Freud's Most Important Contribution to Study of Personality - Essay Example

QUESTIONS Q1. What is Freud's most important contribution to study of personality Why is this considered to be important Freud's most important contribution to study of personality is introduction of new dynamic psychology from which psychoanalysis has developed. This is important since this provides a plausible explanation of psychoneurosis within the framework of personalities. Although debatable, any expression of personality, according to Freud is a manifestation of set predisposition to Ego and Sex. These basal complexes are modified as a result of social encounters, and these conflicts act as the chief influences on the primary dispositions. Most psychoneuroses are dependent on the failure of the personality to a find an adequate solution of this conflict, and the compromise that the person reaches is not satisfactory to him. The basal or primary dispositions develop in the childhood, and they determine the future psychic development. Therefore, the personality and its forms are actually determined by the childhood development in terms of Sex and Ego, which may distinguish between different personalities. This, therefore may serve as a key to knowing these personalities. Q2. Based on the understanding of Adler's construct of "style of life." Adler's style of life theory contends that the determining factors that mould human behaviour and development and hence personality are to gain power and ascendency against the environment. This means, in human personality, the conduct is determined by a final purpose. A person's styles of life or temperamental factors determine his behaviour. According to his theory, the style of life is an affective and cognitive representation of the existential problems that any person desired to resolve. Thus this reflects the person's reactions to his perceptions about reality and the reactions that demonstrate in the ways of coping with it. This is a manifestation of cultural adaptation through the interaction between the person and the reality. Functionally, these may be equivalent to the cognitive and psychological traits of the personality which is reflected upon the genetic inheritance. Q3. Consider Horney's construct called "the Tyranny of the should." Describe the effects of this construct on behavior. Give an example of this tyranny has affected someone's lifestyle. Horney's construct of the "tyranny of should" are well depicted in the childhood development, which in future may lead to a neurotic personality. These develop early in the development through influences from temperament and environment. The child's personality and his degree of vitality and his nature and its quality may make a child rebellious or submissive under such pressures created by parental coercion. The tyranny is created by love and intimidation, tyranny, and glorification. These create the environment of the child, and their personality will be influenced by such relationships which may alter the environment from the normal of warmth, mutual respect and consideration. From the perspective the "tyranny of should" from the parents exerts pressure on the child even up to the extent that he may start feeling that his existence is dependent upon the parental wishes. The consequences are improper or incomplete development of self-respect. The personality may become insecure, apprehensive, isolated, and resentful. Although initially, helpless, gradually he starts coping and become manipulative. The case of a child who has a stubborn negativism and who expresses himself with temper tantrums may be considered. His coping mechanism is shutting himself from others, living in his own world, where he can resent and reject every demand made upon him by the "tyranny of should" and he makes inroads to isolation and privacy which might be the beginning of a neurosis. Q4. Consider the frames of orientation presented by Fromm. Give a specific example of behavior which constitutes a healthy frame of orientation. Give specific example of behavior which constitutes an unhealthy frame of orientation. Be sure to identify which frame of orientation you are presenting for each type. While discussing personality, Fromm pointed out frames of orientation. These frames depict the ways a person relate or interact with the world around and in this way constitute his personality or character in general. These generally develop from two specific varieties of interrelatedness to the environment, assimilation and socialisation. Assimilation involves acquiring and synthesising information within, leading to a character in the personality. The socialisation is collecting information through social encounters. These orientational frameworks are actually equivalent to instinctual systems in animals, and these describe the development of personality in humans through his innate responses to conflicts in life, although classically pure orientations are never encountered in personalities around. Healthy frame of orientation, productive. Unhealthy frame of orientation, exploitative. This is characterised by the neurotic need to exploit others, in terms of money, ideas, sexuality, and feelings. They have pride in exploitative skills. They have dread for being exploited. Q5. Give an example from real life or from fiction of a person who adopts a negative identity rather than suffer from turmoil and confusion. Discuss the function of the negative identity. What would the person have to experience in order to counter the negative identity Taking the story of an adolescent substance abuser whose mother was divorced and the alcoholic father left them unsupported, this incriminated and delinquent young man was an example of assuming negative behaviour. To be able to develop into healthy adult with a totally integrated personality and a positive identity, the child must master the turmoil of crisis that might present in any stage of the development. In each stage of development, the child may fail to adequately and successfully negotiate the crisis and fail to develop a positive identity. This would ultimately lead to developmental delays, personality