In psychology, personality is one of the hardest “terms” to
define. Feist and Feist (2009), “although no single definition is acceptable to
all personality theorists, we can say that personality is a pattern of
relatively permanent traits and unique characteristics that give both
consistency and individuality to a person’s behavior” (p. 4). There is no
single acceptable definition of personality, Sigmund Freud, and Carl Rogers
developed theories of personality from their own point-of-view. Through an
analysis of Freud’s and Rogers’ theories, one learns how both Freud and Rogers made
basic assumptions regarding personality, how their theories had an effect on psychology
and how both of their theories have real-world applications.
Basic Assumptions Regarding Personality
Freud’s
Assumptions
Through his psychoanalytic theory, Freud made several assumptions
regarding personality. Freud assumed the mind occurred at different levels; the
unconscious, preconscious, and conscious. Unconsciousness has instincts, drives,
or urges beyond what one is aware of but are motives for one’s actions, such as
feelings, and words. Therefore, an individual may have consciousness of unconcealed
behaviors; however, he or she has no awareness of the mental process behind overt
behaviors (Feist & Feist, 2009). The preconscious is a level of the unconscious
as is the unconscious proper. It contains elements that do not start as
consciousness but may result in consciousness readily or with some degree of difficultness
(Feist & Feist, 2009). In Freud’s theory, consciousness has a minimal role.
Consciousness is the mental elements one is aware of at no particular point.
As for provinces of the mind, Freud assumed that personality
consisted of three elements, which are the id, ego, and superego. The id is an unconscious
psychical region at the center of personality. The id has no means of connection
with reality, but continually makes an effort in reducing tension by the satisfaction
of basic desires and needs. However, if satisfaction is not met the resulting
outcome is a state of tension or anxiety. The id services the pleasure
principle; therefore, its only function is seeking pleasure. The ego is the
site of secondary process functioning. The mind’s only region that makes
contact with any sort of reality is that the ego, and it grows during infancy
out of the id. It becomes an individual’s only means of communication with the part
of the outside world. The reality principle governs the ego, which is the id’s
pleasure principle, which the ego tries to substitute.
The ego is the decision-maker of personality because it is the
only region with a connection regarding the outside world and because of it is
partially conscious, preconscious, and unconscious it has the ability of making
decisions on three levels of personality. The superego is a representation of
the ideal and moral aspects of personality. Idealistic and moralistic
principles guide the superego, instead of the id’s pleasure principle or ego’s
realistic principle. The superego develops from the ego but has no energy, such
as like the ego (Feist & Feist, 2009). The superego does not have a connection
with the external world, and it demands unrealistic perfection. Conscience and the
ego-ideal are superego’s subsystems. The conscience is a result of experiences
of punishments for irregular behavior and provides the knowledge of what should
not occur. The ego-ideal develops form one’s experiences of rewards for correct
behavior and relays what should occur (Feist & Feist, 2009). The actions of
the superego are of controlling aggressive and sexual impulses; a process of repression
it cannot produce. It orders the ego to produce repressions. It also judges the
actions and intentions of the ego.
As for his stages of personality development, Freud assumed that indeed
one’s development of personality occurred in stages and that the infantile
stage is the more crucial developmental stage. During one’s first four or five
years they possess a sexual life. Therefore, infants proceed through a development
period of sexuality called pregenital (Feist & Feist, 2009). There are three
phases of this stage, which are the oral, the anal, and the phallic phases.
During these phases a primary erogenous zone undergoes salient development
(Feist & Feist, 2009). In the oral phase the specific erogenous zone is the
mouth. In the anal phase the specific erogenous zone is the anus. In the phallic
phase the specific erogenous zone is the penis. The infantile stage explains the
behavior of individuals and how aspects of his or her personality develop in
these phases.
Rogers’
Assumptions
Through his person-centered theory, Rogers suggested extensive
assumptions about formative and actualizing tendencies. As for the formative
tendency, his belief was that there is the tendency for the evolution of matter
(organic and inorganic), whereas it starts as a simple form and develops into a
complex form (Feist & Feist, 2009). As for the universe, Rogers believed a
creative process was occurring instead of a disintegrative process, which is
the process Rogers called formative tendency. Examples of the formative
tendency are how complex organisms develop from single cells develop into
complex organisms and how the human consciousness evolved into a highly
organized awareness from a primitive unconsciousness (Feist & Feist, 2009).
