourism: motivation Freud's psychoanalytic theory with its model of the mind and its central concepts provides a better interpretation of one's behavior and accounts for behavior on a wider scope of issues than does the radical behaviorist theory of B. F. Skinner. Skinner successfully explains human behavior in terms of operant conditioning and reinforcing agents. He changes the focus from Freud's internalized (mental) processes to the importance of the external environment. Skinner emphasizes the importance of the directly observable behavior. However, he fails to completely account for behavior, excluding the original motivational drive. In contrast, Freud succeeds in construing the origins of behavior and motivation, which makes the psychoanalytic theory of Freud more adequate as a theory of personality. Throughout history humans have been puzzled by human behavior, the reasons behind it, and have been faced with the consequences of their own as well as others' behavior. Many studies have been done and theories developed in an attempt to explain this fascinating area of human existence. Among many theories and theorists, Freud's psychoanalytic and Skinner's radical behaviorist theories have been selected and looked at throughout the following paper. Theory of personality that Freud introduced together with its concepts, many deemed romantic, unprovable and sometimes obscene, has shaped the way humans view themselves in many cases...
Words: 2538 - Pages: 11
...Tucker Heirakuji English 11 LOTF Essay: Id, Ego, and Superego Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory of personality applied to: The Lord of the Flies "One might compare the relation of the ego to the id with that between a rider and his horse. The horse provides the locomotor energy, and the rider has the prerogative of determining the goal and of guiding the movements of his powerful mount towards it. But all too often in the relations between the ego and the id we find a picture of the less ideal situation in which the rider is obliged to guide his horse in the direction in which it itself wants to go." -Sigmund Freud. There are three Freudian components of personality, the Id, Ego, and Super ego. The Id resides completely at the unconscious level, and is usually applied by the “pleasure principle”, which is basically the want to do something for instant gratification. The superego resides in the preconscious. It is the moralist and idealistic part of the personality and brain. This part operates on the “ideal principle”, which begins around the age of four to five. The ideal principle covers how people are raised, and whether environment or attention effects our development. Basically, the superego is what tells you right from wrong. Lastly, is the ego. Ego resides in all levels of awareness (conscious, subconscious, and preconscious), and operates under the “Reality Principle”, which is the ego's control of the pleasure-seeking activity of the id in order to meet...
Words: 1523 - Pages: 7
...Comparisson of Masculinity and the Psychoanalytic theories using the example of the Fight Club. Introduction. Fight club is an interesting film to be reflected through psychoanalytic and masculinity theories. In this essay I will attempt to present the number of elements of narrative that can be explained by these theories. I intend to use citations from Marc A. Price's essay The Fight for Self: The Language of the Unconscious in Fight club regarding psychoanalytical concepts such as ego, super-ego and the id as well as Lynn M. Ta's dissertation Hurt So Good: Fight Club, Masculine Violence, and the Crisis of Capitalism (regarding masulinity in the film), as these works were the main sources of my research. Then I'll try to come to the conclusion on which of two theories have more strength at being applied to films (primarily Fight Club). Application of theories and analysis. The connection that we shall draw between psychoanalytic theory and the film Fight Club is simple and is this; the narrator is a representation of the ego, for Tyler Durden we can substitute the id. In the Freudian psychic model the ego is the civilized part of consciousness. The ego is that part of the psychic apparatus that is modified so that a being can interact safely with other beings and thus remain accepted within the social group. It is important for identity formation that the individual is accepted by the group (that is wider society) therefore, a controlled id is...
Words: 1768 - Pages: 8
...Psychoanalytic Theory Description In 1856-1939, Sigmund Freud brought psychoanalytic theory into existences. Psychoanalytic theory is based on the idea that people are not aware of the factors that causes their maladaptive behaviors and emotional discomforts (Johnson, 2011). According to Thomas (as cited in Capuzzi and Gross, 2011) the techniques and strategies in this approach are used to show the client how unconscious thoughts and defense mechanisms developed in the early stages of life affects behavior patterns, relationships, and overall mental health. Bush explains (as cited in Capuzzi and Gross, 2011) that psychoanalytic theory implies that behavior is determined by irrational forces, unconscious motivations, and biological, or instinctual drives. Interventions The two interventions that I would employ with Deidre are analyzing resistances and free associations. I think Deidre will benefit greatly with analyzing resistances because it will allow her an opportunity to bring up the issues that she has experienced into conscious. Free association will help Deidre because it will allow her to relate whatever comes to her mind during the session without self-censorship (Johnson, 2011). The purpose of this technique is to help the client learn more about what he or she thinks and feels in a nonjudgmental accepting atmosphere (Johnson, 2011). How interventions will help Analyzing resistances and free association interventions will help Deidre move towards her goals...
