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EVIDENCE, CRITIC, & ALTERNATIVES TO PSYCHOANALYSIS

RESEARCH EVIDENCE Why is psychoanalytic theory so difficult to test?Examples of empirical studies

MAIN LIMITATIONS OF PSYCHOANALYSIS

BEYOND FREUDNeoanalytic approach: Jung, Adler, Horney Humanistic approach: Rogers, Maslow

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RESEARCH EVIDENCE

Why are psychodynamic concepts so difficult to test?

• complexity (psychoanalysis = ‘grand theory’ of human nature)

• vagueness

• circularity

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RESEARCH EVIDENCE

Examples of well-known empirical studies:

• Rosenzweig (1943): study of Zeigarnick effect vs. repression

• Silverman (1976): studies of subliminal psychodynamic activation

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MAIN LIMITATIONS OF PSYCHOANALYSIS

• Overemphasis on the past

• Overemphasis on internal factors (wishes, conflicts, etc.)

• Pessimistic view of human nature

• Gender bias (review male and female Oedipus complex + see Horney)

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BEYOND FREUDNeo-analytic approach: Jung, Adler,

Horney

• Focus shifts from the Id to the Ego

• View of personality development as more continuous, life-long process

• Recognition of the role of society and culture in shaping personality

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CARL JUNG (1875-1961)

• Principle of Opposites

• Collective Unconscious: contains ARCHETYPES

• Archetypes

EXAMPLES OF ‘MANDALA’ : archetypal image representing the Self.

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ALFRED ADLER (1870-1937)

Innate ‘Inferiority Complex’ ‘Drive for Perfection’

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KAREN HORNEY (1885-1952)

• Innate ‘need for love’ ‘basic anxiety’ (innate fear of being isolated and helpless in a hostile world)

• Neurotic patterns of interpersonal behavior:

1. Moving towards people (neurotic need for affection, approval)

2. Moving against people (neurotic need for power, dominance, exploitation)

3. Moving away from others (neurotic need for independence, self-sufficient,

solitude)

• Feminist critic of psychoanalysis: ‘it’s culture, not anatomy!’ (women envy having status, not a penis) ‘men have womb envy’

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BEYOND FREUDHumanistic/Phenomenological approach:

Rogers, Maslow

MAIN EMPHASES:

1. Study of subjective experience: emphasis on the meaning one gives to events, individual's frame of reference

2. Individual potential and self-determination: People are intrinsically good, have great potential for growth and the power of becoming what their best selves (self-actualization).

3. Self-concept/Identity: Who am I?

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CARL ROGERS (1902-1987)

“… people seem to be constantly struggling to be their ‘real’ self” (a more positive, balanced, constructive identity)

SELF-ACTUALIZATION Constant striving to identify and develop one's capacities and talents (not in competition with others but to become "the best me I can be”)…. it develops from having

UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE REGARDBeing valued and accepted by others for whom one is (opposite: conditions of worth)

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ABRAHAM MASLOW (1908-1970)

HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

PREPOTENCY OF NEEDS

PEAK EXPERIENCE

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FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS

PSYCHOLOGICALNEEDS

SELF-ACTUALIZING NEEDS

PEACK EXPERIENCE: doing/seeing something that feels beautiful, the right thing to do, empowering, meaningful

PREPOTENCY OF NEEDS

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Characteristics of Self-Actualizing Persons

1. Realistically Oriented.2. Accept Self and Others for What They Are.3. Spontaneity.4. Problem-Centered vs. Self Centered.5. Somewhat Detached -- Need Privacy.6. Autonomous / Independent.7. Appreciate People and Things.8. History of Profound / Mystical Experiences.9. Identify with Humanity.10. Intimate Relationships Profound and Emotional11. Democratic Values.12. Does not Confuse Means with Ends.13. Philosophical Sense of Humor.14. Creative.15. Non-conforming.16. Transcend Environment -- Do not Just Cope.