Psy 405 Theories Of Personality Essay

Theories of Personality
Marcella K. Bangert
PSY 405
April 2, 2012
Dr. Chalice C. Jenkins

Theories of Personality
      There are many theories of personality in the field of psychology. Two of the theories of personality were developed by Sigmund Freud and Karen Horney. Psychoanalysis was developed by Sigmund Freud and psychoanalytic social theory was developed by Karen Horney. Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic social theory have strengths and limitations, as well as basic underlying assumptions. An important part of personality theories is to understand whether the theories are deterministic or if there is free will within the theory. The awareness of self, such as the conscious or unconscious motives for behavior is also part of the theories of personality. Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic social theory have many factors which make each theory unique.
Psychoanalysis
      Psychoanalysis was developed by Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud’s development of psychoanalysis is the most famous of the personality theories. The major contribution to Freud’s personality theory is the explanation individual’s unconsciousness.
Awareness of self
      Sigmund Freud believed that individuals are mostly motivated by drives in which the individual has little to no awareness of. Sigmund Freud defined this as the individual unconscious. The unconscious contains drives, urges, or instincts that motivate words, feelings, and actions of individuals without their full awareness. The forces of the unconscious continually strive to become conscious through the individual’s behaviors. Sigmund Freud believes that the conscious plays a minor role in the behaviors of individuals; however, Freud focuses mostly on the unconscious (Feist & Feist, 2009).
Assumptions
    There are many assumptions that were developed by Sigmund Freud. Freud began with his beliefs in the roles of the unconscious and conscious in developing individual’s behaviors. Freud also developed the...