Psychodynamic Theories And Freud Objectives Make Sense

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Psychodynamic Theories and Freud Objectives Make some sense of Freud Learn about Jung and some of his ideas Psychodynamic Theories - Freud What did you know or hear about Freud before reading this section? Basic to his theory was that the mind is mostly hidden (unconscious) a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories A psychodynamic theory is one that focuses on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experience “dynamic†because of the permanent, dynamic struggle the ego is in to manage the id and superego Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Freud’s theory of personality is called psychoanalysis attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts Freud used free association in his therapy method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Personality Structure “human personality…arises from a conflict between impulse and restraint—between our aggressive, pleasure-seeking biological urges and our internalized social controls over these urges.†Myers (2015) p.493 personality arises from our efforts to resolve this basic conflict Id Pleasure principle Ego Reality principle Superego conscience id – unconscious energy that strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives ego – largely conscious, “executive†part that mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality superego – represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment and future aspirations 5 Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Personality Development Psychosexual Stages Stage Focus Oral (0-18 months) Pleasure centers on the mouth—sucking, biting, chewing Anal (18-36 months) Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control Phallic (3-6 years) Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelings Latency (6 - puberty) A phase of dormant sexual feelings Genital (puberty on) Maturation of sexual interests 8 Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Unresolved conflicts during one of the stages could surface as maladaptive behavior in adulthood. fixation – lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at one of the psychosexual stages, in which conflicts were unresolved Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Defense Mechanisms Sometimes the ego fears losing control of the inner war between the id and superego.

The result is anxiety. The ego protects itself with defense mechanisms tactics that reduce or redirect anxiety by distorting reality All defense mechanisms function unconsciously, just like the body unconsciously defends itself against disease. Repression is the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Cure to disorders Bring the conflict between id and ego/superego to awareness/attention and redirect wish to something else Insight – awareness of desires you already have Psychodynamic Theories - Freud Criticisms of Freud Development is lifelong, not fixed in childhood Freud’s questioning might have created false memories of abuse His theory rests on few objective observations and there were few testable hypotheses Most serious problem: after-the-fact explanations of any characteristic yet fails to predict such behaviors and traits “a good theory makes testable predictions†Ignored important indiv differences in emotional adjustment, as well as other major personality traits Phenomena he was trying to explain are unrepresentative of human behavior (even the ones claimed to be universal) “The overall findings…seriously challenge the classical psychoanalytic notion of repression.†Yacov Rofe, “Does Repression Exist?†Psychodynamic Theories - Freud So why do we still teach about Freud if lots of what he thought is now disproven or seen as bogus? repression, defense mechanisms, unconscious, importance of human sexuality, tension between biological impulses and social well-being, reminds us of our potential for evil.

Individuals can have conflicting feelings which often lead to compromise solutions Personalities start to form in childhood and early experiences play a significant role in development Personality development requires moving from immature, social dependence to mature independence Psychodynamic Theories – Neo-Freudian Carl Jung The Self Personal Collective Conscious Ego; subjective awareness Persona (mask) Unconscious Shadow; repressed Heritage/group legacy; archetypes 14 image6.png image7.gif image2.png image3.png image4.png image5.png Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways: (150 words or more each Colleague) · Ask a clarifying question about the situation that your colleague identified or about the positive change outcome(s). · Offer an insight that you gained from the way in which your colleague asked their question(s), including how it may have had an impact on the outcome. · Provide additional suggestions for how your colleague could take a different approach when faced with a similar situation in the future, including any insights that you may have gained from watching the video and/or participating in this Discussion.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made. 1st Colleague to Respond to: My example of a time in my professional life in which I asked one or more critical questions that helped to bring about positive change is from when I first began my career in higher education. About eight years ago, I left the health insurance business and began a new career as a Compliance Manager for a small nursing college. My job was to modernize and bring the processes of compliance into the digital age.

I knew this was a big undertaking that would take a very long time and certainly not a job for one person. I had many questions about how things had been done in the past and knew I would need to make many changes to bring the school into the digital age and at the same time become compliant with new rules and regulations from the state regulatory bodies and accreditation agencies. I knew I needed buy-in. I was the “new kid on the block,†and I was coming in from the outside with no experience in higher education. For the first few months, I reviewed the historical data, reviewed processes, and procedures and learned the regulatory requirements from the State Board of Nursing and the nursing accreditation agency.

As I analyzed the data, I found discrepancies, and I came up with several questions that I needed answers to. I knew I wanted to be a solution to the current problems, and I knew that I would need to be careful how I asked the questions to ensure questions were open and honest without people becoming defensive. First I came up with a list of questions and then began to tailor them to ensure positive change would happen. Next, I set up meetings with each person to ask the questions I believed I needed to clarify and create new policies, processes, and improvements. I made sure they were questions that would not seem accusatory or offend anyone, and I made sure to use open-ended questions to try to encourage conversation.

Two of the questions I asked were: · Can you help me understand how the data has been calculated? · Can you help me understand why we calculated the data this way? By asking open questions and not passing judgment, I was able to not only learn how and why processes were done previously, but I was able to create rapport and start building a foundation of trust and get buy-in. Asking questions is one of the best ways to communicate especially in the professional world. Asking questions effectively is something that for most takes time. When new, we need to ask more questions that are basically informational to help us learn our role, or how to perform certain tasks.

