The Psychology of the PersonThe Psychology of the PersonChapter 5Chapter 5 Neo-Freudians Neo-Freudians

Naomi Wagner, Ph.DNaomi Wagner, Ph.D

Lecture Outlines Lecture Outlines

Based on Burger, 8Based on Burger, 8thth edition edition

Background for the Emergence of theBackground for the Emergence of the Neo-Freudians Neo-Freudians

Many scholars who gathered around Many scholars who gathered around Freud in Vienna eventually broke away Freud in Vienna eventually broke away from the Vienna group to develop their from the Vienna group to develop their own theories of personality and establish own theories of personality and establish their own schools of psychology.their own schools of psychology.

Collectively, these theorists are known Collectively, these theorists are known as the neo- Freudians because they as the neo- Freudians because they retained many basic Freudian concepts retained many basic Freudian concepts and assumptions.and assumptions.

Limitations of Freudian Theory Limitations of Freudian Theory According to the Neo-Freudians According to the Neo-Freudians

Among the limits they saw in Freud's Among the limits they saw in Freud's theory were:theory were:

His failure to recognize personality His failure to recognize personality change after the first few years of lifechange after the first few years of life

His emphasis on instinctual over social His emphasis on instinctual over social influencesinfluences

• The generally negative picture he The generally negative picture he painted of human nature.painted of human nature.

(Cont-d) (Cont-d)

They differed from Freud along some They differed from Freud along some aspects of his theoryaspects of his theory

Freud put emphasis on early childhood Freud put emphasis on early childhood and on instinctual drives, without and on instinctual drives, without considering social factors.considering social factors.

The neo-Freudians also objected to the The neo-Freudians also objected to the overall pessimistic tone of Freud, and his overall pessimistic tone of Freud, and his views of female inferiority. views of female inferiority.

Alfred Adler and Individual PsychologyAlfred Adler and Individual Psychology

Adler was an eye-doctor, who was a weak and Adler was an eye-doctor, who was a weak and sick childsick childHis autobiography is important for the His autobiography is important for the understanding of his ideasunderstanding of his ideas

Alfred Adler introduced the concept of Alfred Adler introduced the concept of striving striving for superiorityfor superiority to account for most human to account for most human motivation. motivation.

It is the ONLY motivation in lifeIt is the ONLY motivation in life

Superiority and Inferiority Superiority and Inferiority

Adler argued that we are motivated to Adler argued that we are motivated to overcome feelings of helplessness that overcome feelings of helplessness that are rooted in the infant’s dependence on are rooted in the infant’s dependence on othersothers

The striving for superiority is not The striving for superiority is not expressed a an egotistic sense of expressed a an egotistic sense of grandiosity, but rather in grandiosity, but rather in Social InterestSocial Interest

Meaning- working to benefit others Meaning- working to benefit others

Parental Behavior and Birth orderParental Behavior and Birth order

Adler also identified parental pampering Adler also identified parental pampering and neglect as two sources of later and neglect as two sources of later personality problems.personality problems.

He argued that middle born children were He argued that middle born children were the most achieving and were less likely to the most achieving and were less likely to experience psychological disorders than experience psychological disorders than were first-born or last-born.were first-born or last-born.

Birth Order Birth Order

Advantages Adler saw in the middle child Advantages Adler saw in the middle child

Carl Jung and Analytical PsychologyCarl Jung and Analytical Psychology

Carl Jung proposed the existence of a Carl Jung proposed the existence of a collective unconsciouscollective unconscious that houses that houses primordial images he called archetypes.primordial images he called archetypes. The collective unconscious contains The collective unconscious contains material each of us inherited from past material each of us inherited from past generations and is basically the same for generations and is basically the same for all people. all people. Evidence for the collective unconscious Evidence for the collective unconscious was in ethnic myths, religions, dreamswas in ethnic myths, religions, dreams

Archetypes Archetypes

Jung used the terms Archetypes or Jung used the terms Archetypes or Primordial Images to refer to the collective Primordial Images to refer to the collective unconscious materials.unconscious materials.Most important of the archetypes are the Most important of the archetypes are the anima,anima, the the animusanimus, and the shadow. Jung , and the shadow. Jung pointed to the recurrent surfacing of pointed to the recurrent surfacing of archetypal symbols in folklore, art, archetypal symbols in folklore, art, dreams, and psychotic patients as dreams, and psychotic patients as evidence for their existence.evidence for their existence.

