StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Psychoanalytic theory - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the early part of the 20th century Freudian psychoanalysis dominated mainstream intellectual thought, however in America it was ultimately replaced by behaviorism as the major.These systems of psychological thought present two mutually exclusive understandings of human motivation…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.7% of users find it useful
Psychoanalytic theory
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Psychoanalytic theory"

Psychology The 20th century witnessed a tremendous variety of progress in terms of psychological understanding. In the early part of the 20th century Freudian psychoanalysis dominated mainstream intellectual thought, however in America it was ultimately replaced by behaviorism as the major system of psychological thought. These systems of psychological thought present two mutually exclusive understandings of human motivation. Psychoanalysis presents a version of psychology that is greatly rooted in childhood development.

Sigmund Freud proposed multi-tiered psychosexual stages of human development wherein the individual advanced through each stage. Complications in a specific stage would potentially result in the individual’s ego defenses enacting an unconscious repressive drive that have implications for the individual’s emotional and psychological development (Elliot 2002). Ultimately then, it is these unconscious psychological drives, as mediated by ego, id, and superego functions that ultimately determined human motivation.

Psychoanalysis is contrasted with behavioral understandings of human behavior that consider behavior predominantly as learned experienced. Rather than unconscious childhood conditioning, in behaviorism aspects of daily existence that become conditioned within the individual’s psyche determine behavior. Behaviorism would ultimately come to replace psychoanalysis as the dominant psychology in America largely because of criticism levied against psychoanalysis related to its scientific testability (Elliot 2002).

While behavioral methods could be replicated in research tests and readily observed, psychoanalysis largely eschewed the scientific method for qualitative and observational data. With psychoanalysis’ resistance of these scientific methods it was ultimately abandoned. Another of the major psychological schools that emerged during the 20th century was humanistic psychology. Humanistic psychology was greatly influenced by the existential theories of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (Fine 1990). Sartre had argued for a theory of human existence and meaning where elements that were determined by the individual.

Sartre believed that the individual was ultimately free to construct their purpose and identity. Psychologists Rollo May adopted this theory and implemented it in the humanistic approach to psychology where the patient went about resolving psychological problems by considering questions of meaning and change in this humanistic context (Fine 1990). One of the major criticisms levied against humanistic psychology by psychoanalysis was that it didn’t consider the complexities of human motivation.

While psychoanalysis presented complex notions of unconscious impulses and human development, humanistic psychology was largely void of these elements. Humanistic psychology responded to these criticisms by arguing that while unconscious impulses and biological functioning might exist, they are still elements that can be handled by the individual patient. In terms of contributions, it’s clear that psychoanalysis contributed greatly to the structural nature of later psychological thought. For instance, psychoanalysis articulation of the psychosexual stages of human development foregrounded later theories of development that appeared in humanistic psychology.

While humanistic psychology didn’t embrace the Freudian notion of these concepts, it did adopt the overarching developmental structure. In conclusion, this essay has considered aspects of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and humanistic psychology. It has argued that American psychologists largely turned away from psychoanalysis for notions of behaviorism as psychoanalysis lacked a readily testable foundation. The essay also considered aspects of humanistic psychology, demonstrating that it was greatly influenced by existential philosophy.

Ultimately, it’s clear the 20th century demonstrated great variety and evolution in terms of psychological thought. ReferencesElliott, Anthony (2002). Psychoanalytic Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition, Duke University Press.Fine, Reuben (1990). The History of Psychology. New Expanded Edition. Northvale: Jason Aronson.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Psychoanalytic theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Psychoanalytic theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/psychology/1578412-psychoanalytic-theory
(Psychoanalytic Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Psychoanalytic Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1578412-psychoanalytic-theory.
“Psychoanalytic Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/psychology/1578412-psychoanalytic-theory.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Psychoanalytic theory

Psychoanalytic Theory and Psychosexual Development

Psychoanalysis theory Name Lecturer Date: Psychoanalysis, as advocated for by Psychologist Sigmond Freud is an instance whereby there exists a global therapy that was designed with the aim of assisting people accommodate the possibility of bringing out significant changes in their lives or even the perspective they have on life.... hellip; This theory of behavior talks about anxiety disorder in such a way that views phobias, stress disorders as well as compulsive disorders and even the panic attacks that a person can go through....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Psychoanalytic Theory and Learning Perspectives

hellip; Most authors would agree, however, that the pinnacle of this evolutionary process is the theory of Sigmund Freud of the structure of personality, formulated at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.... His famous theory of the Id, Ego and Super-Ego was a result of a continuing process, beginning with the first topographical model, in which the mind was divided in 3 psychic areas, each allocated to an unconscious, subconscious and pre-conscious level of function....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Contributions of Psychoanalytic Theory to Film Theory and Visual Culture in General

"The Contributions of Psychoanalytic theory to Film Theory and Visual Culture in General" paper argues that Psychoanalytic thought pointed to early films of the 1940s as examples, and stated that some of these films were aimed at particular groups of viewers, in this case, women.... n this way, the Psychoanalytic theory described human functioning as a process of suppressing unconscious desires, fears, and particular memories so as to maintain a socially acceptable lifestyle....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

How useful is Freudian and/or Lacanian psychoanalytic theory to art

The essay analyzes How useful is Freudian Psychoanalytic theory to art.... The essay "How useful is Freudian and/or Lacanian Psychoanalytic theory to art" discusses the role and importance of Freudian psychoanalytic in the context of art.... Psychoanalytic theory is based primarily and most importantly on an individual's unconscious.... Creative activity (literature, painting, sculpture etc) being a crucial form of bringing out the unconscious, the Psychoanalytic theory I believe plays an important role in not only in the viewer seeing and understanding the work of art more deeply but also in the artist expressing himself within and through his art....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

Etiological Factors/Psychoanalytic Theory

Cognitive factors, internal stressors and… Cultural pressures and ego deficiencies and social expectations of drug abuse can lure the young adults to drug abuse. Etiology refers to the root causes and origins of a certain social problem and the factors that influence the Etiological Factors/Psychoanalytic theory Etiology theories have been used to explain drug abuse and delinquent behavior development among young adults.... Psychoanalytic theory considers drug abuse and delinquent behavior as a consequence of neuroses that manifest during adolescence....
2 Pages (500 words) Research Paper

Psychoanalytic Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Theory, Behavioral Theory, or Task-Centered Theory

The paper seeks to elaborate on the issues that are involved in the application of the Psychoanalytic theory during an interview and counseling clients.... The interview and counseling that is based on this theory rely on the history of the clients and upon an analysis of their Psychology Psychoanalytic theory The paper seeks to elaborate on the issues that are involved in the application of the Psychoanalytic theory during an interview and counseling clients....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Music of History

Sigmund Freud's developed the first personality theory which was known as Psychoanalytic theory.... His Psychoanalytic theory has had an incredible influence on societies around the world through many different disciplines.... Underlying Freud's Psychoanalytic theory is the concept of consciousness.... The paper "Music of History" discusses that Freud's psychoanalytic theory suggests that personality characteristics are mostly a reflection of the contents of the unconscious part....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Freudian Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality

The aim of the paper “Freudian Psychoanalytic theory of Personality” is to describe Freudian Psychoanalytic theory of personality.... The differences in behaviors are brought about by the three stages of development that includes Id, ego and the super ego....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us