Abstract

Sigmund Freud developed the theory of personality development, a philosophy of human nature and a method of psychotherapy which focuses on ones unconscious and those elements that motivate behavior. He viewed human nature as basically deterministic, that one’s behavior is determined by his or her irrational forces, which include unconscious motivations, biological and instinctual drives. These drives evolved through a series of psychosexual stages within the individual’s first six years oi life. He believed that the first six years of one life were critical developmental years which later determined ones personality.

Psychoanalytic Therapy (The Historical context)

Sigmund Freud was born May6, 1856 in a small town called Freiberg, Moravia. His mother married his father who was marriage with two sons from this first marriage. Sigmund was his mother first son and five younger siblings. When he was five his family of three boys and five girls moved to Viennese where he lived most of his life. Because of his Jewish background his educational and career choices were limited and he chooses to go to medical school. He was very good in research, concentrating in neurophysiology. Sigmund later studied with the great psychiatrist Charcot in Paris and then with Bernheim in Nancy where both scientist were investigating the use of hypnosis and hysterical. After spending a short time as a resident in neurology in Berlin he went back to Vienna, where he married his fianc’ee, Martha Bernays. He then set up his own practice in neuropsychiatry. Freuds books and lectures brought him notoridy and recognization from the mainstream medical community. He recruited around him the best and brightest scientist who agreed and supported his theory and these individuals became the core of the psychoanalytic movement. Those that did not agree with him totally he rejected and they would go on to develop competing schools of thought. (Boeree, 2006)

Freuds early childhood experiences would shape his philosophy about the depths of unconscious thought and the evolution of psychoanalytical theories. Freud used his familial structure as the background for many of his psychoanalytical theories. The most difficult phase of his life, when he was dealing with severe emotional problems and this was when he develops some of his most creative concepts. During his early forties, Freud experienced several psychosomatic disorders, and struggled with an exaggerated fear of dying. As a result of these problems he had to perform his own self-analysis. He looked at interrupting his own dreams and gained valuable insight into his own personality development. (Corey, 2009)

The Major Contributors of Psychoanalytic Therapy

Freud had very little intolerance for those who opposed or diverted from his doctrines. Two of these individuals who studied under Freud but later diverged or built on his ideas were Erik Erikson, Carl Jung.   Carl Jung and Alfred Adler worked with Freud but after continually disagreement with Freud concerning theoretical and clinical issues they left and founded their own therapeutic schools. Freud referred to Carl Jung as his spiritual heir. Jung later developed his own theory of personality which was very different than that of Freud’s. Jung built off his Freud theory but combined ideas from history, mythology anthropology, and religion. He believed that by midlife we needed to let go of many of the old beliefs, values and behaviors that guided the first half of our life and begin to look at our unconscious. He wanted the individual to do this by begin looking into the messages in their dreams and to engage in some kind of creative writing or drawing to express these thoughts. The purpose is to be less influenced by our rational thoughts and to begin to express those unconscious forces by bringing them to the forefront of our conscious lives. Erik Erikson built on Freud’s Theories and ideas by stressing the psychosocial aspect of development beyond early childhood.   Erikson became interested in the influence of culture and society on child development. By studying Native American Indian children he was able to correlate personality growth with parental and societal values.    (Corey, 2009)