1 DISTINCTION BETWEEN FREUD & NEO-FREUDIANS (Lecture Series-6) B.A. Ist (Honors) (Paper-IVth : Systems in Psychology) By Dr. Masaud Ansari Department of Psychology, A.P.S.M. College, Barauni L. N. M. University, Darbhanga 22st A P R I L 2 0 2 0 2 Neo-Freudian’s view Freud attracted many followers who modified his ideas to create new theories about personality. These theorists, referred to as neo-Freudians, generally agreed with Freud that childhood experiences matter, but deemphasized sex, focusing more on the social environment and effects of culture on personality. Freud’s writings were controversial, but they soon attracted followers, mostly young, ambitious physicians who formed an inner circle around their strong minded leader. These pioneering psychoanalysts, whom we often call neo- Freudians, accepted Freud’s basic ideas: the personality structures of id, ego, and superego; the importance of the unconscious; the shaping of personality in childhood; and the dynamics of anxiety and the defense mechanisms. But they broke off from Freud in two important ways. First, they placed more emphasis on the conscious mind’s role in interpreting experience and in coping with the environment. And second, they doubted that sex and aggression were all - consuming motivations. Instead, they tended to emphasize loftier motives and social interactions. 3 Neo-Freudian’s views 1. The social and cultural, rather than biological factors are basic to the understanding of the human nature. 2. The Oedipus complex, the formation of superego and alleged inferiorities are cultural though there may be a biological foundation for oral and anal stage, it can be modified by cultural factors. 3. Emphasis is placed on ‘interpersonal relationship’ in the formation of character and the production of anxiety. 4. It is not the sexual behaviour that determines character but the character determines the sexual behaviour. 4 Distinction Between Freud & Neo-Freudians Sl. Freud Neo-Freudians No. Alfred Adler Erik Ericson Karen Horney Seligmann 1 Topographical Structure: Individual Erikson’s theories Basic anxiety Five basic Conscious, Preconscious and Psychology of development orientation: Unconscious and the ego Receptive, Exploitative, 2 Structural Model: Id, Ego and Inferiority Feelings Basic evil Hoarding, Superego Marketing and 3 Psychic energy and theory of Style of Life Basic hostility Productive instincts 4 Anxiety and defence The Creative Neurotic needs Three basic escape mechanisms Power of the Self mechanisms: Aut omaton conform, Aut horitarianism, Dest ructiveness 5 Stages of Psychosexual Birth Order Stages of The idealized Self- Eight basic needs: Development Psychosocial image Rootedness, Sense Development of identity, Frame of 6 Freud’s Social Psychology orientation, Unity, Effectiveness, 7 Mind-body position Excitation and Stimulation 5 Distinction Between Neo-Freudian: Adler and Freud Alfred Adler Sigmund Freud Humans are primarily motivated by Human behaviour is motivated by social urges inborn instinct Concept of creative self-subjective A group of psychological process system that interprets and makes serving the ends of inborn instincts meaningful the experiences of the organism Consciousness is the center of Consciousness is a nonentity- a mere personality froth floating on the great sea of unconsciousness Adler also believed in the importance of While Freud outlined more significantly social connections, seeing childhood to sexual stages development emerging through social development 6 Distinction Between Neo-Freudian: Erik Erickson and Freud Erik Erickson Sigmund Freud Erikson's psychosocial theory is based Freud's psychosexual theory emphasizes upon social and environmental factors the importance of basic needs and biological forces He did not focus on the parent-child Freud emphasized on Oedipus complex relationship and gave more importance (Boys child) and Electra complex (Girls to the role of the ego child) on parent-child relationship He emphasized on psychosocial He focused on psychosexual development development 7 Distinction Between Neo-Freudian: Karen Horney and Freud Karen Horney Sigmund Freud She denied the preeminence of sexual Psychosexual development was the factors, challenged the validity of the crucial field of study to Freud. Oedipal theory, and discarded the concepts of libido. She also discarded three-part structure He emphasized the three-part structure of personality. i.e. id, ego and superego. of personality i.e. id, ego and superego. Horney suggested three styles of coping. He used defense mechanism to cope The first coping style, moving toward with anxiety. people, moving against people and moving away from people. 