Words: 276 - Pages: 2
...Psychoanalytic theory PSY250 01/07/10 Psychoanalytic theory Introduction: Psychoanalysis is grounded on the observation that individuals are often unaware of many of the factors that control their emotions and behavior. These unconscious factors may create unhappiness. (Cherry,2012). Compare and contrast the psychoanalytic theories of Freud, Jung and Alder Pioneers of psychology, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Alfred Alder were influential thinkers, early founders and significant contributors to the science of psychology (Goodwin, 2008). Carl believed that dreams contained significant insight into people’s Psyche and theorized that for people to become whole, they must be thought to integrate the unconscious with the conscious mind in a process he called individuation. (Malamud, 1923).Freud based most psychological things on sexuality, and Adler promoted the theory of individuality. According to Freud human personality is divided into Id, ego, and superego. (Friedman & Schustack, 2009). Each of these characters has its own idea of what the outcome of the story should be. Their struggles are fueled by powerful motives, and each one is out for itself. (Cash, 2011) The ego is the conscious and thinking self, the personal unconscious is the collective personal expenses unique to each individual, and the collective unconscious is a collection of experiences and behavior patterns that is common to all people. (Sheedy, 2011). Jung on the other hand...
Words: 1231 - Pages: 5
...Psychoanalytic Theories Psy 405/Personality Psychology Linda O’Conner Psychoanalytic Theories Psychoanalytic theories are the most intrinsic form of an explanation for the ideas and treatments of psychoanalysis. Psychodynamic is the perception of an individual’s personality resulting from interaction of conscious and unconscious contributions. The significance of all productions of psychoanalytic theories and approaches are to show the relationship between unconscious psyche material and the process it takes into full consciousness. Assumptions of Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality Sigmund Freud receives credit for the theory of psychoanalysis. This theory situates on numerous assumptions. Freud believes that the psychological apparatus of the mind needs some sort of energy to make it work properly. One such energy is libido. He believes that all events take place in an individual’s psyche, and everything a person does has a certain, recognizable purpose. Accidents are not relevant within this theory (Goldberg, 1988). The psychoanalytic theory offers that humans have base instincts as well. Instincts are often unconscious desires that develop into urges. Freud believes, in reference to his iceberg model, that the unconscious is the largest part of the mind. He shows that the conscious is the smallest, therefore sticking up out of the water like an actual iceberg is seen doing. He uses the portion just under the water to represent the preconscious, or the medium size...
Words: 1196 - Pages: 5
...Psychoanalytic Theories PSY/250 November 14, 2014 Delinda Terry Theories Sigmund Freud is considered the founder of psychoanalytic theory and that the primary existence of man is created and motivated by an unconscious intrapsychic sexual conflict. Freud also viewed the human body from a sexual perspective and that the human mind was built with basic components. Freud considered these the id, the ego, and the superego and that these components could cause conflict and shape an individuals personality. Freud also believed that there were two conflicting drives, which are considered the life drive and death drive. He stated the life drive was for survival and the death drive was just the opposite and was for individuals who received pleasure towards death. This is not the same when you compare Freud to Carl Jung. Jung was taught by Freud but opposed the belief that someone’s sexuality could be the primary motivator in humans behavior. Jung also developed his own personality belief that a religious nature was the reason to integrate the conscious and unconscious minds in order to have individuation. The third individual that I will compare is Albert Adler who is the founder of Individual Psychology. Adler was also a student of Freud, and was very optimistic about Freud’s theories due to his motivation to overcome triumph and inferiorities when he was sick as a child. Adler believed that individuals who spent too much time trying to overcome symptoms of neurosis...
