Sigmund Freud Theory

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Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). (Schultz & Schultz, 2012, p. 294) Freud viewed the entire human psyche from a sexual perspective. He defined the unconscious as a collection of repressed personal material. He believed that behaviors are controlled by the unconscious mind, which could be understood through dreams and free association. (Lothane, 2006, p.295-296). He theorized that the human mind had three basic components: the id, the ego, and the superego, and these individual parts often conflict, shaping personality and if not treated, causing neurosis (Schultz & Schultz, 2012, p. 321-323). He stated that therapy could repair narcissism that stemmed from low self-esteem, through transference as patients begin to get the things they missed. Freudians believe there are two basic conflicting drives in a person: the life drive and the death drive. The life drive supports survival by avoiding uncomfortable and life-threatening situations while the death drive desired extreme pleasures that to death (Reppen, 2006, p. 215-216). Freud's often-controversial psychoanalysis was an attempt to explain the human psyche (mind) which is comprised of three components: the id, ego, and superego; and the conflict between these components shaped personality (Swanson, 1963, p. 14-16). He believed the ego is responsive to the id that developed at infancy. He also believed that defense mechanisms are unconsciously adopted to protect the ego from anxiety. He was convinced that anxiety was used to warn the ego of potential threats. He focused on internally held forces, including conflicts, biological dispositions, and sexual motivation for his theories (Macintyre, 1963, p. 98-99). He sought to address underlying issues in a person's life, and personal cha... ... middle of paper ... ... characteristics originate during childhood (Schultz & Schultz, 2012, p. 330-334). Melanie Klein 1882-1960) Klein defined the object relations theories as an intense emotional bond between mother and child that occurred in the first six month of life. Object relations theorist emphasizes the social and environmental influences on personality, particularly within the mother child interaction. She was insistence that aggression is an important force when analyzing children. This belief brought her into conflict with Anna Freud. Klein asserted that analysis does not harm the ego but actually strengthens it. She equated child’s play with free-association. She thought that fear and aggressive tendencies were also present at this age and held them to be more important in understanding deviant development than psychosexual development (Schultz & Schultz, 2012, p. 323-324).

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