Lecture 2: Perspectives in Psychology

Psychoanalytic Theory
 Early Psychologists

• The goal of the early psychologists

was to create a science of the
mind
– Structuralists

• Biological and evolutionary

foundations
– Functionalists
• Introspection as a method of
measurement
 Criticism of Introspection

• The problem of consciousness

– Accuracy of self-report
– Level of awareness

• Gives no role to unconscious processes

– Thoughts and perceptions which we may not be
aware of
 Psychoanalytic Theory
• Sigmund Freud
– Early 20th century
– Based in Vienna, Austria
– The first comprehensive theory
of personality
 Psychoanalytic Theory

• Freud was first person to advocate a form of

psychotherapy to treat disorders of the mind
– Psychoanalysis
• Goal is to gain access to
the unconscious mind
 Psychoanalytic Theory

Id

Ego

Superego
 Psychoanalytic Theory

• The different layers of personality develop during

childhood
– Id develops first then the ego
– Later the superego
 Psychoanalytic Theory

• Pleasure Principle
• Reality Principle
• Influence of the superego

Superego

Id Ego
 Psychoanalytic Theory

• Unresolved conflict during childhood manifests itself

as conflict and anxiety in adulthood
– Constant struggle between personal desires and
socially acceptable behavior
 Psychoanalytic Theory
• Freud used different methods to access the
unconscious mind
– Hypnosis
– Free Association
– Projective tests
– “Freudian slips”
 Psychoanalytic Theory
• Dreams are the “royal road to the
unconscious”
– Manifest content
– Latent content
• Only a skilled psychoanalyst can
interpret latent content
 Defense Mechanisms

• The struggle between the id and ego is constant

– Psychic energy
• Ego employs defense mechanisms to try to keep
out unwanted thoughts and desires
– Anxiety reduction

• For many people Freud’s defense

mechanisms are the most
accessible aspects of his theory
 Defense Mechanisms

• Repression
• Denial
• Displacement
• Reaction Formation
• Rationalization
• Projection
• Sublimation
 Neo-Freudian Theories

• Freud’s psychoanalytic theory was very influential

and attracted many followers
– The Psychoanalytic Society
– Criticisms of Freud’s theory
 Neo-Freudian Theories

• Alfred Adler
– The first major follower to break with Freud
• Individual Psychology
– Striving for superiority
 Neo-Freudian Theories

• Adler stressed importance of early childhood

experiences in forming personality
– Neglect
– Pampering
 Neo-Freudian Theories

• Adler also felt that birth order had long-term

consequences for shaping personality
 Neo-Freudian Theories

• Difference between Freud’s view of personality and

Adler’s
– How to explain the successful businessman?
 Neo-Freudian Theories
• Carl Jung
– The closest of Freud’s followers
– Analytic Psychology
• Jung traveled extensively and was interested in
ancient mythology and Eastern religions
• Collective Unconscious
– Inherited and universal
 Neo-Freudian Theories
• Archetypes

Mother Shadow

Anima and Animus

 Neo-Freudian Theories
• Karen Horney
– Established her own
psychoanalytic institute in U.S.

• Neurosis develops from problems

with interpersonal relationships
• Three problematic styles:
– Moving Toward People
– Moving Against People
– Moving Away From People
 Freudian and Neo-Freudian Theories
• Freud is possibly the most influential and widely
known psychologist in history

• First to recognize and study unconscious mind

• Empirical standards
• Anecdotal evidence
• Reliance on case studies
• Falsifiability
Lecture 3: Behaviorism & Humanism
 Behaviorism

• Behaviorist theory of psychology was a reaction to

what came before
– Introspection
– Freudian and Neo-Freudian theories

• The study of overt behavior

– Measurable (observable)
– Predictable
– Changeable
 Behaviorism

• John Watson (early 1900s):

United States

– Reorientation of psychology
as a science of observable
behaviors
 Behaviorism

• More advanced behavior could be

changed through conditioning

• Little Albert and creating a fear

response
 Behaviorism

• Radical Behaviorism
– B.F. Skinner
– Personality develops from the
consequences of our actions
• Reinforcement
• Punishment
• Didn’t reject the existence of inner
thoughts
– Challenged extent to which they
are the true cause of behavior
 Behaviorism

• Conditioned from birth to respond to specific

events in predictable ways
– Ex: learning from teachers and parents
 Humanism
• Counter-reaction to Freudian theories
– Slaves to our unconscious urges and desires
• Counter-reaction to radical behaviorism
– Slaves to our environment

• The unique and personal experience of being

human
– People reach their potential through greater
self-awareness and understanding
 Humanism

• Abraham Maslow
– Self-actualization

• Peak Experiences
• Flow
Maslow’s Hierarchy

Deficiency needs

Growth needs
 Humanism
• Personal responsibility for our actions and growth
through self-knowledge
– Phenomenological

• Carl Rogers faced early failures

as a therapist
– Making decisions for others

• Clients should arrive at their

own decisions
 Humanism

• Person-centered therapy

• Clients able to disclose their

personal thoughts in safe and
non-judgmental setting
– Unconditional positive regard

• Role of therapist is to guide client

toward self-awareness
– Reflection
 Humanism

• Personality consists of only one construct

– Self-concept

• Congruence
• Incongruence
Humanism
 Humanism

• Subception
• Distortion
• Disorganization
 Humanism
• Humanism is not as structured as other theories

• Four main elements

– Personal responsibility
– “here and now”
– Personal experience
– Personal growth

• Fully-functioning individual
 Humanism
• Humanist-based approaches to personality tend to
be very appealing
– Foundation of modern counseling therapy
– Group therapy
– Weaknesses