Words: 774 - Pages: 4
...experiences. Freud’s theory became so popular because his approach was unprecedented, and his statements bold. Freud’s psychoanalytic theory was based on his belief that our personalities are shaped by experiences of our earliest childhood memories (usually in the unconscious mind), and how well we are nurtured during this time. The time in which Freud developed his psychoanalytic theory is perhaps the greatest factor that contributed to his reputation and subsequent success as a theorist or psychologist. A great deal of Freud’s original psychoanalytic theory was based on his own early childhood experiences, and much of what he learned from research and experiments were never recorded or in many cases, weren’t recorded until hours and even days later. Without credible sources and physical data to support his findings, his theory was improved upon by some of his students and colleagues. CONs Although Freud’s theory was seen as incomplete in certain circles, as his psychoanalytic theory only focused on one or two factors in psychology; psychoanalysis is one among many disciplines that fit under the psychological umbrella. Because of the way psychology has unfolded as both a general discipline and a science, Freud should be credited for inspiring those who took his theory to the next level. It could be argued that he is the father of psychology, because of this inspiration. It is hard to voice much fault toward Freud, whether you are pro Freudian theory or otherwise because...
Words: 490 - Pages: 2
...Theory Selection “Groups provide positive peer support and pressure to abstain from substances of abuse” (SAMHSA, 2005, p. 25). Ultimately, over a brief period of time, most individuals who participate in group therapy will become familiar and comfortable with the process of group therapy. However, in order for group members to stay in the group long enough to achieve familiarity and become comfortable, group leaders must apply the appropriate method of therapy. Therefore, the group therapy models used for this particular assignment will include Adlerian therapy, and psychoanalytic therapy. Adlerian Approach Applying the Adlerian approach to the group will allow a goal aimed at assisting group members with understanding how issues from their past have continued to negatively influence their lives. Using the Adlerian approach will allow therapists to begin helping members begin working to resolve negative issues from their pasts, and move beyond faulty assumptions, and feelings of inferiority. Techniques used with Adlerian therapy may include, building relationships, exploring mistaken goals and faulty assumptions, working to develop social interest and goals, and working to achieve life tasks. Psychoanalytic Approach On the other hand, applying the psychoanalytic approach in which members, in an effort to change insight and begin working through unresolved issues from different psychosocial stages of development, will begin bringing issues from their unconscious into their...
Words: 679 - Pages: 3
...Personality overview Many theories have been developed throughout the years to help with understanding personality. A theory is a set of related assumptions that allows scientists to formulate testable hypotheses (Feist, 2009). The reason behind the existence of several theories is so that a theorist can speculate from a specific point of view. A theory is a tool that is used by scientists to pursue knowledge. Many of the personality theories derive from the personality of the theorist. In this paper I am going to discuss the similarities and differences surrounding Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytical theory and Melanie Klein’s object relations theory. The most famous of all personality theories is psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud in the 1920s. Psychoanalysis is a school of thought that emphasized how the unconscious mind influenced behavior. Freud based his theories on the experiences he received from his patients. He believed that the human mind consisted of three components: the id, the ego and the super-ego. The id controlled the basic needs of the body such as hunger, thirst, sleep, etc… The ego makes sure that these needs are met as well as meeting the needs of the super-ego. The super-ego represents the ideal and moral aspects of a personality. Freud believed in free association, which was hard for some of his patients to master. This made dream analysis one of his famous forms of therapeutic technique. The Theories and methods in psychoanalytic thinking rely on research...
Words: 1134 - Pages: 5
...Chapter 2-3-Module 2 Sigmund Freud and the Development of Psychoanalysis The Psychoanalytic Approach to Psychology Ashley Zajac Metropolitan Community College Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who was very well known for his study of the body and the mind. Freud became known as the founding father of Psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud worked to develop techniques such as the use of free association, the process in which a patient recites their thoughts without reservation spontaneously. He also discovered transference, the process to which patients speak of feelings to their analysts derived from their childhood attachments. Freud’s work with Psychoanalysis helped him further develop other theories or explanations for the way humans are the way they are including his redefinition of sexuality which formulated the Oedipus complex as the central tenet of the psychoanalytical theory. Freud focused his work mostly on the mind and received many critiques and criticism of his accomplishments. Psychoanalysis emphasized the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior and the main idea that eventually evolved from the development of psychoanalysis is that neurotic symptoms are the result of conflicts within the patient. Neurotic symptoms for example could be phobias, obsessions or compulsions. In Freud’s study of psychoanalysis, he also determined that the mind was composed of...
