Psychodynamic Theory Essay

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According to Carver and Scheier (2008), Psychodynamic Theory is a perspective in psychology that suggests “personality is a dynamic set of processes, always in motion. They sometimes work in harmony with one another and sometimes against one another, but they are never still (pg. 158).” The implication most commonly associated with Psychodynamic Theory is that since these processes are always in action, forces wrestle with each other, creating conflict within the self. Another implication of this theory is that the unconscious mind plays a prominent role in determining personality. The conflicts that occur among elements of personality usually do so outside of consciousness. Psychodynamic Theory is accented by various themes, seemingly inherent to the human experience, permeated by qualities of lust and aggression, sexuality and death. These themes are linked to Darwin’s theory of evolution. Such a relationship between theories leads to the notion that humans are animals, and that our primary focus is reproduction (Carver and Scheier, 2008, pg. 158). Many psychologists and psychiatrists throughout history have contributed to psychodynamic Theory, but the founder of psychoanalysis, a subset of Psychodynamic theory, was Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud is known as the father of Psychodynamic Theory. According to Freud’s perspectives were highly metaphorical, as he theorized that human experiences are permeated with lust, aggression, and sexuality. Freud speculated that human behavior is symbolic, and different from the reality of a situation, and therefore created an emphasis on the process of the behavior. Freud theorized that consciousness functions through three topographical regions of the mind. The first region is the conscious... ... middle of paper ... ...hird defense mechanism is projection. Projection is defined in two ways; imposing a person’s negative experience to another, or projecting your insecurities onto another. Rationalization is the fourth type of defense mechanism. It is carried out through the justification of one’s behavior in order to maintain their self-esteem. Displacement/Sublimination is the final type of defense mechanism. It is considered to be the one that is less neurotic, and more adaptive. Displacement changes targets, whereas sublimination justifies unacceptable behavior with another behavior or stance. A person’s perception of reality may differ from a specific situation due to the id, ego, and superego therefore impacting their behavior. Sigmund Freud’s psychodynamic theory suggests the belief that an individual’s behavior and emotions as adults are foundation of childhood experiences.

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