Psychodynamic Theories

Personality Overview Paper
The study of human personality has numerous theories. When looking at the differences of these theories, one can not help but wonder if the theories are a representation of the individual who developed them. There is also a question of variances based on geographical and time of which these theories were developed. Researchers gain a basic knowledge and understanding based on scientific research and current theories of the time. Combined with the personality of the individual, and his or her biases, it is easy to see how the various theories of personality came to be. As knowledge and scientific approaches advance, so do theories researchers develop. Some are based, and expand upon existing theories, and others may be completely new theories that challenge what researchers already understand.
As with all theories and practices, there will be strengths and limitations. In regard to personality theories one must determine whether or not the behavior is deterministic or the free will of the individual. Other factors to be accounted for are the individual’s awareness of self, or the conscious and unconscious motives for the individual’s behavior. Environmental factors must also be accounted for, as does the individual’s ethnic history, social background, and family experiences during childhood. Taking these factors into account, researchers can develop basic underlying assumptions of human behavior and personality traits.
Psychodynamic Theories
Some of the most noted individuals involved with psychodynamic theories are Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), Alfred Alder (1870-1937), Carl Jung (1875-1961), Melanie Klein (1882-1960), Karen Horney (1885-1952), Erich Fromm (1900-1980), Harry Sullivan (1892-1949), and Erik Erikson (1902-1994). Each of these individuals developed theories that form the basic guidelines of understanding human personalities. These theories complement and contrast one another in various points and concepts, which gives researchers of today different ideas to work with. On their own, each theory has withstood years of advancements in the field of human personality studies, and have provided vast amounts of research data, and guidelines that researchers use to this day.
Theory Comparison
Researchers have various theories to choose from in regard to studying human personality and behavior. Researchers may choose to use a humanistic approach, a behavioral approach, or psychoanalytic approach, to name a few. Each approach provides a different set of assumptions, processes, and applications. They also provide different strengths and weaknesses that can aid or hamper scientific study.
Humanistic Approach
The humanistic approach emphasizes the study of the whole person, and that behavior is related to the individual’s inner feelings and self-concept (McLeod, 2007). The humanistic approach operates on the basic assumption that people have free will, and people have an innate desire to make themselves, and the world better (McLeod). Humanism also rejects the scientific approach used in other methods of psychological study, and places emphasis on humans being fundamentally different from other animals because humans are capable of thought, reason, and language (McLeod). Humanistic researchers rejected the rigorous scientific approach to psychology because it was viewed as dehumanizing, and lacking in the ability to capture the importance of conscious experiences (McLeod). Instead, the humanist approach relies on qualitative research methods like diary accounts, open-ended questionnaires, unstructured interviews, and observations on an individual level to discover the ways people think and feel (McLeod).
The humanistic approach views personal growth and fulfillment as a basic human motive, and argue that objective reality is less important than subjective perception and understanding (McLeod, 2007). It offered new ideals for approaching the understanding of human nature and condition, and expanded the horizon of methods used to study human behavior. As a result, humanism introduced a broader range of effective methods of psychotherapy practices (McLeod).
Behaviorist Approach
The behaviorist theory operates on the basic assumptions that psychology should be approached from a scientific manner, and emphasizes the concern of observable behavior over internal events like thinking (McLeod, 2007). It also suggests that behavior is the result of a stimulus, and is determined by the individual’s environment (McLeod). Behaviorist psychologists believe that theories require the support of empirical data obtained through carefully controlled observation and behavior measurement (McLeod). Behaviorists also believe that behavior can be objectively and scientifically measured, and that internal events like thinking and emotion can be explained using behavioral terms (McLeod). Behavioral research employs clinical techniques like lab experiments.
Some of the more noted experiments in behavioral science are Pavlov’s Dogs, The Skinner Box, and the Little Albert experiment. Although behavioral theory provides highly applicable therapy, it disregards mediational process, biology, and implies that individuals have little or no free-will (McLeod). Because behavioral theory emphasizes that individuals and animals learn new behavior through classical and operant conditioning, behaviorism is applied in areas like gender role development, behavioral therapy and modification, and treatment of phobias.
Comparison
Humanism and behaviorism both provide solid aspects in the study of human behavior. These tow theories each offer opposing assumptions like free-will versus no free-will. Each theory offers different approaches that either accept or reject scientific study, and emphasize the importance of either environmental or innate influences on human behavior. Behaviorism emphasizes the importance of the scientific process and assumes that individuals are shaped by their environment (McLeod, 2007), while humanism rejects the scientific methods used by behaviorism and assumes that individuals are shaped by an innate drive to make themselves and the world a better place (McLeod)
Conclusion
In the field of psychology, in particular the study of human behavior and personality there are numerous theories that offer different approaches, assumptions, and applications. While many of these theories are built on previous theories, they may provide variations of the original theory, or even contradict the previous theory in certain areas. Other theories like humanism may reject completely the assumptions of theories like behavioralism and take a completely different approach to the study of behavior and personality. In either case, the various theories that dominate the study of behavior and personality provide researchers with a wealth of understanding how and why humans behave, and what drives an individual to develop specific personality traits. One thing to remember in the study of human behavior and personality is that researchers to this day do not agree on what approach is correct, and that researchers must determine what approach fits his or her needs the best.
References
McLeod, S. (2007). Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html

References: McLeod, S. (2007). Simply Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html