Psychodynamic Personality Theories Module 56 Psychodynamic Theories n

+ Psychodynamic Personality Theories Module 56

+ Psychodynamic Theories n Neo-Freudians n Carl Jung, Alfred Adler, Karen Horney (Horn- eye) n Emphasize the importance of childhood and the unconscious n Downplay Freud’s emphasis on the importance of aggressive and sexual impulses INSTEAD focusing on social and cultural influences of childhood

+ Carl Jung n Focused on the unconscious n Personal unconscious n Storehouse of all our own past memories n Influence our attitudes and associations that act as driving forces

+ Carl Jung n Collective Unconscious n Set of inherited images and experiences common to all humans throughout evolutionary time n Archetypes n Images that allow individuals to respond universally to particular situations n Shadow – “dark side” of all humans n Persona – front or mask that a person presents to other people

+ Carl Jung n Identification of several personality types based on general attitudes and perceptions of the world n Extroversion – confident, social & externally focused n Introversion – internally focused, more self-conscious, less social, and quiet

+ Alfred Adler n Focused on how social interactions and conscious thought influence overall individual growth n Striving for superiority n One’s failures serve to motivate them to overcome difficulty n Finding personal fulfillment and overcoming challenges NOT power

+ Alfred Adler n Inferiority complex n When one has constant criticism and repeated failure happens causing one to feel helpless and insecure n Can become socially isolated and fearful n Can develop an exaggerated competitive and aggressive nature

+ Alfred Adler n Birth Order n Research showed unique set of challenges presented by these different positions in the family n Created particular personality traits n Oldest – protective, responsible n Middle – ambitious, well-adjusted n Youngest - spoiled

+ Karen Horney n Culture plays an important role in personality development n Just so NO to penis envy – instead girls have desire for the social power and status that men enjoy n Personality development depends on the fulfillment of security provided through social interaction

+ Karen Horney n Basic anxiety n Feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and fear created by the fact that a child is alone in a hostile world n Personality development is based largely on the social interaction between parent and child