“Evaluate the extent to which Freud’s theory of Psychosexual Development can help us to understand a client’s presenting issue?” In this essay I am asked to evaluate one aspect of Freudian theory. I will begin by first describing Freud’s psychosexual theory and demonstrate an understanding of its relationship to adult neurotic behaviour. Having done this I will examine some of the criticisms that have been levelled at Freudian theory in order to evaluate it. In 1905 Freud published ‘Three Essays on the theory of Sexuality and other Works’, one of those essays was titled ‘Infantile Sexuality’. In this essay Freud sets out his theory of psychosexual development.
Psychoanalysis was sprung up and dully applied as a psychological problem solving method by Sigmund Freud. Nevertheless, Psychoanalysis indicates that development are completely dependent on the comatose mind. Psychoanalysis holds that early life know-hows are very important in development. In the process of talking to his patients about their problems, Freud realized that their problems were an offshoot of their experiences in life. According to Sigmund Freud, as children grow up pleasure and sexual impulses shifts from the mouth to the anus and gradually shifts to the genitals.
Sigmund Freud differed from B.F. Skinner in terms of approaching human behavior. Sigmund Freud was a psychodynamic psychologist. His idea about human behavior and development shows that behavior throughout life is motivated by inner, unconscious forces, stemming from childhood, over which people have little control. He focused on the realm of the unconscious mind and the defense mechanism of repression. He created the clinical practice of psychoanalysis for curing the mind ailment-psychopathology.
According to Freud, three aspects of early childhood development are the developing of the ego, id and superego in resolving the conflicts during early childhood stages: the oral stage, anal stage and phallic stages of development including the Oedipus complex (Quigley, Psychoanalysis). This is what is known as the Psychoanalytic theory of human development. Generally, the personality develops through the structures of the mind and into three parts with separate motivations; ID, the emotional and irrational part of the brain; the Ego the mostly rational part of the brain; and the Superego the part of the brain that brings morality to the table. Freud believed that a psychic energy was required for movement through the stages (Neil, Major Themes) Freud claimed that all human beings are born with certain instincts, i.e. with a natural tendency to satisfy their biologically determined needs for food, shelter and warmth that are both practical and a source of pleasure which Freud refers to as "sexual".
The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) was created to help measure the needs for power, intimacy, and achievement in regards to motivation. The motivational view I agree with the least is the psychoanalytic view. “The psychoanalytic view of human motivation suggests that behavior is ultimately determined by unconscious sexual and aggressive drives and by the complex intrapsychic conflicts that arise in daily life.” (Pinel, J.P.J. 2008. p. 299). Freud had some beliefs that I believe have been outdated and further researched since his time.
3)The superego which is is the third element and last to emerge at around the age of 5. The superego works to try to make the ego behave morally, rather than realistically and to suppress the urges of the id. Freud also believed here were 5 stages of psychosexual development, the oral, anal, phallic, latent and genital that all children go through, and that these stages determined the behaviors the child would display as adults. So if a child experienced sexual frustration in relation to any psychosexual developmental stage, s/he would experience anxiety that would follow them on into adulthood as mental disorder. Pyschodynamic therapy looks back into a clients past gaining an
Psychodynamic personality theories started with Sigmund Freud and his Id, Ego, and Superego theory (unconscious and conscious behavior) and today have come full circle with the validation of his basic assumptions of psychoanalytical theory. Sigmund Freud is the founder of psychodynamic approach to psychology (McLeod, 2007, p.1). The first theory of the psychodynamic approach was Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis theory. The approach of many psychologists collectively included theories based on Freud’s ideas. In essence, Freud’s theoretical foundation for the psychodynamic approach is referenced as the structural model (Marc F. Kern, 1996-2003).
Anthony S Brzenski 64021 BCJ 501 Criminological Theory Unit # 2 Question # 1 Freud had been criticized for the central role played in his theory by psychosexual development. Examine the role of psychosexual development as described by Freud. Next, indicate whether you believe that the critics are correct and evaluate the basis of your decision. Sigmund Freud was a Viennese Physician who opined that parents had a crucial role in managing their children’s sexual development that we develop through five stages of psychosexual development with pleasure focused on one specific region of the body during each stage. Freud believed the personality consisted of three interworking parts the id, ego, and superego.
Essay Title “Evaluate the extent to which Freud’s theory of psychosexual development can help us to understand a client’s presenting issue” 2536 Words Georgia Cooke This assignment will answer the statement “Evaluate the extent to which Freud’s theory of psychosexual development can help us to understand a client’s presenting issue”. I will begin by detailing Freud’s psychosexual theory and show its proposed relationship to adult neurotic behaviour. Some of the criticisms and weaknesses of the Freudian theory will then be discussed, followed by a brief description of alternative theory to Freud’s. I will then touch upon its relevance in the twenty first century. To conclude I will clarify the key points made within the essay and detail what I have learnt.
Freud's Theory of Psychosexual Development Freud proposed a theory of personality development that centered on the effects of the sexual pleasure drive on a persons behaviour or personality traits later on in life. At particular points in the developmental process, he claimed that the id's pleasure sweeking tendancies are focused on specific pleasure sensitive areas of the body termed erogenous zones . (Passer et al,2009). Freud described five stages of psychosexual development, which we all pass through related to the body part in question : Oral (0-2 years) Anal (2-3 years) Phallic (3-6 years) Latent (6-11 years) Genital (11+) If the stages are completed successfully, the result is a healthy personality. If certain issues are not resolved at the appropriate stage, fixation and/or regression can occur.