Week 4 Assignment Worksheet: Psychodynamic Theories Complete

Week 4 Assignment Worksheetpsychodynamic Theoriescompletethe Following

Complete the following table analyzing psychodynamic theories, including the main tenets, unique contributions, and limitations of theorists Freud, Jung, Adler, and Horney.

Match the examples with the appropriate defense mechanisms: repression, rationalization, displacement, denial, regression, reaction formation, sublimation, projection.

Fill in the appropriate psychosexual stages of development for the following descriptions: focus on mature sexual relationships, thumb-sucking in a 3rd grader, fixation from toilet training, Electra/Oedipus complex, peer relationships.

Describe the effects of stress and coping strategies in a scenario where you lose your job unexpectedly, affecting your mental and physical health, and how you would manage the situation.

Paper For Above instruction

Psychodynamic theories have profoundly shaped the understanding of personality development, emphasizing the influence of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences. Notable theorists such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, and Karen Horney have contributed unique perspectives that illuminate different facets of human psyche and behavior. This paper explores their main tenets, contributions, limitations, the application of defense mechanisms, psychosexual stages, and practical coping strategies in stressful situations.

Psychodynamic Theorists: Main Tenets, Contributions, and Limitations

Sigmund Freud, regarded as the father of psychoanalysis, proposed that personality is driven by unconscious motives, conflicts among the id, ego, and superego, and that early childhood experiences shape adult personality. His theory emphasizes psychosexual stages, where unresolved conflicts can lead to fixation, impacting behavior later in life (Freud, 1917). Freud's contribution lies in pioneering the exploration of the unconscious and defense mechanisms, which reveal how individuals manage anxiety. However, Freud’s rigid stage-based development and emphasis on sexual drives have been criticized for lack of empirical support and cultural bias (Kihlstrom, 2012).

Carl Jung introduced analytical psychology, emphasizing the collective unconscious and archetypes, and believed personality development continues into adulthood through individuation. Jung’s approach broadened psychoanalysis by incorporating spirituality and myth, enriching understanding of personality dynamics (Jung, 1964). Limitations include the difficulty in empirically testing archetypes and the subjective nature of interpretation.

Alfred Adler focused on the importance of social interest and feelings of inferiority, emphasizing that striving for superiority motivates behavior. His theory underscores the influence of birth order and childhood environment. Adler's contributions include a shift towards conscious motivation and social factors in personality development. Criticisms include the lack of precise measurement for concepts like social interest and inferiority feelings (Ansbacher & Ansbacher, 1956).

Karen Horney challenged Freud's views on women and emphasized the role of cultural and social influences. She highlighted strategies to cope with basic anxiety, such as moving toward, against, or away from others. Horney's emphasis on cultural factors and the importance of environmental influences expanded the scope of psychoanalytic theory. Some limitations are her relatively lesser recognition and the difficulty in empirically validating her social-cultural hypotheses (Horney, 1937).

Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms operate unconsciously to reduce anxiety. Examples include:

• Repression: A woman involved in a traumatic car accident cannot remember the details.
• Rationalization: Taking a test makes a person nervous, but they justify their poor performance by blaming external factors.
• Displacement: Yelling at a spouse after being yelled at by a boss.
• Denial: An individual denies being an alcoholic despite daily drinking.
• Reaction Formation: Overly friendly behavior toward someone one despises.
• Regression: Returning to thumb-sucking when faced with stress.
• Sublimation: Channeling frustration into physical activity at the gym.
• Projection: Believing a partner is cheating despite the individual’s own thoughts about infidelity.

Psychosexual Stages of Development

The focus on mature sexual relationships typically occurs in the Genital stage. A 3rd grader who still sucks their thumb is exhibiting behaviors associated with the Oral stage. Fixation at this stage may result in oral traits like dependence or aggression. Difficulty with toilet training relates to the Anal stage, where conflicts around control may cause fixation, leading to stubbornness or messiness. During the Phallic stage, children experience the Electra/Oedipus complex, involving fascination with the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent. As children enter adolescence, they focus on peer relationships, marking the Latency stage, characterized by social and nonsexual activities.

Stress and Coping Strategies

Experiencing an unexpected job loss can trigger significant physical and mental stress. Physically, stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, releasing cortisol, which, if prolonged, impairs immune function and increases risk for cardiovascular issues (McEwen, 2007). Mentally, stress can lead to anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments, including concentration difficulty and decision-making challenges (Lupien et al., 2009). To cope with such adversity, employing adaptive strategies is essential.

Practical coping strategies include active problem-solving, such as updating resumes, networking, and seeking new job opportunities, which directly address the stressor. Emotional regulation techniques like mindfulness meditation and deep breathing help reduce anxiety and promote mental resilience (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Social support from family, friends, or professional counselors provides emotional reassurance and practical advice, alleviating feelings of helplessness (Thoits, 2011). Physical activity, such as running or gym workouts, not only improves mood through endorphin release but also enhances physical health, counteracting some adverse effects of stress (Salmon, 2001). Maintaining a structured daily routine facilitates a sense of control and purpose, important for psychological stability. Perspective-taking and cognitive restructuring help reframe negative thoughts, fostering optimism and adaptive outlooks (Beck, 2011). Overall, integrating these strategies fosters resilience, enabling individuals to navigate and recover from stressful life events effectively.

References

• Ansbacher, H. L., & Ansbacher, R. R. (1956). The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler. Basic Books.
• Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Basics and Beyond. Guilford Press.
• Freud, S. (1917). An Outline of Psycho-Analysis. Standard Edition, 23, 143-207.
• Horney, K. (1937). The Neurotic Personality of Our Time. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and His Symbols. Dell Publishing.
• Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living. Delta.
• Kihlstrom, J. F. (2012). The cognitive unconscious. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 271-297.
• Lupien, S. J., McEwen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., & Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress on brain and behavior. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 434-445.
• McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873–904.
• Salmon, P. (2001). Effects of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress: a unifying theory. Clinical Psychology Review, 21(1), 33–61.
• Thoits, P. A. (2011). Mechanisms linking social ties and support to physical and mental health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 52(2), 145–161.