Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

Chapter 5 The Psychoanalytic Approach: Neo-Freudian Theory, Application, and Assessment

Terms in this set (38)

Chapter Outline
I. Limits and liabilities of Freudian theory
II. Alfred Adler
III. Carl Jung
IV. Erik Erikson
V. Karen Horney
VI. Application: Psychoanalytic theory and religion
VII. Assessment: Personal narratives
VII. Strengths and criticisms of Neo-Freudian theories
IX. Summary
I. Limits and Liabilities of Freudian Theory(1 of 2)
•Many theorists rejected the idea that personality is formed ONLY by experiences in the initial years of life
-Neo-Freudians argued that LATER experiences are also important in shaping personality

•Freud failed to recognize the importance of social and cultural forces in shaping individual personality
I. Limits and Liabilities of Freudian Theory(2 of 2)
•Freudian theories have negative tone and painted a pessimistic and in some ways degrading picture of human nature
-Propagated that humans are largely controlled by instincts and unconscious forces
II. Alfred Adler (1870-1937)
•Developed the approach of "individual psychology"

•Contributions to understanding of personality
-Notion of striving for superiority
-Role of parental influence on personality development; example: pampering
-Effects of birth order
II. Striving for Superiority
•Single motivating force that can subsume all other motives
-Individual's begin life with feelings of inferiority
-All individual actions aim to establish a sense of superiority over life's obstacles
-Excessive feelings of inferiority lead to inferiority complex
-Social interest combined with superiority striving indicates mental health of a person
II. Parental Influence on Personality Development
•Parental behaviors that lead to problems in children's life
-Pampering
§Robs the child of independence and adds to feelings of inferiority
-Neglect - Children who receive little attention from their parents:
§Grow up cold and suspicious
§Are incapable of warm personal relationships
II. Birth Order (1 of 2)
•Firstborn children
-Subjected to excessive attention from parents
-Arrival of second child ends the pampering
-Strong perception of inferiority
-Among firstborn we often find problem children, "neurotics, criminals, drunkards, and perverts"
II. Birth Order (2 of 2)
•Middle-born children
-Develop a strong superiority striving
-Highest achievers
-Try hard to catch up with their older siblings

•Last-born children
-Pampered throughout their childhood
-Vulnerable to strong inferiority feelings

•Results of research on Adler's birth order theory:
III. Carl Jung (1875-1961)
•First president of the International Psychoanalytic Association

•Disagreement with Freud's
theory, resulted in resignation
from the association in 1914

•Established "analytic psychology"
III. Collective Unconscious
•Part of unconscious mind

•Inherited and common to all people

•(Thoughts, images, and psychic characteristics that are often difficult to bring into awareness)
-Made up of primordial images, "archetypes," that lead to our tendency to respond to the world in certain ways
§"There are as many archetypes as there are typical situations in life."
§Ex: Mother archetype: Newborns "know" how to react to mother because "mother" exists in their collective unconscious
III. Some Important Archetypes
•Anima - Feminine side of the male

•Animus - Masculine side of the female

•Anima and animus guide the selection of a romantic partner and the course of the subsequent relationship (especially for young people)

•Shadow - Negative side of personality (selfish)
-Located partly in both personal and collective unconscious
III. Anima/Animus
•What attracts this woman and man to each other? According to Jung, these two have projected their anima and animus onto the partner and have apparently found a good fit
III. Evidence for the Collective Unconscious
•Is based on examination of mythology, cultural symbols, dreams, and the statements of schizophrenics
-Example: hero myth

•It is argued that collective unconscious is same for everyone
IV. Erik Erikson (1902-1994)
•Believed that ego is a relatively powerful, independent part of personality

•Ego psychology - Erikson's approach to personality
-Principal function of the ego is to establish and maintain a sense of identity
-Identity crisis - Confusion and despair
we feel when we lack a strong sense
of who we are
IV. Personality Development Throughout the Life Cycle (1 of 2)
•Erikson's stages of personality development continue from infancy to old age

•Crises - Turning points encountered by people in personality development
-Provides two directions in which to proceed
-How a person resolves a crisis determines the direction of his/her personality development
IV. Personality Development Throughout the Life Cycle (2 of 2)
Figure 5.1 - Erikson's Eight Stages of Development
IV. Basic Trust Versus Mistrust
•Child whose needs are met develops a sense of basic trust

•Infants who do not receive the loving care they need develops a sense of basic mistrust
IV. Autonomy Versus Shame and Doubt
•Autonomy - Allowing children to manipulate and control what they encounter
-People with a sense of autonomy are confident

•Over protection of children hinders development and lead to shame and doubt
-Children become dependent on others
IV. Initiative Versus Guilt
•Children who:
-Organize and participate in social and other activities develop a sense of initiative
-Lack initiative feel guilt and resignation
IV. Industry Versus Inferiority
•Industry - Belief in one's strengths and abilities
-Develops when children experience success

