Theories- advantages and disadvantages PDF

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Summary

Professor Alison McLeish...

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Defining Features Matrix The Defining Features Matrix is a way to help you easily see the main features of each personality theorist we talk about this semester as well as compare the theorists to one another. The matrix consists of 3 columns labeled 2-3 Sentence Summary of Theory (2-3 sentence succinct summary of theory), Strengths (list 2 most important strengths of the theory), and Criticisms (list 2 most important criticisms of the theory). Theorist Freud

2-3 Sentence Summary of Theory Strengths Psychoanalytic Freud argues that each individual’s personality 1. Freud’s psychoanalytic is formed through the conflicts between three theory was the first to main components of the brain called the id introduce the concept of the (desires), ego (mediator between ego and compartmentalized brain superego), and superego (rationalist). and how personality is According to him, there are underlying sexual formed through the relations origins of emotional problems that need to be of those brain sections. discovered, as represented by his five stages of 2. This theory can be used to psychosexual theory of development (oral, anal, explain the nature of human phallic, latent, and genital). development and the stages of development can help explain mental functioning.

Neo-Psychoanalytic

Criticisms 1. There is no solid scientific evidence for any part of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, as it is difficult to test out. Although Freud makes some valid points with the id, ego, and superego and how those work together, we still cannot prove that they actually exist. 2. Freud believed conflicts with one’s inner sexuality was the cause behind emotional problems, which generalizes and exaggerates human behavior without any social, cultural, or historical contexts.

Jung

Adler

Horney

Carl Jung’s theory expanded on Freud’s ideas; he put greater emphasis on the unconscious (collective and personal), and broadened the Freudian term ‘libido’ to mean a generalized dynamic force shaped by the future and the past. He wrote about personality development, from childhood (ego, centered on the self vs others) to middle age (time of transition, focused on inner world). Furthermore, Jung explained individuation; the process and stages of reaching fulfillment and integrating all aspects of one’s personality. Adler’s individualistic theory of psychology focuses on the social environments of the individual. The theory argues that an individual’s main cause of motivation in life are feelings of inferiority, which are normal, and inferiority causes our need to strive for perfection. He talks about the styles of life, which are the ways (divided into four main categories) that we deal with the essentials of living such as our interpersonal life, occupational life, etc. Finally, Adler also talks about the theory of birth order; how the order of birth for every person shapes the dynamic of their personality and their style of life. Unlike Freud, Karen Horney believed that social and cultural factors played a vital role in shaping personality, and that biological factors were not the only things forming personality. She also did not believe that our needs and desires were a result of repressed sexual

1. There is scientific support for individuation, as well as midlife crisis/growth. 2. His theory aims for integration of the unconscious contents.

1. Jung used the case study method, however, did not take notes on his work. 2. Just like Freud’s theory, Jung’s theories were difficult to empirically research.

1. Held a positive view of human nature, as opposed to Freud’s pessimistic and cynical view. 2. Focused less on sex and underlying sexual motivations, as opposed to Freud.

1. Adler’s primary assessment methods were through dream analysis, order of birth, and early recollections; none of which are tangible evidence. 2. Thought therapists should use their intuition when assessing patients because personality tests “create artificial situations and gives ambiguous results.” 1. Researchers criticized the theory for not being as well-developed as Freud’s. 2. Her theory and work were all heavily influenced

1. Optimistic view of human nature; did not believe humans were doomed to conflict. 2. Research supports her theory of neurotic trends,

Maslow

Rogers

aggression- her theory explains that people are feminine psychology, the motivated by our needs of love, safety. and tyranny of the shoulds security. When the sense of security is (neurotic person feels as threatened, children repress their hostility, though their real self does ultimately leading them to develop anxiety and not live up to the ideal self), neurotic needs as adults. Horney also discusses and neurotic the idealized self-image and how it helps competitiveness. individuals hit their maximum potential (self-realization). Humanistic Maslow focused on individuals’ development 1. The biggest strength is this throughout their life, their evolving needs, and theory’s intuitive nature and how these needs shape their personality. His the awareness of emotions. hierarchy of needs ranks human needs from Each person is motivated by most basic physical needs to more advanced something that makes them ones; physiological needs, safety, behave in a way that is love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. unique to that individual. The Maslow stresses our innate drive towards journey towards self-actualization- the realization and/or self-actualization motivates reaching of one’s own potential and talents, people and makes them being free of constraints, having secure desire reaching their full, relationships, and a realistic knowledge of unique potential. strengths and weaknesses. To Maslow, our 2. Focuses on an individual’s needs motivate our personality. own motivations and constructs, instead of focusing on mental illnesses and people’s weaknesses. Rogers’ theory stresses the importance of the 1. Unlike Freud’s theory and self in formation of personality. One’s the biological approach, who self-insight is more important and predictive to view people as strictly one’s behavior than external factors. Like confined by issues that arise Maslow, Rogers believed in free will associated in childhood or biological

by middle class American culture.

1. Lack of scientific evidence 2. Does not take into account cultural contexts and significance; people from different societies, cultures, and socioeconomic status do not have the same life experiences and therefore, might not have that supposedly innate drive towards self-actualization be as strong.

1. Since free will is at the core of this theory, there is no concrete assessment of personality. It is difficult to develop a treatment

with change and our constant internal motivation towards self-actualization after tending to our basic physical and physiological needs. The only measure of personality is one’s subjective experiences, his/her own insight of the self, and how the individual perceives life events and accepts them as true.

Bandura

factors, Rogers’ theory has a positive view of human nature and sees the individual as very powerful. Humans have free will and can change themselves for the better. 2. Person-centered therapy, where the therapist listened to the patient trying to understand their view of themselves and the world around them, has no predetermined structures or beliefs other than that of the patients’ value and worth. Person-centered therapy has remained influential to this day.

Social-Learning Bandura’s theory combines nature and nurture 1. Observational learning as a and conveys that human personality and concept was verified by the functioning are best explained by our Bobo doll experiment, as the interactions between us and our environment; child learned to copy as well as interactions among ourselves. Our aggression through watching behavior comes from social-learning, where we an adult hit the bobo doll. observe and imitate people and model their 2. Bandura believed in behaviors (through paying attention, retention reciprocal determinism, and being able to remember what we paid meaning that the world and a attention to, reproduction of the behavior, and person’s behavior influence having good motivation to imitate). Cognitive, each other, instead of the

technique and evaluate the validity and reliability of the technique. 2. Again, because of the emphasis on free will, this theory does little to help people with mental pathology or severe personality and mood disorders.

1. This theory does not take into account an individual’s physical and mental changes. It ignores standard milestones that come with growth, development, and age. 2. Bandura heavily emphasizes on what happens, but not on how a person handles and process

behavioral, and environmental influences are all continuously influenced by one another and shapes our behavior.

behaviorist and psychoanalytic view that the environment shapes a person’s behavior. Thus, his theory offers a way to integrate social and cognitive theories.

new information. There is no focus on an individual’s personal accountability. For example, social learning theory would say that some children tend to be violent after being exposed to violence in media and playing violent video games. However, it would not explain why some children are naturally aggressive without being exposed to such things or why other children who regularly consume violence in the media do not end up copying aggression....