Symbol (?) Symbol (?)

Erik Erikson and Ego Psychology Erik Erikson and Ego Psychology

Role of ego: To establish and maintain a Role of ego: To establish and maintain a sense of identity sense of identity Development across the lifespan: Erikson Development across the lifespan: Erikson divided the lifespan into 8 phasesdivided the lifespan into 8 phasesEach phase had a developmental task to Each phase had a developmental task to accomplish, which Erikson called “crisis”accomplish, which Erikson called “crisis”The crisis can be resolved either positively The crisis can be resolved either positively or negatively, affecting further or negatively, affecting further developmentdevelopment

The Eight Phases of DevelopmentThe Eight Phases of DevelopmentInfancy: Trust vs. mistrust Infancy: Trust vs. mistrust

• Child depends on the responsiveness of Child depends on the responsiveness of

the caregivers the caregivers

Toddler: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt Toddler: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Allowing the child to explore provides a Allowing the child to explore provides a sense of mastery over the environment sense of mastery over the environment

Early Childhood: Initiative vs. Guilt Early Childhood: Initiative vs. Guilt

Learn how to interact with others, seek out Learn how to interact with others, seek out playmates and resolve conflicts playmates and resolve conflicts

Karen Horney and Feminine PsychologyKaren Horney and Feminine Psychology

Karen Horney rejected Freud's emphasis on Karen Horney rejected Freud's emphasis on instinctual causes of personality development. instinctual causes of personality development. She argued that the differences Freud saw She argued that the differences Freud saw between the personalities of men and women between the personalities of men and women were more likely the result of social factors than were more likely the result of social factors than inherited predispositions.inherited predispositions. Horney maintained that Horney maintained that neurotic behaviorneurotic behavior is is the result of interpersonal styles developed in the result of interpersonal styles developed in childhood to overcome anxiety. She identified childhood to overcome anxiety. She identified three neurotic stylesthree neurotic styles, which she called moving , which she called moving toward people, moving against people, and toward people, moving against people, and moving away from people moving away from people

Elementary School: Industry vs. Inferiority Elementary School: Industry vs. Inferiority

Social comparison with classmates may Social comparison with classmates may evoke a sense of competence or faliure evoke a sense of competence or faliure

Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion

Time of experimentation Time of experimentation

Young Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation Young Adulthood: Intimacy vs. Isolation

Developing intimate relationship Developing intimate relationship

Middle Adulthood: Generativity vs. Middle Adulthood: Generativity vs. Stagnation Stagnation

Guiding the next generation or involving in Guiding the next generation or involving in self-idulgence self-idulgence

Older Age: Ego Integrity vs. Despair Older Age: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Reflection on past experience creates a Reflection on past experience creates a sense of integrity and acceptance sense of integrity and acceptance

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

. Among the personality assessment instruments . Among the personality assessment instruments to come out of the neo- Freudian theories is the to come out of the neo- Freudian theories is the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorMyers-Briggs Type Indicator This test measures “psychological types”, This test measures “psychological types”, as outlined by Jung. as outlined by Jung. Test scores divide people into types along four Test scores divide people into types along four dimensions: extraversion-introversion, sensing-dimensions: extraversion-introversion, sensing-intuitive, thinking-feeling, and judgment-intuitive, thinking-feeling, and judgment-perception. Researchers have challenged the perception. Researchers have challenged the way the test divides people into categories. way the test divides people into categories.

Current Status of the Neo-Freudians Current Status of the Neo-Freudians

The Neo-Freudians are mentioned today primarily The Neo-Freudians are mentioned today primarily because of their historical relevancebecause of their historical relevanceAmong the strengths of the neo-Freudian theories are Among the strengths of the neo-Freudian theories are the contributions they made to psychoanalytic theory. the contributions they made to psychoanalytic theory. Many later approaches to personality were no doubt Many later approaches to personality were no doubt influenced by one or more of these theorists. influenced by one or more of these theorists. Criticisms of the neo- Freudians include their use of Criticisms of the neo- Freudians include their use of biased and questionable data to support the theories. In biased and questionable data to support the theories. In addition, critics have charged that some of the theories addition, critics have charged that some of the theories are oversimplified and incompleteare oversimplified and incomplete. .