Psychodynamic Theories Research Paper

Introduction

Psychodynamic theories have acquired so much importance in psychology as they are crucial in explaining the behaviors of different people and their personalities. These theories study the personality of a person through their emotions, feelings, and the experiences they have gone through in their early lives. Psychoanalytical theories were paired with thermodynamics theories by Sigmund Freud, a significant theorist in psychology, to be able to understand what happens to the brain's processes as psychological energy flows through (Kyllonen & Kell, 2018). Personality, on the other hand, can be defined as a group of traits and characteristics that can be used in identifying a person from the other. Personality can be influenced by both genetic heredity, or the environment, where the latter is more dominant in shaping the personality of a person. Four types of personalities are prevalent in the contemporary world. They include melancholic, phlegmatic, choleric, and sanguine types. As a result, this paper aims at the evaluation of my personality through the application of psychodynamic theories provided by different psychological theorists.

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Structural Model

Firstly, Sigmund Freud is the father of psychodynamic theories that attempt to explaining personality. His structural model is responsible in the explanation of the three sections of personality that include id, superego and ego (Engler, 2014). The id is a trait that all people are born with, and it is associated with self-seeking pleasure. However, as one grows since the time of their conception, id grows to become ego, where the environment plays a crucial role. Approximately in five years since conception, Freud believes that superego is established as a person is coached by their superiors (teachers, parents, and caregivers). In light of this, it is clear that this structural model is crucial in explaining the personality of a person due to its moral and ethical inclination. The decisions and behavior of a person are dependent upon the morals and ethics set up by the community. The theory can be thought to be in line with my personality, which can be explained by the background, or rather the environment, that I was raised. Orderliness and calmness are prevalent, which therefore makes me a melancholic type of person. As it is widely known, religious people have been known for the peace and harmonious living that they portray in society. This clearly explains that before the age of five, where a child develops superego (Grace, 2009), I was fully surrounded by religious morals and ethics that defined the personality and behavior that I portray in the modern day.

The Meyer - Briggs Indicator Type (MBTI) is a personality assessment method that can be applied to ensure that the personality of a person is configured. The developers of this assessment theory, Isabell Myers and Katherine Briggs, argued the world is only comprehended by people through thinking, sensation, feeling, and intuition (Kyllonen & Kell, 2018). However, they argued that one of these features is more prevalent in a person, and this defined their personality. Personally, when applying MBTI, feeling tends to explain the personality that I have acquired over the years. I tend to create a strong emotional connection between my friends and peeps, which often leads to "blind loyalty." In addition, the family is the other aspect that melancholic hold dear, as they are the immediate environment that a child has before developing into an adult. According to Appendix A, people are categorised depending on their traits which are measured by MBTI. Feeling is a trait very prevalent in modern day people which is developed from their childhood, as it can be seen from thee pie chart.

Inferiority Theory

The second psychodynamic theory is the Adler Alfred theory of inferiority. This theory, just like Freud's theory, has its foundations from the time of conception of a person. All people are born inferior as kids, and this can be explained by the stayed of helplessness children usually possess. Adler believed that his personality is crucial in life as inferiority is the greatest force that can shape a person's future (Engler, 2014). In addition, the theory explains how a person achieves superiority in the aim of overcoming inferiority, an aspect they were born with. As a result, Inferiority theory is a crucial theory that attempts on explaining the type of personality that a person acquires. An example of this theory can be explained by birth order in a family home. For instance, the firstborn of every family feel superior due to the pampering they get from parents, who are usually happy by the idea of being guardians to someone. However, this is quickly tarnished after a second child is born. The second child is not heavily pampered as the first child as the parents are already used to the fact of being guardians. However, the second child is mostly superior and likely to dethrone the first child conceived in a competition held on a healthy basis. If the last born is conceived, they will be more pampered similarly to the firstborn and hence develop inferiority problems later in life as they do not comprehend fully what is like to be on their own. The second child hence is more favourable in becoming successful in a later stage in life that the former discussed inferior children.

The Winslow Personality Profile (TWPP) is a personality assessment trait that can be used to evaluate the Inferiority theory developed by Adler. In this assessment tool, happiness and career success are measured (Kyllonen & Kell, 2018). Therefore, is the happiness and career success of the three previously discussed children are evaluated, the second child born according to birth order will be more successful and happy. Despite the assessment tool being user-friendly, it is only assumptions but has acquired widespread use, especially in determining the personality trait of a person during career interviews. A melancholic type of person finds the TWPP tool adequate as it can be used to improve the relationship between people. As a result, friends and family are planted deep in a melancholic person, which makes them believe even more in the morals and ethics that they were raised in as children.

Personality Development Theory

The third crucial psychodynamic theory is the personality development theory by Erik Erikson. This theory is based on the development of a child since they were born, psychosocial development. The theory explains the importance of overcoming the challenges and difficulties that one faces in the aim of becoming a renowned person later in life (Engler, 2014). As mentioned earlier, am a melancholic type of person who trusts others very much and has blind loyalty to the ones I care for. The trust can be traced back to when I was an infant. The personality development theory suggests that a kid must learn to trust those around them at their early ages as they are the people who are knowing and know what is right and wrong for them. Due to this, a sense of trust and loyalty develops in a child, which then helps them overcome future challenges and become successful at a later stage of their lives. The personality development theory is grouped into stages that define the expected acquired traits in each stage that are paramount in helping a person overcome difficulties in the future. For instance, the theory discusses how relevant it is for a child to learn how to plan and lead at the ages of three to six. Secondly, an adolescent should develop their personalities at this stage to avoid the problem of being confused about what they wish to become and to what personality trait do they portray (Grace, 2009). The last stage of this theory is ego, which is developed after an adult successfully pursued their career and were happy with their lives, as defined earlier by the Winslow Personality Profile personality assessment tool.

Conclusion

It is indeed clear that the personality of a child begins to develop at the early stages if life, and that the environment is very significant in shaping up the personality obtained by a person. Psychodynamic theories have shed light on personality development, an aspect very complex to understand. Children are usually inferior and only trust those around them. Therefore, parents must take care of their children and ensure that morals and ethics are inculcated in the children at their tender age, to avoid challenges that may lead to their downfall at a later stage in life. The caregivers of the children should also learn how to control the ego in children and convert it to a more useful trait that may aid in problem-solving and peaceful coexistence between a child and their friends. In doing this, violence cases and people would be abolished altogether, leading to harmonious living between people in society. Therefore, psychodynamic theories are very relevant in shaping the behaviors of children. Personality assessment tools should be utilized as much to help people figure out their personalities, which might help them in different career fields available worldwide.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY Engler, B. (2014). Personality Theories. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing; 9 edition .

Grace, M. (2009). Psychodynamic Theories. Journal of consulting, 2.

Kyllonen, P., & Kell, H. (2018). Ability Tests Measure Personality, Personality TestsMeasure Ability: Disentangling Construct and Method in Evaluating the Relationship between Personality and Ability. Journal of Intelligence, 26.

Marshall, P. (2019, January). Personality Pie Chart. Retrieved from Edrawsoft: https://www.edrawsoft.com/personality-pie-chart.php

Appendix A

MBTI is an assessment tool for personality that is comprised of sixteen traits that a majority of people tend to possess. The assessment tool looks for the specific trait that is shown by a person and which can be used for example, in determining their career fields.

Retrieved from: https://www.edrawsoft.com/personality-pie-chart.php, on 19th August 2019