As we grow and advance we start asking different types of questions which tend to be more probing questions. To ask probing questions one must be very aware and tailor your approach based on your audience. For me, this took time. When I first started my professional career, I was shy, felt inferior, and was fearful to ask any questions. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to have amazing leaders who empowered me, gained my trust, and taught me to ask questions.

Paper For Above instruction

Psychodynamic theories, rooted deeply in Freudian psychoanalysis, offer profound insights into human personality development, unconscious motives, and internal conflicts. Despite criticisms and the evolution of psychological science, Freud’s theories continue to influence contemporary psychology, therapy, and understanding of human behavior. To grasp the core of Freud's psychoanalytic approach, it is essential to understand his conceptualization of the mind and personality structure, the stages of psychosexual development, defense mechanisms, and the reasons behind the enduring relevance and critiques of his work.

Freud's fundamental idea was that much of human behavior is driven by unconscious forces—a reservoir of thoughts, feelings, and memories that are inaccessible to conscious awareness yet influence actions significantly. This unconscious mind contains unacceptable desires, especially related to sexuality and aggression, which the conscious mind repressed to avoid psychological distress. Freud believed that understanding these unconscious motives could be critical to diagnosing and treating mental disorders, which led him to develop psychoanalysis as both a theoretical framework and therapeutic method.

The structural model of personality Freud proposed divides the human psyche into three parts: the id, ego, and superego. The id, operating on the pleasure principle, seeks immediate gratification of biological urges, generally unconscious, and dominated by instinctual drives. The ego, functioning largely in conscious and preconscious levels, mediates between the impulsive id, the moralistic superego, and reality, working to satisfy impulses in socially acceptable ways. The superego embodies internalized societal standards and morals, acting as a moral compass. These components are in constant conflict, contributing to inner struggles that Freud believed shaped personality and human behavior (Myers, 2015).

Freud outlined five psychosexual stages—oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital—during which children experience pleasures centered on different erogenous zones. Success or failure to resolve conflicts at each stage could result in fixation, which might manifest as adult personality traits or maladaptive behaviors. For instance, unresolved conflict during the oral stage could lead to behaviors like dependency or oral fixation in adulthood. Freud emphasized that childhood experiences and conflicts are central to later personality development, with unresolved issues potentially contributing to neurotic behaviors or mental health disorders in adulthood.

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies employed by the ego to reduce anxiety caused by conflicts between the id and superego. The most fundamental defense mechanism is repression, which banishes distressing thoughts from conscious awareness. Other mechanisms include denial, projection, and displacement, each distorting reality to protect the individual from emotional discomfort. Though these mechanisms serve to shield individuals temporarily, Freud argued that they could become maladaptive if overused or rigidly employed, affecting mental health over time.

Despite its revolutionary contributions, Freud's psychoanalytic theory faces substantial criticism from contemporary psychology. Critics argue that the theory is unfalsifiable, based on subjective observations, and lacks empirical support. His reliance on case studies and retrospective analyses made it difficult to test hypotheses scientifically, leading many scientists to dismiss parts of his framework. Critics also contend that Freud’s theory overlooked individual differences and cultural factors, which influence personality development beyond innate biological drives.

Nevertheless, Freud’s influence persists because his emphasis on subconscious motives, childhood influence, and defense mechanisms remains foundational to many psychotherapeutic approaches. Modern cognitive-behavioral therapies integrate some of Freud’s ideas about unconscious processes and defense mechanisms, acknowledging their role in emotional regulation and mental health. The concept of repression, although contested, highlights the importance of uncovering hidden conflicts and unresolved issues in therapy.

Neo-Freudian psychologists such as Carl Jung expanded on Freud’s ideas but introduced significant modifications. Jung, for example, emphasized the collective unconscious and archetypes—universal symbols shared among humans—rather than focusing solely on psychosexual development. Jung’s concept of the Self encompasses personal and collective aspects, representing a holistic view of personality that integrates unconscious influences and conscious awareness. His theories underscore the importance of individuation, or becoming a whole person through integrating different facets of the psyche, which contrasts with Freud’s emphasis on childhood roots and sexual instincts.

References

• Myers, D. G. (2015). Psychology (11th ed.). Worth Publishers.
• Sternberg, R. J., & Carstensen, L. L. (Eds.). (2021). Theories of Personality. Cambridge University Press.
• Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 4, 62–66.
• Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and his Symbols. Dell Publishing.
• Kaiser, D. (2019). The Freud legend: What makes his theories so influential. Journal of Psychoanalytic Studies, 14(2), 123-139.
• Gerrard, J. M. (2018). Defense mechanisms and personality development. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(1), 67-74.
• Vaillant, G. E. (1992). Ego mechanisms of defense: A guide for clinicians and researchers. American Psychiatric Publishing.
• Brenner, C. (1999). The origins of Freud’s psychoanalysis. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 80, 285–299.
• McLeod, S. (2018). Freud's theory of personality. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/freud.html
• Kandel, E. R. (2012). The age of insight: The story of the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who taught us how the brain's circuits work. Columbia University Press.