Psychoanalytic Theory of Psychological Theories

Posted: May 3rd, 2024

Psychoanalytic Theory of Psychological Theories

Psychoanalytic theory is one of the most influential and controversial psychological theories in the history of psychology. It was developed by Sigmund Freud and his followers, who believed that human behavior is determined by unconscious forces, such as instincts, drives, and conflicts. Psychoanalytic theory aims to uncover these hidden aspects of the mind and to help people resolve their psychological problems through psychotherapy.

According to psychoanalytic theory, the human personality consists of three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. The id is the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle, which seeks immediate gratification of needs and desires. The ego is the rational and realistic part of the mind that operates on the reality principle, which tries to balance the demands of the id and the external world. The superego is the moral and idealistic part of the mind that operates on the morality principle, which represents the internalized values and standards of society.

The interaction among these three parts of the personality creates psychological tension and conflict, which can lead to anxiety. To cope with anxiety, the ego uses various defense mechanisms, such as repression, denial, projection, rationalization, displacement, sublimation, and others. These defense mechanisms are unconscious processes that distort or deny reality in order to protect the ego from being overwhelmed by anxiety.

Psychoanalytic theory also proposes that human development occurs in a series of stages, each characterized by a different focus of libido (sexual energy) and a different conflict that needs to be resolved. These stages are: oral stage (birth to 18 months), anal stage (18 months to 3 years), phallic stage (3 to 6 years), latency stage (6 to puberty), and genital stage (puberty to adulthood). If a person fails to resolve a conflict at any stage, he or she may become fixated at that stage and develop certain personality traits or psychological problems related to that stage.

Psychoanalytic theory has been criticized for being unscientific, sexist, deterministic, and based on biased observations. However, it has also been praised for being innovative, insightful, and influential. Psychoanalytic theory has inspired many other psychological theories and approaches, such as neo-Freudian theories, object relations theory, attachment theory, self psychology, ego psychology, psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, existential therapy, and others. Psychoanalytic theory has also contributed to the fields of literature, art, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies.

References:

– Freud, S. (2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers). The Interpretation of Dreams. New York: Oxford University Press.
– McLeod, S. (2020). Psychoanalysis: An Introduction. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychoanalysis.html
– Storr, A. (2021). Freud: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press.

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