dysfunction, and all would surmise into a negative identity. This is a result of perverse identification and roles at critical stages of development that appear real, dangerous, and undesirable. Establishment of more prosocial self in the phase of early to late adolescence when the pursuit of identity is maximum, would lead to development of a healthy personality which in turn would lead to adjustments to the reality and conflicts and absence of negative identity. Q6. Consider Roger's definition of self-actualized person. Describe someone who has become self-actualized. When a human being receives positive regard from others, they start to learn to think very positively about themselves. According to Roger, self-actualization is a process which differentiates inherent potentials in the individual personality makeup. This is a self-enhancing process which is essentially constructive and helps the individual to move forward. This arises from self-awareness that is stimulated by positive regard leading to a relatively experience congruent self-concept. President Bill Clinton, during his tenure made some poor decisions which affected his tenure in White House. According to Rogerian concepts, Clinton was striving to actualize himself was attempting to prefect the self. His need for positive regard was found in Monica. The bad choices of both led a situation when they lost regard throughout the world. From the other angle, his performance as the President earned him the honour back, and he was able to move forward. Q7. Consider Roger's definition of unconditional positive regard. Give examples that support that construct. Unconditional positive regard is one of the main concepts in psychotherapy and in personality development. This concept is closely related to self-awareness, and this individual longs for unconditional positive regard from others. This means acceptance of one person by others without any condition. This also means caring without possessiveness with independence of expression of feelings without any hindrance. The relationship between a client and therapist may be an example of unconditional positive regard where the client has liberty to express self, think independently, and yet regarded by the therapist with care and acknowledgement. Roger has contended that moving towards healthier adjustment in life experiences would need an enhancement of unconditional positive regard. Q8. Consider Erikson's stages of personality development. The maturation into a healthy adult with a positive identity, adjustment, and an integrated personality from childhood, the child passes through eight stages of development, where the child attempts to overpower the crisis. These stages are namely, trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority, identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair. In each of these stages, the individual either fail to successfully complete a stage or is able to adequately negotiate the crisis. Q9. Consider May's definition of Daesin. Give an example from on someone's life that supports May's argument that supporting and affirming our Daesin takes considerable courage. Daesin is a concept of existential psychology, which attempts to explain personality and its existence as being in the world. According to May, there are three significant modes of existence. These are the physical and the psychological needs, the social environment of the persons, and the particular relationship with the inner nature. This means the personality of a specific individual is needed to be examined in the context of his total reality of existence with special interest in problems and differing perceptions. Therefore there is a necessity to have a holistic understanding of the personality including consciousness, moods, emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Taking the example of President Bill Clinton again, his affair with Monica and subsequent account by the President needed considerable courage to face the experience in a retrospective manner where truth was revealed about his existence at that time. His account related his values, conflicts, meaning of life, suffering, anxiety, and finally the account of his relationship with Monica. Q10. Consider Maslow's definition of the self-actualized person. Describe someone who fit his criteria. Self actualization by Maslow has been defined as the complete use of talents and potentialities who develops himself in a dynamic way so his capacities are fully and creatively used with full concentration and total absorption. These persons are nearer to reality and are very objective. As an example, William Gates can be cited. He is dedicated to a cause and is committed to it in such a manner that he placed his vocation above him. He was self-actualized and creative, hard working, spontaneous, and courageous. He is realistic and his approach was problem centered. He is resistant to enculturation, and he has a philosophical unhostile sense of humour. Q11. Consider theories of personality. Give your perception of what constitutes personality change There are many theories about personality. The most prominent among them are behavioural theories, psychodynamic theories, and humanist theories. Personality changes involve usually an affective process or process of feelings in the individual, nearly always taking place in the context of an ongoing personal relationship. These are usually manifested in the form of changes in feelings, emotions, thought processes, behaviours, and changes in the innate traits that is called a normal personality of the individual. Q12. Based on all of the above which theory would you consider to be the most useful and which theory would you consider to be the least. For psychotherapy, the most useful theory is Alder's theory of style of life, since this uses psychoanalysis in the more appropriate perspective and hence can be used in practice. In my opinion the Daesin Theory by May is least useful due to its philosophical speculations and theological hints. There is a lack of objective methods and is less useful in experimental and scientific approaches in modern day psychotherapy. Read More