Psychodynamic Theory of Personality - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Psychodynamic Theory of Personality

Rusk

•

PsychologySlide2

Dissention in the Ranks

While

Sigmund Freud

is considered the father of psychoanalysis, and by many, the father of modern personality theory, he was also very strict and stubborn about his beliefs. 

As a respected scholar, he developed a following of well known theorists and psychologists in his psychoanalytic society. 

But as theories were discussed, questioned, and revamped, many found themselves at odds with the father in their views for the society and the theories.Slide3

As Freud

’

s theories were discussed, questioned, and revamped, many found themselves at odds with the him in their views for the society and the theories.

Main disagreements revolved around

the negativity of Freud's theories,

his belief that most, if not all of the adult personality is shaped by early childhood experiences, and

his failure to incorporate social and cultural influences.Slide4

Major Ego or Neo-Analyst Theorists

Carl Jung

-

collective unconscious, archetypes, complexes

Alfred Adler

-

social influence

Karen Horney

-

conception of women

Eric Erikson

-

beyond childhood to adulthood-life cycleSlide5

Jung’

s Analytic Psychology

Mind or psyche also divided into 3 parts

Conscious ego

-sense of self

Personal Unconscious

-thoughts & feeling not part of conscious awareness-past and future material-compensates or balances conscious attitude and ideas

Collective unconsciousSlide6

Collective Unconscious

Jung believed that there were fears, behaviors, and thoughts  that children and adults exhibit that are passed from generation to generation and are remarkably similar across culture. 

He believed that this was more than coincidence and represented what he called the

collective unconscious

.

He argued that the collective unconscious was made up of what he termed

archetypes

which are primordial images inherited from our ancestors. 

These universal

archetypes

were emotional symbols that predispose us to react in predictable ways to common recurring stimuli.

As support for such a theory, he spoke of the immediate attachment infants have for their mother, the inevitable fear of the dark seen in young children, and how images such as the sun, moon, wise old man, angels, and evil all seem to be predominate themes throughout history.Slide7

Archetypes:

Animus-Male/woman, Anima-Female/man

Mother- generativity, fertility

Hero- king Savior Champion-

Looking Good

Demon-cruel evil

Trouble Person

Trickster-Magician, wizard, sorcerer-

entertainer

Persona-

”

acceptable side

”

people pleasing

Shadow-

”

dark side

”

evil twin

acting outSlide8

Primordial Archetypes

In his view, infants are drawn to their mother because of the unconscious image of mother that is alive in all of us and that we fear the dark because of the unconscious image of darkness. 

Although he described many archetypes in his writings, there are a few that have received a lot of attention and thought. 

These include the

animus/anima

,

the shadow

, and the

self

.Slide9

The Animus

The

animus

is the masculine side of the female and the

anima

is the feminine side of the male. 

This expands on Freud's writings that we are all born bisexual and develop normal sexual attraction through our psychosexual development. 

According to Jung, we all have an unconscious opposite gender hidden within us and the role of this archetype is to guide us toward the perfect mate. 

In other words, we project our animus/anima onto others as they project theirs onto us. 

When a match is made, we have found a suitable partner.Slide10

The Self

The

self

archetype is the unifying part of all of us that finds balance in our lives.

Working with the ego (which is partly in our personal unconscious), it helps us manage the other archetypes and helps us feel complete.

The self is our core inner being…who we are in our purest spirit. Slide11

The Shadow

Another archetype is called the

shadow

which is basically the unconscious negative or dark side of our personality. 

The shadow, like all other archetypes, is passed down through history and given different names depending on time and culture. 

In Judeo-Christian writings, according to Jung, the shadow archetype is called the Devil.

The shadow often serves as our protector, and comes to the forefront whenever we feel threatened.Slide12

Personas

We all develop

personas

(masks) to fit what we think we should be like in given situations.

A persona evolves from childhood as individuals navigate the stereotypes and norms of society.

In an ideal world, the persona reflects the truest nature of the inner self to the outside world.

People can come to rely too heavily on these

“

fake

”

personas and loose touch with their

“

self.

”Slide13

Alfred Adler

Adler believed people need to feel worthwhile and important.

People who feel

inferior

to others seek to control others by bullying.

