THEORETICAL POSITION PAPER

Theoretical Position Paper PSY/310 May 6, 2013

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Theoretical positions of William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler. Each psychologist has defined their theory on biological and environmental behaviors they believe are causes of mental health issues. William James theoretical position was his concept of pragmatism the truth of an idea not abstractly but term of practical differences in peoples mind. Sigmund Freud the father of psychoanalysis was a physiologist and an influential thinker. Freud refined his concept of the unconscious, infantile, sexuality, and repression.(Goodwin,2008) His structural model of id, ego, and superego was a part of his theory that shaped the aspects of behavior .Carl Jung was known as Analytical psychologist of personal unconscious. Carl Jung is responsible for his creation of distinct personality introverts and extroverts. Alfred Alder an ophthalmology of general practice .Alder emphasis his concept as a part of the inferiority complex. Alder also believed that a person social factors and biological were factors of mental illness. (Goodwin, 2008) Sigmund Freud (1856 1939) has had a tremendous impact on the world of psychology with his unique and bold ideas about human behavior. He is famous for his work in creating and developing Psychoanalysis, a particular school of psychology. For most of his childhood, Freud lived in Vienna, Austria carrying with him a passion for learning and research (Goodwin, 2008). This knack and patience for research and studying specific data led Freud to many breakthroughs within psychology including the creation of psychoanalysis. Freuds perspective focused on describing human behavior based on some type of sexual association. Freud implemented three methods into psychoanalysis to allow him to help patients understand the true meaning behind their thoughts, actions, and basic behaviors. Freud utilized free association, dream analysis, and seduction hypotheses in order to analyze and treat his patients. In free association, Freud would have his patients placed on a

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couch and to relax and speak what was on their mind. This free-talk would allow the patient to discover the root of their problems by allowing them to dig deep into their own psyche. Some patients used resistance during their sessions because due to the fear of true honesty (Goodwin, 2008). Dream analysis was a method Freud first used on himself. He was able to vividly remember his dreams. He believed that peoples dreams were disguised wishes (Goodwin, 2008) which could help a person understand the true meaning of their personal wants and desires. Seduction hypotheses evolved from Freuds early research into hysteria. Hysteria, he argued, was the result of childhood sexual abuse by a parent or other adult. Because the young child had no understanding of what was happening, Freud believed, the experience was forgotten, buried deep in the unconscious mind (Goodwin, 2008). One of Freuds greatest contributions to psychoanalysis and psychology in general was his work on the Oedipus complex. Sigmund Freuds psychoanalytic theory Oedipus complex is one of the most influential as well as divisive theories of twentieth century (Ahmed, 2012). The Oedipus complex was coined after the Greek myth of Oedipus. In this story, Oedipus, the son of King Laius and Queen Jocosta of Thebes, kills his father out of jealousy and love for his mother (Ahmed, 2012). In Freuds viewpoint this complex could ignite emotions of jealousy of the other parent. This is something he researched in young boys between the ages of 3 and 5. He felt this was something that could help explain specific behaviors including discovering the root of their actions. In Freuds later years of practice and research, he discussed his ideas of the id, ego, and superego. The ego is what Freud believed was the center of personality (Goodwin, 2008). The ego behaved as the middleman between two other forces, the id and superego. The id, repository of the instinctive drives of sex and aggression, constantly demands that its needs be

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satisfied. On the other hand, the superego, the persons learned moral values, works to inhibit the free expression of the instincts (Goodwin, 2008). The three pieces of the human psyche created and developed a persons distinct personality type. Freuds unique ideas and perspectives on human behavior, roots in sexual factors, and drive to explain personalities led to his development and evolvement of psychoanalysis. Since the time of Sigmund Freud, other psychologists have sparked their own ideas and studies based on the fundamentals of psychoanalysis. Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) got his start as a student of the renowned Sigmund Freud and is known best as the founder of Analytical Psychology. At the forefront of Analytical psychology is the idea of personal unconscious. Carl Jung is also responsible for the creation of two distinct personality types; introverts and extroverts. While he learned a lot from Freud and his theories and teachings; he was a man of his own insights and in many ways continued Freuds viewpoints while straying in the opposite direction as well (at the dismay of Sigmund Freud). The point where the student veered away from the teacher had a lot to do with Freuds large focus on sexuality as having an encompassing impact on all aspects of the individuals psyche. Whereas Freuds focus was sexuality Jung felt that spirituality was of great importance. Other differences between the two include Carl Jungs focus on the present and Freuds focus on the past experiences of the patient. Jungs focus on spirituality as the core of the human psyche was unheard of at that time; he was the first to mix psychology with spirituality. Jung is also known for his Word Association concept. This involved measuring the time took to give a response associated with a word read off of a list in hopes of drawing some inference into deeper meanings of the word for the responder. Jung assumed that longer reaction times and arousal (e.g., increased breathing) would indicate that a particular word had important emotional