•Inferiority - Lack of appreciation for one's talents and skills
-Develops when children encounter failure
IV. Identity Versus Role Confusion
•People with a sense of identity make decisions about personal values and religious questions

•Failing to develop a strong sense of identity leads to role confusion
IV. Intimacy Versus Isolation
•Young people search for special relationship to develop intimacy and grow emotionally

•People who fail to develop intimacy face emotional isolation
IV. Generativity Versus Stagnation
•Middle aged individuals develop a concern for guiding the next generation
-Parents raise their children
-Adults without children play an active role in raising nieces/nephews, nurture other young people, or contribute to future generations in other ways

•Adults who fail to develop sense of generativity suffer from a sense of stagnation
IV. Ego Integrity Versus Despair
•People who:
-Look back on their lives with satisfaction develop a sense of integrity
-Fail to develop a sense of integrity fall into despair and may express contempt for others
V. Karen Horney (1885-1952)
•Studied Freud's work and taught psychoanalysis

•Founded American Institute for Psychoanalysis

•Important contributions
-Neurosis and feminine psychology
V. Neurosis (1 of 3)
•Neurotic - People who are trapped in a self-defeating interpersonal style

•Prevents people from developing the social contact they unconsciously crave

•Destructive interpersonal style is a defense mechanism to ward off feelings of anxiety

•Arises due to disturbed interpersonal relationships during childhood
V. Neurosis (2 of 3)
•Interaction styles adopted by neurotics to avoid anxiety-provoking experiences

•"Neurotics" tend to choose one of the 3 styles whereas healthy people move flexibly through the 3 styles

•Moving toward people - Some children deal with anxiety by emphasizing their helplessness. They become dependent on others, compulsively seeking affection and acceptance from their parents and caregivers.
V. Neurosis (3 of 3)
•Moving against people - One way to handle anxiety is to cling to others, another is to fight. Some children find aggressiveness and hostility are the best way to deal with a poor home environment.

•Moving away from people - Some children adopt a third strategy to deal with their anxiety. Instead of interacting with others in a dependent or hostile manner, the child may simply tune out the world. Who needs them? The desire for privacy and self-sufficiency can become intense.
V. Feminine Psychology
•Introduced the concept of womb envy
-Men envy women's ability to bear and nurse children
-Men compensate for their inability to have children through achievement in other domains

•In a society where men and women are free to become whatever they desire girls would not want to be boys, or vice versa
VI. Application: Psychoanalytic Theory and Religion (1 of 4)
•Freud's perspective
-Religious behavior represents a form of neurosis
-Religion is a type of collective wish fulfilment
-God is an unconscious father figure generated to provide feelings of security
VI. Application: Psychoanalytic Theory and Religion (2 of 4)
•Jung's perspective
-Religion provides sense of purpose and security
-People seek psychotherapy when religion fails to provide reassurance
-Modern religions have developed practices to provide assurance
§Confession, absolution, and forgiveness
VI. Application: Psychoanalytic Theory and Religion(3 of 4)
•Why do people feel deeply about their religious beliefs? This is one of the questions addressed by Freud and many of the neo-Freudian theorists. Freud declared religion a delusion, whereas Jung pondered the nature of religious experiences throughout his career.
VI. Application: Psychoanalytic Theory and Religion (4 of 4)
•Erich Fromm's perspective
-People turn to the powerful authority of church to escape a sense of powerlessness and loneliness
-Authoritarian religions - People are under the control of a powerful God
§Deny people their personal identity
-Humanistic religions - God is a symbol of our own power
§Provide an opportunity for personal growth
VII. Assessment: Personal Narratives (1 of 3)
•Personal narratives: Narration of one's own life story, that requires describing turning point scenes from one's life
-Interviews are recorded and transcribed
-Judges code stories according to preset criteria
-Scores tend to be consistent over time
VII. Assessment: Personal Narratives (2 of 3)
•Generativity and life stories
-Personal narratives are useful for studying Erik Erikson's stages of personality development
-Research indicates that number of stories reflecting generativity theme increased during the midlife decades
-Stories from highly generative adults contain:
§Increased themes about friendship, sharing, affiliation, and nurturance
VII. Assessment: Personal Narratives (3 of 3)
Figure 5-2 Number of Memories with a Generativity Theme
Source: Adapted from Conway and Holmes (2004).
VIII. Strengths and Criticisms of Neo-Freudian Theories (1 of 2)
•Strengths
-Elaboration of vital concepts ignored by Freud
-Identification of social factors that influence the formation and change of personality
-Optimistic and flattering picture of humankind
-Introduction of new concepts like identity crises, introverts, and inferiority complexes
VIII. Strengths and Criticisms of Neo-Freudian Theories (2 of 2)
•Criticisms
-Neo-Freudian theories are supported with questionable evidence
-Oversimplified or ignored important concepts
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...