Slide14

Adler

’

s Individual Psychology

Based on the unique motivations of individuals

Importance of each person

’

s perceived niche (place) in family and societySlide15

Complexes

Inferiority Complex

:

normal feelings of incompetence and exaggerates them-impossible to to achieve goals-hopeless

Superiority Complex

:

very high opinion of self-bragging and quick to argue personal solutions to problems are right one-convince others of being valuable to them and to selfSlide16

Inferiority

According to Adler's theory, each of us is born into the world with a sense of

inferiority

. 

We start as a weak and helpless child and strive to overcome these deficiencies by become superior to those around us. 

He called this struggle a

striving for superiority

,

like Freud's Eros and Thanatos, he saw this as the driving force behind all human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

For those of us who strive to be accomplished writers, powerful business people, or influential politicians,

it is because of our feelings of inferiority and a strong need to overcome this negative part of us.  Slide17

Inferiority Complex

This excessive feeling of inferiority can also have the opposite effect. 

As it becomes overwhelming and without the needed successes, we can develop an

inferiority complex

. 

This belief leaves us with feeling incredibly less important and deserving than others, helpless, hopeless, and unmotivated to strive for the superiority that would make us complete.Slide18

Adler

’

s theories on Childrearing & Birth OrderSlide19

Parenting Styles

Adler did agree with Freud on some major issues relating to the parenting of children and the long term effects of improper or inefficient child rearing. 

He identified two parental styles that he argued will cause almost certain problems in adulthood. 

The first was

pampering

, referring to a parent overprotecting a child, giving him too much attention, and sheltering him from the negative realities of life. 

As this child grows older, he will be ill equipped to deal with these realities, may doubt his own abilities or decision making skills, and may seek out others to replace the safety he once enjoyed as a child.Slide20

On the other extreme is what Adler called

neglect

.  A neglected child is one who is not protected at all from the world and is forced to face life's struggles alone. 

This child may grow up to fear the world, have a strong sense of mistrust for others and may have a difficult time forming intimate relationships.

The best approach, according to this theory, is to protect children from the evils of the world but not shelter them from it.  Slide21

Birth Order

Simply put, Adler believed that the order in which you are born to a family inherently effects your personality. 

First born children

who later have younger siblings may have it the worst. 

These children are given excessive attention and pampering by their parents until that fateful day when the little brother or sister arrives. 

Suddenly they are no longer the center of attention and fall into the shadows wondering why everything changed. 

According to Adler, they are left feeling inferior, questioning their importance in the family, and trying desperately to gain back the attention they suddenly lost. 

The birth order theory holds that first born children often have the greatest number of problems as they get older.Slide22

Second Born

Independent and competitive, especially with the oldest sibling.

Sibling rivalry may be initiated by second born as they struggle to identify their role in the family.

Can be seen as a rebel, especially if they do not feel they are getting equal treatment with that of the first born.

A great positive trait is that they can be very expressive and creative.Slide23

Middle born children

may have it the easiest, and interestingly, Adler was a middle born child. 

These children are not pampered as their older sibling was, but are still afforded the attention. 

As a middle child, they have the luxury of trying to dethrone the oldest child and become more superior while at the same time knowing that they hold this same power over their younger siblings. 

Adler believed that middle children have a high need for superiority and are often able to seek it out such as through healthy competition.Slide24

The

youngest children

, like the first born, may be more likely to experience personality problems later in life. 

This is the child who grows up knowing that he has the least amount of power in the whole family. 

He sees his older siblings having more freedom and more superiority. 

He also gets pampered and protected more than any other child did. 

This could leave him with a sense that he can not take on the world alone and will always be inferior to others.Slide25

Only child

This child is always the center of attention and usually prefers it that way.

Since they are never "dethroned", they are spoiled and can be self-centered.

They miss out on the social skills learned by sibling interaction, so they may find it difficult to share or compromise.

A great positive trait is that they can be very mature intellectually. Slide26

Horney

’

s Concept of Self

Real Self

: inner core of personality that we perceive about ourselves-potential for self-realization

Despised Self

: perceptions of inferiority & shortcomings based on others negative feedback-result in feeling helpless

Ideal Self

: views as perfection and hopes to achieve:

“

tyranny of the Shoulds

”

Goal of therapy to accept real self-

if not become neurotic and coping strategies evolve to solve conflict between real & need for idealSlide27

Erik Erikson 1902-1994

Born in Frankfurt to Danish parents

Abandoned prior to birth by father

Step-dad-Jewish Pediatrician

Uncertain about identity in youth

No advanced degree

Trained under Anna Freud-child analystSlide28

Erik Erikson

Erik Erikson wasn't trained by Sigmund Freud, nor did he hold a Doctorate a highly respected university. 