Words: 552 - Pages: 3
...A Character Analysis on Kerima Polotan-Tuvera’s The Virgin Analyzing the Characters in the Psychoanalytic Approach Miss Mijares was a 34-year-old woman who works in the placement section of an agency. In the story, she was described as impolite and bossy when it comes to dealing with job applicants. I can also infer that she routinely lives her life in discipline making her life dull. Later on in the story, she finally let go of her control with herself and gave in to the new carpenter in the agency. Miss Mijares was a stern, responsible woman with hidden desires. The carpenter in the story was unnamed. However, he plays a very important role in the story to make us discover all that characteristics of Miss Mijares, the protagonist. He was described as “a tall, big man, walking with an economy of movement”. From this we can say that, though he was only a high school graduate and only working as a carpenter, his character can be viewed as the stereotype who, despite of his unlikely appearance, he apparently will turn out to be the one you should fear for because he is capable of more than you know. It may be possible that the reason why he was unnamed is that we could underestimate him first. Virginity in the story Virginity is a prized possession of a woman. In the old Filipino culture, the chances of a woman who lost her virginity before marriage to get married to a good man most likely are scarce. By tradition, it is seen as a disgrace for a woman to be lost her virginity...
Words: 1239 - Pages: 5
...series of essays that link new developments in Lacanian psychoanalytic theory and recent trends in contemporary cinema. Though Lacanian theory has long had a privileged place in the analysis of film, film theory has tended to ignore some of Lacan’s most important ideas. As a result, Lacanian film theory has never properly integrated the disruptive and troubling aspects of the filmic experience that result from the encounter with the Real that this experience makes possible. Many contemporary theorists emphasize the importance of the encounter with the Real in Lacan’s thought, but rarely in discussions of film. By bringing the encounter with the Real into the dialogue of film theory, the contributors to this volume present a new version of Lacan to the world of film studies. These essays bring this rediscovered Lacan to bear on contemporary cinema through analysis of a wide variety of films, including Memento, Eyes Wide Shut, Breaking the Waves, and Fight Club. The films discussed here demand a turn to Lacanian theory because they emphasize the disruptive role of the Real and of jouissance in the experience of the human subject. There is a growing number of films in contemporary cinema that speak to film’s power to challenge and disturb the complacency of spectators, and the essays in Lacan and Contemporary Film analyze some of these films and bring their power to light. Because of its dual focus on developments in Lacanian theory and in contemporary film, this collection serves as...
Words: 532 - Pages: 3
...Chapter two titled Theories of Personality, discusses the theories of personalities effectively and in depth. Introduced was the structure and development of personality. The four major theoretical perspectives were explained, which includes psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, and biological perspectives. These four approaches help to explain behavior at all levels. The Structure of Personality and the defense mechanisms of Sigmund Freud, as well as the Conditioned Reflex by Ivan Pavlov and Albert Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, have led me to many questions, but also have led to a greater understanding about how everyone differs in personality and why we humans, are the way we are. Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality is a crucial aspect of psychology and stems from his work with mental patients, by doing this, Freud developed his ideas about the psychoanalytic theory on the basis of which he stated that the personality has three structures; the id, ego and super ego. Freud stated that the id is the unconscious part of personality which has no actual contact with reality. Stated on page 36 of Psychology Applied to Modern Life, the id houses biological urges to eat sleep defecate, and copulate. At first I did not completely understand what this meant to one’s personality, but as the explanation continues, the text states that the id demands immediate gratification. This then made sense in my mind, because we as humans ‘need’ to do these things before we can pursue...
Words: 837 - Pages: 4
...wanted the one downstairs that opened onto the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hanging! But John would not hear of it.” (pg. 346) Making an assumption from what Jane reveals, she is not able to care for her newborn child and has now fallen in to an extremely emotionally unstable state. "It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous." (pg. 346-47. Gilman) Her husband, John, and the other people in her life, don't think she should do anything. She likes to write but John does not allow that so she sneaks it. "There comes John, and I must put this away - he hates to have me write a word”(pg. 346). Freud, Jung and Lacan psychoanalytic approach with mental illnesses were different in many ways. Lacan based his analysis on the majority of Freud’s research but many psychologists to this day have used Sigmund Freud as a foundation....
Words: 1675 - Pages: 7
