Cheryl Hoskinson

Psychology 214
July 30, 2016

Journal 3 (J3): chapters 10-13

1. Finally, we've gotten to Freud, which is what most people think of when they
think of psychology. Many people say Freud is ancient history best forgotten.
Others think differently. After reading these chapters how would you respond to
both supporters and opponents of Freudian theory? Consider this big question as
you write your thoughts in this week's journal.
First of all, Freud is not dead some of his theories may not have lasted all
these years, but he still has some valid points.
The main theories that have been replaced basically concern the Oedipal
crisis has been replaced by other psychologist theories.
The Id, Ego and Super ego were really huge when I was growing up in the
seventies especially with the book Im Okay Youre Okay by Thomas
Anthony Harris M.D.
Freud did leave us a few things that are in practice today such as the
talking cure which is the idea that talking about a problem helps, free
association occurs when the psychiatrist lets his client say whatever
comes to mind, and transference is when the client and the psychiatrist
have an emotional bond which makes it easier for the client to say what is
on his mind. I remember when I was in high school, and I was seeing the
school psychologist and that was very evident the bond that was between
us and I know that it helped me to open up to him as I was going through
my struggles to fit in to high school.
Another thing that Freud left us is his theories of defense mechanisms
such as projection and denial. I believe that they are as valid today as they
were back in Freuds time.
2. What is angst? Is it good or bad? What can you do with it?
A. The definition of angst in existential philosophy, is the anxiety that stems
from doubts about the meaning and purpose of life, also referred to as
existential anxiety.
B. According to Sartre angst can be analyzed into three separate sensations:
anguish, forlornness, and despair.
a) Every person feels anguish because choices, though a part of life,
are never perfect. A choice to do good in one way can lead to bad
outcomes. For instance, when I decided to go to Alaska on a
mission trip although it was to go there and do good onto others in
the long run it put me behind school which I am still behind in one
of my classes.

b) Forlorn means that we are alone with our decision. No matter what
anybody told me about my decision to go to Alaska. For instance,
my mom told me that I should not go, because I would be behind
in my classes. The final decision was mind to face alone.
c) Any living person will realize that many outcomes are beyond their
control, including some of the most important elements of life. If a
person acknowledges this momentous and regrettable fact, they
will feel despair at their inability to change crucial aspects of the
world. This inability, according to Sartre, only redoubles a persons
responsibility to affect those aspects of the world that they can
influence.
C. Is Angst bad or good. It deals with unpleasant experiences, but according
to Sartre it must be dealt with directly. It is our own moral choice to face
our own mortality and the apparent meaningless of life and to seek
purpose for our own existence. This is our existential responsibility which
requires existential courage which Sartre refers to as optimistic toughness.
D. What can I do with it? I look at my own life and I know that I believe that
life is worth something, and that everything happens for a reason. I also
know that as a Christian that every minute of my life was determined
before I was born, so I am just living it out one day at a time. There will be
times when I will inevitably make poor decisions, dont we all, but I will
get passed it, and go on living the dream.
3. How are the theories of Rogers, Maslow, and Csikszentmihalyi very different
from those weve studied earlier? Which theories seem more compatible to your
way of thinking and why?
A. The reason that I feel that Rogers, Maslow and Csikszentmihalyis
theories were different than what we have studied before is that it comes
from within whereas the other theories that we have been studying
basically deal with the way we relate to society. The earlier theories were
displaying how we look on the outside to others as they would perceive us
as in the big 5 traits which are neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness,
conscientiousness, and openness (or intellect) this is seen as the person
from the outside in whereas Maslow and Rodgers are looking how the
person identifies within himself. Self-actualization is actually where the
person is seeing how their needs are being meet. According to Rodgers
theory, a person can be understood only from the perspective of her
phenomenal field, which is the entire panorama if conscious experience.
Unlike Freud who believed it was from the subconscious individual. In the
conscious person everything comes together such as unconscious
conflicts, environmental influences, memories, and hopes. Maslow, of
course, believed in the hierarchy of needs where one need must be meet
before another need can be satisfied until the person finally becomes who
they really want to be which is self-actualized. The full functioning person
will be happy and have taken full responsibility of their choices.
Csikszentmihalyi term the word flow which is characterized by
tremendous concentration, total lack of distractibility, and thoughts
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concerning the activity at hand. An individuals mood is elevated slightly,

and time seems to pass by quickly.
B. How is my thinking concerning all the theories that we have learned so far
I think that it is a combination of both types of theories? We need to show
the world our true self while also working on meeting our own needs from
within our own personal selves. I would love to have a job where I can get
into the flow of things, and that time would just fly by because I am
enjoying what I am doing.
4. Whats wrong with the idea of comparing one culture to another?
The reason a person cant compare one culture to another is the same exact
reason why a person cant compare one person to another because nobody
is the same we are all unique just like every culture is unique.
Even within the United States as one of my classmates mentioned that she
had grown up in North Carolina and the culture, and the way of life was so
much different than what she experienced on the west coast.
In my own experience just the difference between being in the military
and being a civilian are so much different that it would be unfair to any of
the cultures it is just a different way of living one is collective while
another is individualistic.
5. What is the outgroup homogeneity bias and can you think of your own specific
example?
Outgroup homogeneity bias is the socio-psychological phenomenon by
which members of a group to which one does not belong seem more alike
than do members of a group to which one does belong. A good example of
this would be when I was in the service I would view anyone that was not
in the Navy as being all the same such as the Air Force, Marines, Coast
Guard, and the Army.
6. You can cover topics or concepts that you find particularly interesting, you
disagree with, you have examples from the week to illustrate, etc., however, make
sure you respond to the required topics above first.
I would say that the thing that impressed me the most was that some of the
theories that I learned make in the late seventies and early eighties are still
pertinent today in the 21st century. Theorist like Freud, Erickson, Maslow,
and Rodgers are still seen as valid theorist. It still interests me the life
stages that Freud and Erickson put together. There are a lot of new theories
out there that were not studied back when I was going to school like
Csikszentmihalyi idea of flow as the moment goes by quickly when we are
absorbed in what we are doing like for instance this paper
It was also interesting learning about the different cultures and how they
play a role in psychology. I am learning about multi-culture principles as
an educator and that ties closely in culture psychology.