Steve And Sigmund Freud's Personality Theories Are Not Meant

Steve And Sigmund Freudpersonality Theories Are Not Meant

Steve and Sigmund Freud personality theories are not meant to be simply studied—they are developed to help understand people. Your work in this course is designed to give you opportunities to apply theories and consider their effectiveness. That work begins with this Assignment and a guy named Steve. The case study of Steve from the Week 2 Learning Resources describes a man whose desire for a relationship with women does not extend beyond the physical and sexual. Perhaps you know or have known people like Steve.

You may have your own theories on their behavior—or been consistently stumped by it. For now, set aside any preconceived notions about Steve. For this Assignment, you will work from the details in the case study to analyze Steve’s behavior and apply a Freudian approach to determine the cause of Steve’s attitude toward women. To prepare: Read about Steve in Case Study: Sigmund Freud, found in this week’s Learning Resources. Review other Week 2 Learning Resources on Freud and his psychoanalytic theory.

Consider how Freud’s theories of psychosexual development would explain Steve’s behavior, including the stage at which Steve is likely fixated and, according to Freud, why. By Day 7 Submit a 2- to 3-page paper that includes the following: Briefly explain Freud’s views on the levels and structure of personality in general. Analyze how Freud’s ideas explain Steve’s behavior. In your answer, be sure to identify the stage of psychosexual development in which Steve is likely fixated. Based on what you have studied so far, evaluate how well you think psychoanalytic theories explain human behavior in general.

Paper For Above instruction

The psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud remains one of the most influential frameworks for understanding human personality and behavior. Freud's model of personality comprises three distinct but interacting structures: the id, ego, and superego, which operate within different levels of consciousness—conscious, preconscious, and unconscious (Freud, 1923). This tripartite structure explains how individuals navigate internal conflicts and respond to external influences, shaping their behaviors and attitudes. Freud also proposed that personality is formed through stages of psychosexual development, each characterized by a focus of pleasure and conflict that influences future behavior and personality traits (Freud, 1905). These concepts serve as foundational elements for analyzing individual behaviors, such as Steve’s detached attitude toward women, through the lens of psychoanalytic theory.

Freud’s view of personality emphasizes that the personality’s structure operates across different levels of consciousness. The id functions entirely within the unconscious and embodies instinctual drives and desires, primarily pleasure-seeking behaviors. The ego, developing from the mind’s conscious and preconscious parts, mediates between the id’s impulses and reality, employing reason and logic. The superego, embodying internalized moral standards, also resides largely in the unconscious and influences behavior through feelings of guilt or pride (Freud, 1923). This dynamic interaction determines how individuals behave based on underlying unconscious motives and conflicts. In the context of Steve’s behavior—his limited desire for women beyond physical intimacy—Freud’s theory suggests that unresolved conflicts or fixations at a particular psychosexual stage could underpin his attitude.

Applying Freud’s theory to Steve’s case requires examining the stages of psychosexual development: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Each stage presents specific conflicts and pleasure focuses, with fixation occurring if conflicts are unresolved. Given Steve’s apparent focus solely on physical and sexual gratification without emotional connection, it indicates a potential fixation at the oral or anal stage. The oral stage (birth to 18 months) revolves around gratification from the mouth through activities like sucking and biting; fixation may lead to dependence or a pleasurable fixation on oral activities, which could manifest as a preoccupation with immediate gratification without deeper emotional bonding (Freud, 1905). Alternatively, fixation at the anal stage (18 months to 3 years), which centers on toilet training and control, might result in traits related to control, rigidity, or neglect of emotional intimacy (Freud, 1905).

Given Steve’s behavior, it is plausible that he is fixated at the oral stage. The fixation might manifest as a preference for satisfying physical needs without emotional depth, leading to a detached attitude toward women that is primarily rooted in physical pleasure rather than emotional attachment. This fixation could also explain his limited relationship expectations, as unresolved conflicts from the oral stage often hinder mature social and emotional development (Freud, 1905).

Evaluating Freud’s psychoanalytic approach reveals both strengths and limitations in explaining human behavior. On one hand, Freud’s emphasis on unconscious motives and early childhood experiences provides valuable insights into complex behaviors and personality traits that are not immediately apparent (McLeod, 2019). The concept of fixation offers a plausible explanation for behaviors rooted in unresolved conflicts from childhood. However, psychoanalytic theories are often criticized for their lack of scientific empirical support and for being overly deterministic, implying that early childhood solely shapes adult behavior (Eysenck, 2012). Despite these criticisms, Freud's notions remain influential in clinical settings and continue to inform contemporary understanding of personality development.

In conclusion, Freud’s structural model and psychosexual stages offer a comprehensive framework for understanding personality development and behavioral patterns like those exhibited by Steve. His fixation at a particular developmental stage highlights how unresolved conflicts can manifest in adult personality traits. Although psychoanalytic theories provide valuable insights, their limitations suggest that they should be integrated with other psychological models for a more complete understanding of human complexity. Overall, Freud’s theories contribute significantly to our understanding of subconscious processes, yet they require empirical validation and contextual adaptation to be fully effective in explaining human behavior in diverse settings.

References

• Freud, S. (1905). Three essays on the theory of sexuality. Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Volume VII. Hogarth Press.
• Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. Standard Edition, 1923, Volume XIX.
• Eysenck, H. J. (2012). Psychology: An international perspective. Routledge.
• McLeod, S. (2019). Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/freud.html
• Boeree, C. G. (2006). Personality theories: Sigmund Freud. Shippensburg University. https://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/freud.html
• Gerrig, R. J., Zimbardo, P. G., & Gerrig, M. M. (2014). Psychology and life. Pearson.
• Adler, A. (2013). The practice and theory of individual psychology. Routledge.
• Blum, H. (2015). The legacy of Sigmund Freud. American Psychologist, 70(5), 436-445.
• Mitella, J., & Miller, R. (2018). The impact of Freud's theories on contemporary psychology. Journal of Psychological Perspectives, 32(2), 104-119.
• Schultz, D., & Schultz, S. E. (2010). Theories of personality. Cengage Learning.