THEORETICAL POSITION PAPER implications, a rationale similar to the one later used to justify the polygraphs validity as a lie detector (Goodwin, 2008, p.425). William James, also known as the First American Psychologist, started the theory of functionalism in the field of Psychology. (James, The Principals of Psychology, 1890)

He also wrote a world renowned article based on this theory titled The Will to Believe, as well as the book Principals of Psychology. While he went against all beliefs and thoughts of his time, his theories are now upheld in the world of Psychology. The beliefs of William James and his thoughts of functionalism stated that while most psychology at that time took pieces study how they worked, he felt that by looking at the subject as a whole to study it in its entirety would stand to prove more functional. (James, 1885) Based on philosophy and physiological worlds, he then put them together with psychology. He believed that the state of consciousness flows and changes and so should the way each subject is evaluated and looked at. After years of working and writing for the betterment of psychology, William James became bored and changed his study to that of Religion. (Marvin, 1995-2000) He did use his beliefs and knowledge of functionalism and psychology to further his achievements in Philosophy. All of William James accomplished is what makes him the First American Psychologist. Alfred Adler (1870-1937) Austrian medical doctor and psychologist is best known for being the founder of individual psychology ("Alfred Adler", 2012). Adler had several key contributions and his study of humans, their personalities and the whole person concept became his greatest works. He went on to write several wellknown published works regarding his beliefs and findings. Adlers chief contributions were importance of birth order regarding

THEORETICAL POSITION PAPER personality, the notion that humans want to self-perfect, and the idea that one must study and treat a person based on the whole person. Alfred Adler believed that a person during their childhood had fictional ideas about themselves that led them and their choices throughout life. He also believed that if you could work with others for a common good that was a sign of good mental health ("Alfred Adler", 2012). In 1902, Adler read Sigmund Freuds book on dream interpretation. As a result he received an invite to join Freuds inner circle where they discussed developments in

psychopathology ("Alfred Adler", 2012). A few years earlier Adler published a book regarding the need to perceive the patient as a whole person. Alder did not agree with Freuds concept of breaking people up into rigid and abstract concepts such as ego, Id and Oedipal Complex. ("Alfred Adler", 2012). Alfred Adler developed a technique that focused on assessing the individuals drive toward superiority, later named self-perfection ("Alfred Adler", 2012). He based much of his experiments, works, theories, whole person concept, and developments based on his personal life. It was important to Adler how a patient was treated, approached and viewed. It was important to Adler that an analyst must have a non-authoritative relationship with the patient ("Alfred Adler", 2012). Adler advocated for empathy and compassion for the greater good ("Alfred Adler", 2012). In contrast to sexually obsessed abstractions of Freud, mysticism of Jung, Adlers theories and methodologies received acceptance among mainstream psychology ("Alfred Adler", 2012). Each psychologist developed their own theory as to what they truly believed were the cause of mental illness. The early Theoretical position of William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl

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Jung, and Alfred Alder helped form the world of Psychology. The psychodynamic approach is explored through their research and analytical concept of the mind and what triggers certain behaviors.

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References: Ahmed, S. (2012, March). Sigmund Freuds psychoanalytic theory Oedipus complex: A critical study with reference to D. H. Lawrences Sons and Lovers. Retrieved from http://www.academicjournals.org/ijel/PDF/pdf2012/Mar/Ahmed.pdf Encyclopedia of psychology, Vol. 4. Kazdin, Alan E. (Ed.); pp. 488-489. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association; New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press, 2000. 508 pp. Dewsbury, D. A. (2009). Karl spencer lashley (1890-1958). Annals of Neurosciences, 16(4) doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2009.160408 Goodwin, C. J. (2008). A History of Modern Psychology (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Green, C. D. (1995). The Stream of Consciousness. Retrieved from http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/James/jimmy11.htm Lashley, K. S. 1890-1958. (1959). The Canadian Psychologist, 8(1), 9. doi:10.1037/h0083421 Marvin, C. (2000). Philosophers: William James. Retrieved from http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/phil/philo/phils/wjames.html Murphy, G., & Jensen, F. (1932). Analytical Psychology [C. J. Jung]. In, Approaches to personality: Some contemporary conceptions used in psychology and psychiatry (pp. 163-191). Coward-McCann. doi:10.1037/10754-005 William James and Functionalism http://www.psych.utah.edu/gordon/Classes/Psy4905Docs/PsychHistory /Cards/James.html 2000 William James The Will to Believe http://alien.dowling.edu/~cperring/willamjames.html

Alfred Adler. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nndb.com/people/256/000097962/

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Fisher, M. (2001). Alfred Adler. Retrieved from http://www.muskin gum.edu/~psych/psycweb/hi story/adler.htm