Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality Development

Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory is one of psychology’s most controversial and debated theories. To this day, there are still many avid supporters and detractors of his ideas. However, there is no denying that Freud’s theories have profoundly impacted the understanding of human personality development. The theory states that personality is developed through a series of stages, with each stage representing a different level of consciousness (Zhang, 2020). While his work remains significant in psychology, this essay will identify five scholarly research articles relevant to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.

Psychoanalysis: The Influence of Freud’s Theory on Personality Psychology

The first article that will be analyzed is “Psychoanalysis: The Influence of Freud’s Theory in Personality Psychology” by Songyang Zhang. Zhang (2020) argues that Sigmund’s theories on personality development and the subconscious mind have influenced generations of psychologists and continue to be a source of debate today. The author provides a detailed overview of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and how it has shaped people’s understanding of personality development. Zhang argues that Freud’s ideas are still relevant today and that his work influences how we think about personality formation (2020).

For example, Zhang (2020) states that Freud’s concepts of the id, ego, and superego are still widely used in psychology to explain how different parts of our personality develop. Zang’s work is a well-argued and enlightening book that provides readers with a greater understanding of how Sigmund Freud’s work has shaped our understanding of personality development.

Additionally, Zhang examines how Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality development has influenced personality psychology. In his work, Zhang supports Freud’s belief that character develops through a series of psychosexual stages: oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital (2020). Each stage is characterized by a different conflict that must be resolved. For example, in the oral stage, the child must resolve the conflict between their desire to bite and their fear of being bitten.

According to Freud, an individual’s success in resolving these conflicts will determine their adult personality. Zhang argues that Freud’s theory has significantly influenced how personality psychologists view human nature and personality development (2020). For example, many researchers have found evidence for Freud’s concept of repression, which holds that people often repress memories of painful or traumatic experiences.

Review of Freud’s Psychoanalysis Approach to Literary Studies

The second article is “Review of Freud’s Psychoanalysis Approach to Literary Studies” by Azadkhan Niaz, Sultan Mohammad Stanikzai, and Javed Sahibzada. The article provides a detailed overview of how Freud’s theory can be applied to the literature study. In particular, the authors discuss how the theory’s various aspects can help explain character motivation and development (Niaz, Stanikzai, & Sahibzada, 2019). For example, they describe how the id, ego, and superego can be used to understand why a character behaves in a certain way or how their childhood experiences may have influenced their adult personality. Overall, the article provides a thorough and convincing demonstration of how Freud’s theory can be used to deepen our understanding of literary works.

In their review, the authors provide several examples of how Freud’s theory can be used to interpret literary works. For instance, they discuss how the Oedipus complex can be used to understand the relationship between Hamlet and his mother in Shakespeare’s play (Niaz, Stanikzai, & Sahibzada, 2019). They also mention how Freud’s unconscious concept can help explain why some characters act seemingly irrationally. Overall, the authors provide a detailed and convincing overview of how Freud’s theory can be applied to literary studies. As a result, their review provides strong support for Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality Development.

In addition, the authors provide a thorough and insightful overview of how Freud’s ideas can be applied to literary studies. The authors demonstrate how psychoanalytic concepts such as the unconscious, repression, and the Oedipus complex can be used to interpret literary works. They provide numerous examples from both classic and contemporary literature to support their points (Niaz, Stanikzai, & Sahibzada, 2019). In addition, they consider how later thinkers have critiqued Freud’s ideas and how they continue to be relevant in the present day. As such, the article provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in applying psychoanalytic ideas to their literary studies.

Psychodynamic Theory: Freud

The third article is “Psychodynamic Theory: Freud” by Jessica Traylor, Laura Overstreet, and Diana Lang. Psychodynamic theory is based on the belief that humans are driven by unconscious forces, such as emotions, memories, and desires (Traylor, Overstreet, & Lang, 2022). Sigmund originally proposed this theory, and it continues to be one of the most influential theories in psychology.

The psychodynamic approach supports Freud’s theory by exploring how the unconscious mind affects human behavior. The book provides numerous examples of how the unconscious can influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions (Traylor, Overstreet, & Lang, 2022). Moreover, the book discusses how psychodynamic therapy can help people understand and change their behavior patterns. Ultimately, the book provides a detailed and compelling case for why Sigmund Freud’s personality development theory remains relevant today.