His two major contributions to psychodynamic thought include a reappraisal of the ego and an extended view of developmental stages.Slide29

The New Ego

Erik Erikson believed that the ego Freud described was far more than just a mediator between the superego and the id. 

He saw the ego as a positive driving force in human development and personality. 

he believed the ego's main job was to establish and maintain a sense of

identity

. 

A person with a strong sense of identity is one who knows where he is in life, has accepted this positions and has workable goals for change and growth. 

He has a sense of uniqueness while also having a sense of belonging and wholeness.Slide30

Identity Crisis

Those who have weaker egos, encounter trying times, or who have poorly developed egos get trapped in what is termed an identity crisis. 

According to Erikson, an

identity crisis

is a time in a person's life when they lack direction, feel unproductive, and do not feel a strong sense of identity. 

He believed that we all have identity crises at one time or another in our lives and that these crises do not necessarily represent a negative but can be a driving force toward positive resolution. Slide31

Erikson

’

s Identity Formation & Stages of Psycho

social

Development

Lifelong process

Is not fixed nor is life the determined

Identity changes over lifetime

Individuals must take responsibility for their own lives

Identity develops over 8 stages of life

Outcome of each stage is dependent on outcome of previous stage &

Successful negotiation of each stages ego crisisSlide32

Erickson

’

s Eight Stages

Ego Integrity vs. Ego Despair (late adulthood)

Generativity vs. Stagnation (middle adulthood)

Intimacy vs. Isolation (18 to 30 years)

Identity vs. Identity Confusion (13 to 18 years)

Industry vs. Inferiority (6 to 12 years)

Initiative vs. Guilt (3 to 5 years)

Autonomy vs. Shame (2 to 3 years)

Trust vs. Mistrust (birth to 2 years)Slide33

Trust vs Mistrust - Infancy

GOAL: successful nursing, peaceful warmth, comfortable exertion –

HEALTHY BONDING –

feelings of trust & hope

Disruption: feeling mistrust & abandonment-insecurity, suspicion of environment-world cannot be trustedSlide34

Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt

GOAL: child have control over body –

toilet training –

successful difference between right & wrong, control over impulses

Disruption: if overcontrolled & punitive-negative self-image. I am bad, I can never succeedSlide35

Initiative vs Guilt

GOAL: to plan and carry out actions & get along with peers as autonomous & independent person –

Preschool

Disruption: fear of pursuing of goals in life-inability to make decisions, lack of initiative taking- poor risk taking-low self-confidenceSlide36

Industry vs Inferiority

GOAL: derive pleasure & satisfaction from completion of tasks – G

rammar-Middle school

– Success- Problem solver & pride in accomplishment - competent

Disruption: feelings of inferior, unable to accomplish, incompetent, not as good as peersSlide37

Identity vs Role Confusion

Overcome Identity Crisis:self-consciousness & embarrassment of identity confusion

GOAL: adolescent experiment with different roles-integration of earlier stage identities –

High School

– success – clear, multifaceted sense of self-personal unique identity

Disruption: Perpetual identity crisis not sure who I am & struggle to find outSlide38

Intimacy vs Isolation

GOAL: to learn interacting on deeper level, revealing Self to others, find companionship with similar others, love relationship with partner

Disruption: inability to create strong social ties, loss self in isolation & loneliness, becomes a loner or superficialSlide39

Generativity vs Stagnation

GOAL: value giving self to others-form bearing & raising children-community service-give back to world-ensure success of future generations

Disruption: feelings that life is worthless & boring-life is meaningless-not enjoying worldly successSlide40

Ego Integrity vs Despair

GOAL: in old age-derive wisdom from life experiences-look back on life see meaning, order & integrity-pleasant reflections-present pursuits-

Disruption: sense of despair: I have not accomplished what I would have liked to in life-it now is too late to do anything about itSlide41

Resolving Ego Crises

Look for Balanced Outcome

True maturity includes rather than excludes the opposite identity markers or poles involved

Importance of Society in the resolution of ego crises or identity crises