8 Distinction Between Neo-Freudian: Karen Horney and Freud Seligmann Sigmund Freud Five basic orientation: Receptive, Psychosexual development was the Exploitative, Hoarding, Marketing and crucial field of study to Freud. Productive Three basic escape mechanisms: He emphasized the three-part structure Automaton conform, Authoritarianism, of personality i.e. id, ego and superego. Destructiveness Eight basic needs: Rootedness, Sense of He used defense mechanism to cope identity, Frame of orientation, Unity, with anxiety. Effectiveness, Excitation and Stimulation 9 Alfred Adler’s contradictions with Freud Alfred Adler, a colleague of Freud’s and the first president of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society (Freud’s inner circle of colleagues), was the first major theorist to break away from Freud. He subsequently founded a school of psychology called individual psychology, which focuses on our drive to compensate for feelings of inferiority. Adler (1937, 1956) proposed the concept of the inferiority complex. An inferiority complex refers to a person’s feelings that they lack worth and don’t measure up to the standards of others or of society. Adler’s ideas about inferiority represent a major difference between his thinking and Freud’s. Freud believed that we are motivated by sexual and aggressive urges, but Adler (1930, 1961) believed that feelings of inferiority in childhood are what drive people to attempt to gain superiority and that this striving is the force behind all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Adler identified three fundamental social tasks that all of us must experience: occupational tasks (careers), societal tasks (friendship), and love tasks (finding an intimate partner for a long-term relationship). Rather than focus on sexual or aggressive motives for behavior as Freud did, Adler focused on social motives. 10 Erik Erickson’s contradictions with Freud Erikson proposed a psychosocial theory of development, suggesting that an individual’s personality develops throughout the lifespan—a departure from Freud’s view that personality is fixed in early life. In his theory, Erikson emphasized the social relationships that are important at each stage of personality development, in contrast to Freud’s emphasis on sex. Erikson identified eight stages, each of which represents a conflict or developmental task. The development of a healthy personality and a sense of competence depend on the successful completion of each task. 11 Karen Horney’s contradictions with Freud Like Jung, Horney believed that each individual has the potential for self-realization and that the goal of psychoanalysis should be moving toward a healthy self rather than exploring early childhood patterns of dysfunction. Horney also disagreed with the Freudian idea that girls have penis envy and are jealous of male biological features. According to Horney, any jealousy is most likely culturally based, due to the greater privileges that males often have, meaning that the differences between men’s and women’s personalities are culturally based, not biologically based. She further suggested that men have womb envy, because they cannot give birth. 12 Conti… Horney’s theories focused on the role of unconscious anxiety. She suggested that normal growth can be blocked by basic anxiety stemming from needs not being met, such as childhood experiences of loneliness and/or isolation. How do children learn to handle this anxiety? Horney suggested three styles of coping. The first coping style, moving toward people, relies on affiliation and dependence. These children become dependent on their parents and other caregivers in an effort to receive attention and affection, which provides relief from anxiety (Burger, 2008). When these children grow up, they tend to use this same coping strategy to deal with relationships, expressing an intense need for love and acceptance (Burger, 2008). The second coping style, moving against people, relies on aggression and assertiveness. Children with this coping style find that fighting is the best way to deal with an unhappy home situation, and they deal with their feelings of insecurity by bullying other children (Burger, 2008). As adults, people with this coping style tend to lash out with hurtful comments and exploit others (Burger, 2008). The third coping style, moving away from people, centers on detachment and isolation. These children handle their anxiety by withdrawing from the world. They need privacy and tend to be self-sufficient. When these children are adults, they continue to avoid such things as love and friendship, and they also tend to gravitate toward careers that require little interaction with others (Burger, 2008). 13 Erich Seligmann Fromm’s contradictions with Freud In his book Man for Himself Fromm spoke of "orientation of character". He differentiates his theory of character