In their work, the authors support Freud’s ideas about personality development. In particular, the book discusses how early childhood experiences can shape the id, ego, and superego development. For example, the authors argue that suppose a child grows up in a household with many conflicts. In that case, they may develop an ego that is especially good at mediating between the demands of the id and superego. Alternatively, if a child grows up in a very permissive household, they may develop an ego that has difficulty controlling the id’s impulses (Traylor, Overstreet, & Lang, 2022). In this way, “Psychodynamic Theory: Freud” provides valuable insight into how Freud’s theory can help to explain personality development.

The Psychodynamic Perspective

The other article to be discussed is “The psychodynamic perspective” by Robert Bornstein, Crista Maracic, and Adam Natoli. The authors explore how different psychological concepts can be used to understand human behavior in their book. In particular, they make a case for how the psychodynamic perspective can help to explain personality development (Bornstein et al., 2018). According to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, personality development is shaped by unconscious drives and conflict. The authors argue that the psychodynamic perspective can help to understand these dynamics by providing a framework for understanding how past experiences influence current behavior (Bornstein et al., 2018).

They also provide several examples of how the psychodynamic perspective can be used to explain real-life phenomena. For instance, they discuss how someone might develop a phobia after experiencing a traumatic event (Bornstein et al., 2018). Overall, the authors provide a convincing argument for how the psychodynamic perspective supports Freud’s theory of personality development.

Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality development posits that human beings develop through a series of stages, each characterized by different conflictual relationships with important figures in their lives. Bornstein et al.’s psychodynamic perspective supports Freud’s ideas by providing a contemporary model of how the conflicts inherent in these relationships can lead to the development of different personality disorders (2018). Bornstein et al.’s perspective offers important insights into how these disorders can be treated (2018). By understanding the origins of these disorders, therapists help patients address the underlying conflictual relationships and improve their mental health.

Psychoanalytic Theory by Alan A. Cavaiola

The final study to be analyzed is “Psychoanalytic Theory,” by Alan A. Cavaiola and Smith M. Cavaiola thoroughly discuss psychoanalysis’s history and development (2020). They begin by tracing psychoanalysis’s origins to Austrian physician Sigmund Freud. They argue that Freud developed several essential concepts, including the id, ego, and superego, which form the basis of psychoanalytic theory. They discuss how Freud’s ideas have been elaborated on and expanded by subsequent theorists. They also explore how psychoanalysis has been applied in clinical settings to treat various mental disorders (Cavaiola & Smith, 2020). In conclusion, the authors provide a detailed overview of the current state of psychoanalysis and its prospects.

In their book, the authors argue that Freud’s theory is one of the most influential theories in psychology. They say that Freud’s theory comprehensively explains how the human personality develops (Cavaiola & Smith, 2020). According to them, Freud’s theory explains how the different personality parts interact and influence each other’s development. While there have been many supporters of Freud’s theory, there have also been many critics. One of the most well-known critics was Erik Erikson. In his book, “Childhood and Society,” Erikson argued that Freud’s theory was too deterministic and did not consider the role of free will in personality development. Despite the criticism, Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality remains one of the most influential theories in psychology.

Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality Development has generated much research in child and family development. Freud believed that unconscious drives and motivation determine human behavior, and this theory has led to a greater understanding of how the family functions as a unit. In addition, Freud’s ideas about the role of sexuality in personality development have helped researchers better understand how children develop sexually. Finally, Freud’s emphasis on early childhood experiences has helped researchers to investigate how these experiences can impact later development. As a result, Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory has profoundly impacted the field of child and family development.

References

Bornstein, R. F., Maracic, C. E., & Natoli, A. P. (2018). The sage handbook of personality and individual differences: Volume i: the science of personality and individual differences. In The SAGE Handbook of Personality and Individual Differences: Volume I: The Science of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 52–82). SAGE Publications Ltd. Web.

Cavaiola, A. A., & Smith, M. (2020). A comprehensive guide to addiction theory and counselling techniques. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Niaz, A., Stanikzai, S. M., & Sahibzada, J. (2019). Review of Freud’s psychoanalysis approach to literary studies. American International Journal of Social Science Research, 4(2), 35–44. Web.

Traylor, J., Overstreet, L., & Lang, D. (2022). Psychodynamic theory: Freud. Web.

Zhang, S. (2020). Psychoanalysis: The influence of Freud’s theory in personality psychology. 229–232. Web.

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PsychologyWriting. "Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality Development." December 6, 2024. https://psychologywriting.com/freuds-psychoanalytic-theory-of-personality-development/.