The Mind: Evil or Good?

1470 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Historical roots of modern psychology

In 1950s America, the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis were beginning to be reexamined and expanded as more cases of mental distress and disorders were uncovered that no one knew how to treat. These cases could often related back to one main theme, which was unhappiness in one aspect of an individual’s life. This problem area could be home life, work, social status, or a number of other areas. No matter what the root of the problem, the issue always caused a person to feel inconsequential and their minds would spiral down a negative path until they were no longer, by society’s terms, sane. Existentialists, those who believe individuals should be responsible for developing how they want and when they want, viewed these allegedly crazy people as developing at their own pace. They did not believe, however, that these people were discovering the meaning of their life as they were, more often than not, unhappy with their lives. The existentialists believed that when one does not aim for a specific goal or yearn to find meaning in their life, they are not living their life the way it was intended. The existential view emphasized a person or individual being responsible for determining their development on their own terms and discovering the meaning in life. When the mind gets in the way, in cases such as psychopathy, it does not allow for the individual to discover the true meaning of their own life as their judgment may become clouded by their current state of mind. The mind has a great deal of power in the matter of deciding whether a person will succeed on the existential path or if they will go down the path of psychopathy. This power can do a person a lot of good but it may also cause them a lot of stress and harm ...

... middle of paper ...

...and react as was socially and culturally acceptable. That is, in a way that allows the individual to be content in his or her own life while still being a positive influence on those around them and not being destructive in any way. Their methods for manipulating the mind, and learning how to deal with issues that arose from a mind, were some of the most groundbreaking discoveries made in that time and, in many ways, how the Americans imagined the mind to be was correct and the research they conducted was beneficial to society. However spot on their research was at the time, things have changed over the past sixty years and it is likely that their findings and imagined ideas of the mind are no longer relevant. It would have been impossible for them to have successfully uncovered all the secrets of the mind and there are likely many more to be discovered even now.

Show More
Related

  • David Berkowitz Attachment Theory

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    Not all humans experience these life altering events in the same way. A combination of psychiatric and psychologic theories can be applied to the life of David Berkowitz form his violent experiences as a young adult to his neglect from mother figure throughout childhood. It can be said that a combination of these factors experienced throughout his life, led the Son of Sam killer to lash out his frustration on innocent victims in order to receive relief from a buildup of years of aggressive violent thoughts and

    Read More

  • What Is Sigmund Bandura And My Personality

    1678 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sigmund Freud provides a concept of how a person’s personality is structured and to have a healthy personality requires a balance in the interaction between the id, ego, and superego. Bandura’s theory of observational learning plays a vital role in the persons conditioning process. By understanding the basis of observational learning that includes modeling, disinhibition, and trolling, one can recognize the different types of reinforcements that contribute to how one learns and then behaves in situations throughout their life. The experience and knowledge of self-discovery comes gradually without an instantaneous impact. Although, moments of true realization can give one a release from past insecurities, doubt, and shame just to name a few. Such realizations can change how one views or feels about their past, which includes their choices, successes, failures, and the different relationships they have had from birth to the present. In conclusion, one should invest in getting to know their own personality to educate themselves and receive the benefits of a healthy state of mental

    Read More

  • Criminal Psychology: Exploring Theories and Profiles

    957 Words  | 2 Pages

        Psychodynamic psychology was created by Sigmund Freud. Most serial killers are missing one of the factors in psychodynamic psychology. The factors are id which is always seeking pleasure, not pain. We’re born with id, while an ego helps us cope with reality. Ego is learned in

    Read More

  • Brain and Mind Behavior, An Outline

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    Touch---travels through spinal cord---into medulla---left side functions of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain and the right side of the body is controlled by the left side of the brain.

    Read More

  • Human Response to Death in The Seventh Seal, by Ingmar Bergman

    2001 Words  | 5 Pages

    classicmoviescripts/script/seventhseal.txt. Internet. 4 May 2004. Blackham, H. J. Six Existentialist Thinkers. New York: Harper, 1952. Choron, Jacques. Death and Western Thought. New York: Collier Books, 1963.

    Read More

  • Understanding the Way Our Mind Works in the Theory of Mind

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    The study of children’s theory of mind has grown tremendously attractive to many developmental psychologists in the past few decades. The reason for this being because having a theory of mind is one of the quintessential skills that define us as being human and because having this ability plays a major role in our social functioning. To have a theory of mind is to be able to reflect on the categorical contents of one’s own mind, such as dreams, memories, imaginations, and beliefs, which all provide a basic foundation to understand how someone else may think and why they may behave in the manner that they do (Bjorklund, p.199). It is the development of one’s concepts of mental activity; their ability to understand that they think things that others do not and that their thoughts are theirs alone, as well as understanding that other peoples’ minds work in the same way, in which they too, have their own individual thoughts. Our theory of mind grants us ability to navigate our personal and social world by explaining past behavior, and anticipating and predicting future actions (Moore & Frye, 1991).

