This paper surveys the major theoretical frameworks in personality psychology through a series of discussion responses. Topics covered include the origins and core concepts of psychoanalysis, Freud's psychosexual stages, Jung's archetypes and dream analysis, Adler's birth-order influences, Erikson's psychosocial stages, Horney's neurotic needs, Murray's tension-reduction model, Rogers's person-centered theory, Kelly's personal construct theory, Skinner's behaviorism and social control, Bandura's social learning theory, Maslow's self-actualization, Allport's trait dispositions, and the Big Five personality dimensions. The paper also reflects on how theorists' personal experiences shaped their work, and concludes with a defense of humanistic psychology as the most compelling integrative framework for understanding human personality.
According to Schultz and Schultz (2008), psychoanalysis arose as a revolt against the medical community's attempts to find physical causes for mental health conditions. Psychoanalysis set out to focus on the psychopathology of individuals and how this impacted their behaviors. There were three major influences on the psychoanalytic movement: (1) philosophical speculation about unconscious psychological phenomena, (2) early ideas about psychopathology, and (3) evolutionary theory (Schultz & Schultz, 2008). Freud's theories were based on the idea that the unconscious can directly impact an individual's behavior or emotions without that person's awareness. This can be seen in individuals who experience depression or anxiety related to unresolved childhood abuse but are unable to understand, without therapeutic support, the root of their difficulties. Behaviors such as avoidance of situations that provoke anxiety are common in individuals with unresolved childhood trauma.
The Oedipus complex in boys develops out of the phallic stage, in which it is believed that the boy resents the father due to rivalry for the mother's attention and, as a result, begins to desire his absence or death. This resentment becomes coupled with sexual urges toward the mother. Young boys often look up to their parents and want to be like them, competing with their father in areas such as sports. Boys today are encouraged to be competitive in order to excel in physical activities, and this competition can include attempts to surpass the accomplishments of the father.
Penis envy occurs when a young girl realizes that she has no penis and believes she is somehow at a disadvantage as a result, blaming the mother for this perceived shortcoming. Throughout history, women have found themselves suppressed or at a significant disadvantage relative to their male counterparts. This disparity remains prominent today in the world of work, where women are beginning to equal the number of men in the workforce yet continue to earn less on average than their male counterparts in equivalent positions. Women are often frustrated by their inability to compete with men in this domain.
A recurring dream involves being late for an appointment — such as a job interview or a meeting — while being unable to find an item desperately needed to leave, such as car keys or a bag. Since Jung utilizes archetypes to explain the process of dreaming, these concepts can be applied to analyze such a dream. Archetypes are modes of behavior formed in the psyche and present in all individuals (Jung, 1971). These pre-existent forms enter consciousness secondarily, giving form to psychic contents (Jung, 1971). The archetype is a part of the unconscious that becomes altered when drawn into consciousness. Archetypes have been established by factors that exist in the real world, such as myths, religions, and historic events (Adams, 2003). Jung (1971) describes archetypes as constants in all societies, such as parenting, rites of passage, and death.
Given this background, the dream of being late for an appointment while unable to find an important item is central to society's expectations of being organized and punctual despite the numerous commitments and directions in which we are pulled each day. The fast pace of modern society can be stressful, and the pressure to meet daily demands is clearly reflected in such a dream.
Jung, like any other individual, had many experiences that he believed made him an expert on human life. However, for the outside observer expected to believe and understand his theories, it is difficult to do so upon truly examining the experiences of this man. For example, his father-son-like relationship with Freud, which eventually fell apart, led to a period of six years during which he suffered an emotional breakdown. One must question whether he had blindly followed Freud. His concepts of introversion and extroversion derived directly from his own experiences as a lonely child. Whether the theories drawn from his personal experiences hold genuine validity in the wider world of psychology is therefore a legitimate question.
As a firstborn child who is significantly older than her siblings, the tendency toward independence is clearly present. Due to the significant age gap, the role in relationships with friends and family quickly became that of nurturer or caretaker — often to the point of forgoing one's own desires or needs in order to support or care for another. Early personal experiences with disadvantaged individuals inspired a desire to work in the helping professions, and the continued pursuit of psychology appears to be a direct result of those experiences. There is also a tendency toward overachievement in all aspects of life, along with a strong inner critic that frequently finds accomplishments never quite good enough. Being extremely detail-oriented and wanting things done correctly the first time leads to struggles with delegation, since it often feels easier to do things personally and ensure they are done right than to depend on others. This may be a direct result of difficulty trusting others to perform tasks to the same standard. Goals that are set are generally achieved, but the intensity of this personality can be overwhelming for others, as less than perfection is rarely acceptable and being told something cannot or will not be done is difficult to accept.
Parenting styles can directly impact the outcome of a child's personality. For example, the parent who always gives a child what they want may raise a child who expects to get what they want and struggles to understand responsibility. These children may have difficulties in relationships with others, struggling to accept the limits placed on them. On the other hand, parents who allow their child to make reasonable choices and exercise control over appropriate aspects of their life will tend to raise children who take ownership of their lives and its outcomes. Discipline should be geared toward teaching a lesson rather than being purely punitive or promoting good behavior through inappropriate rewards.
"Neurotic shoulds, tension reduction, and personality drives"
"Identity vs. role confusion and generativity vs. stagnation"
"Empathy, personal constructs, behaviorism, and social learning"
"Big Five, Maslow, Bandura, and humanistic psychology synthesis"
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