As for actualizing tendency this is a more relevant and interrelated assumption
of Rogers. Actualizing tendency or humans’, animals’ and plants’ internal
tendency is to move toward fulfilling or completing potentials.
As for humans, the only motive they possess is actualizing
tendency. An example of the motive of actualization is the needs to express
deep emotions when these emotions occur; another example is for a human to
satisfy a hunger drive. Actualization involves the entirety of an individual because
every individual operates as a complete organism (Feist & Feist, 2009).
Under particular conditions humans only realize their actualization tendency. Feist
and Feist (2009), “specifically, people must be involved in a relationship with
a partner who is congruent, or authentic, and who demonstrates empathy and
unconditional positive regard” (p. 314). Possessing a relationship with an
individual who possesses these qualities does not enable an individual’s
movement toward his or her constructive development, but it enables an
individual actualization of his or her internal tendency toward
self-fulfillment (Feist & Feist, 2009).
An assertion of Rogers’ was that when empathy, congruence, and when
unconditional positive regard occurs in a relationship, without exception psychological
growth occurs. Therefore, Rogers consider these conditions a necessity and adequate
conditions for an individual to become an individual who is a self-actualizing
or who can function fully. Humans, nonhuman animals, and plants have an actualizing
tendency; however, the concept of self and the self-actualization potential is
only the possession of humans. Self-actualization and the actualization
tendency are not synonymous; however, self-actualization is a subset of the
actualization tendency.
The impact the theories had on Psychology
The
impact of Freud’s theories
As one of the most influential thinkers in psychology, Freud’s theories
had a tremendous effect on psychology. Freud’s theories affected and shaped
numerous views of childhood, childhood experiences, sexuality, and personality.
Other influential thinkers either contributed to Freud’s theories or developed
new theories in opposition of his ideas; therefore, Freud’s theories influenced
new schools of thoughts. Freud’s theories
had such an effect on psychology that a school of thought developed from his
work. This school of thought saw its replacement by the development and rise of
behaviorism, but psychoanalysis had an enduring effect on psychology.
The
impact of Rogers’ theories
As
an influential psychologist and thinker similar to Freud in psychology, Rogers’
theory had an influential effect on psychology and therapy. Rogers’ emphasis was
on the human potential; therefore he had a tremendous influence on personality
development and growth. Rogers introduced several concepts into psychology and
therapy, such as congruence and unconditional positive regard, which can enhance
psychological growth.
Real-world Applications of each theory
Real-world
Applications of Psychoanalytic theory
Freud and other psychologist through psychoanalytic theory developed
numerous applications or methods useful in investigating and treating
personality disorders, dream interpretation, and developed its usefulness in
psychotherapy. This theory also possess the idea that what happens in an
individual’s childhood can affect him or her as an adult, therefore it addressing
childhood experiences in therapy, which allows an individual to heal or grow as
an adult.
Real-world
Applications of Person-Centered theory
Rogers
and other psychologist through person-centered theory developed numerous applications
of client-centered approach numerous fields, such as education, business, group
work, leadership, cross-cultural communication, personal relationships, intergroup
conflict resolution, international peacekeeping, and client therapy. In these cases
Rogers successfully demonstrated how facilitative conditions of empathy,
positive regard, and congruence could foster growth, learning, creativity, and
healing in clients, children, families, students, group members, and others (Cornelius-White,
Motschnig-Pitrik, & Lux, 2013).
Conclusion
Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers were two influential men in psychology,
who developed theories that made assumptions regarding personality. The effect
the theories had on psychology helped to further psychology as a science, and
helped in bettering the treatment of patients and understanding how and why
personalities develop. The effect their theories had on psychology are important
because their theories have furthered psychology and have had real-world
applications that better the well-being of individuals in the future.
Cornelius-White, J.H.D., Motschnig-Pitrik, R., & Lux,
M. (2013). Interdisciplinary Applications of the Person-Centered Approach . New
York, NY: Springe.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.