    Read More

  • Humanistic Existential Theory

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    The clinicians that use the approach of the humanistic-existential model believe that to function properly, humans, throughout their lives, have a need to develop perceptions and beliefs about oneself and to accept and value their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regardless of the consequences (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). Humanists argue that people are born good and over the course of their lives, they seek to fulfill their potential known as self-actualization (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). Existentialists believe that human comes to this world with the ability and freedom to choose their destiny and give purpose to their lives (Comer, 2016, pg. 58). From both perspectives, practitioners consider abnormality to be rooted in childhood as a result of

    Read More

  • A Psychological Analysis of Romeo and Juliet

    1743 Words  | 4 Pages

    The ideas used to interpret this play are not classically Freudian, but rather a more contemporary understanding of psychodynamics as influenced by modern existential theory. The ideas of Ernest Becker, one of the more influential figures in the new psychoanalysis, are used throughout this psychological examination.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Psychology In Psychology

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the experimental model pushed psychology into a more advanced period, it still had its own issues that could ultimately ruin experiments. For a long time, research was conducted at colleges and universities by students who were participating just for class credit. In addition, the participant pool mostly consisted of white males. That creates a problem - a WEIRD problem. These participants were WEIRD: Western, educated, and from industrialized, rich, and democratic

    Read More

  • Existential Therapy And Gestalt Therapy

    1492 Words  | 3 Pages

    Existential therapy is concerned with one’s being; the world in which they live, the implication of time, and the mindfulness of being whole. The basic dimensions of the human condition, according to the existential approach, include (1) the capacity for self-awareness; (2) freedom and responsibility; (3) creating one’s identity and establishing meaningful relationships with other; (4) the search for meaning, purpose, values, and goals; (5) anxiety as a condition of living; and (6) awareness of death and nonbeing. All give significance to living and explore the degree to which a client is doing the things they value.

    Read More

  • Psycho Dynamic Theory Essay

    2246 Words  | 5 Pages

    Sigmund freud hypothesised the theory of psychoanalyse to treat the symptoms of neurosis and mental illness. Freud “contradicted and in some ways, reversed the prevailing opinions of the learned as well as the common people on many issues of human existance and culture”(Wollheim 1995 p9) Freud gave the common man the opportunity to question thoughts and analyse their own needs and desires through their unconcious. (Lear 2005). Freud's beyond the pleasure principle writings (1920) and later in his The Ego and the ID (1923), stressed the importance of the unconcious and how the mind was built upon a tripartite structure of the ID, Ego and Super-ego. Freud believed that the ID, a biological component of the personality concentrated on the pleasure principle. Freud described this as “everything that is inherited, that is present at birth, that is laid down in the consitution” (freud 1923 p61) freud hypothesises that these are instinctual and that impulses should be satisfied instantly, irrespective of the conseqence. Freud believed that the Ego mind aimed to control the ID by being logical in thought, aiming to mediat...

    Read More

  • Theory Of Mind

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    For many years, psychologists have been interested in the Theory of Mind (ToM) and its effects on non-human animals and also humans. Theory of Mind is referred to ‘the ability to attribute mental states – beliefs, knowledge, intentions, desires’ and so on. (Hewson et al, 2015) The Theory of Mind has been researched widely from many different psychologists, although ones mentioned in this essay are solely related to non-human animals. This essay will be describing research studies and explain how they have helped psychologists understand ToM.

    Read More

  • Existential Therapy Essay

    1520 Words  | 4 Pages

    Existential therapy is a technique that brings awareness to the power of our choices. “This existential approach has opened the way for a more agentic view of human nature and has taken into consideration some of the most fundamental concerns of humanity, which were previously underappreciated in the field of psychology” (Bartz, 2009, p.70). It has been shown to be successful in a variety of groups. Some of these groups are; children, people who have been adopted, incarcerated youth, and victims or culprits of abuse. One doesn’t have to only use one theory or approach during their practice. When it comes to existential therapy, the person using the approach can adapt their interventions to fit their style and personality. At the end of the day, it’s about what will work for the

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Psychotherapy In Crime And Punishment

    2168 Words  | 5 Pages

    In this essay the main character from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevski, Rodion Raskolnikov, is broken apart to show how Psychoanalysis and Cognitive therapy deal with narcissistic clients. Cognitive therapy focuses on how the client categorizes experiences in his/her head leading them to have a unique set of ideals relating to the world.. This type of thinking will allows us to better understand why Raskolnikov, the main character of Crime and Punishment, views the people around him to be inferior in intellect. Psychoanalysis therapy’s main goal is to insure that patients become aware of themselves and their surroundings by digging deep into their unconscious mind. Both therapies work on making the client change their way of thinking by showing them how to think differently. These two therapies will be used to find a way to understand why Raskolnikov acts in impulsive ways causing others around him trouble.

    Read More

  • Sigmund Freud Theory

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freud's often-controversial psychoanalysis was an attempt to explain the human psyche (mind) which is comprised of three components: the id, ego, and superego; and the conflict between these components shaped personality (Swanson, 1963, p. 14-16). He believed the ego is responsive to the id that developed at infancy. He also believed that defense mechanisms are unconsciously adopted to protect the ego from anxiety. He was convinced that anxiety was used to warn the ego of potential threats. He focused on internally held forces, including conflicts, biological dispositions, and sexual motivation for his theories (Macintyre, 1963, p. 98-99). He sought to address underlying issues in a person's life, and personal cha...

    Read More

More about The Mind: Evil or Good?

Open Document