Personality Theory: Psychoanalytic and Humanistic Discuss, compare, and contrast the Psychoanalytic and the Humanistic theories of personality.

Psychoanalytic vs . Humanistic Theories of Personality

This will explore the major differences and possibly the significant similarities between two leading theories of Personality - the Psychoanalytic and the Humanistic theory . Since each theory is essentially an embodiment of works of its proponent theorists , part of the discussions that will follow shall refer to these works . To further facilitate the smooth flow of the discussion , this shall adapt Hall and Lindsey 's (1978 ) proposed dimensions by which the theories may be compared and distinguished . In particular , this will focus on the substantive

attributes , which largely pertain to the content and the issues surrounding each theory rather than its technical aspects (i .e empirical components

While Hall and Lindsey enumerated quite a number of these substantive attributes by which the theories can differ or can be similar , for the purposes of this , the discussion will only be limited to three of the dimensions proposed as follows

Conscious vs . Unconscious Determinants of Behavior - people may or may not be aware of what drives them to act , think or feel in certain ways

Rewarded vs . Non-rewarded Behavior - individuals may behave in a way to seek rewards or pleasure

Motivation - there are factors that motivate or do not motivate people to behave in certain ways

Having established the bases for the analysis , a brief overview of each theory shall be presented to provide a comprehensive comparison and contrast between the two

Psychoanalytic Theory

The foundations of the Psychoanalytic Theory are rooted on the works of Sigmund Freud , the German psychiatrist who is widely acclaimed as the `Father of Psychoanalysis . Freud is noted for employing hypnosis , or the process of letting an individual go under a state of trance , in to discover the underlying causes of behavior . The primary goal was to determine a plausible account and treatment for the mental illness that pervaded the period then , referred to as neurosis or more specifically , hysteria (Nuttin , 1962 . Thus , the bulk of Freud 's work was based on his patients who came to him for help with their mental illness

The basic principle of Freud 's Psychoanalytic theory is that the origin of neurosis can be found on an individual 's repressed sexual desires and conflicts , particularly from past or childhood experiences . Freud developed the concepts of Id , Ego and Superego by which he categorized the levels of individual actions from operating on basic instincts (the Id which constitutes the largest part of personality , on rationality or realism (the Ego which is the central component of personality ) and on conscience or idealism (the Superego which comprises the smallest unit of personality . He also developed the levels of consciousness which he distinguished as subconscious , conscious , preconscious and the unconscious states of being . According to Freud , when man needs to reconcile his desire to seek pleasure amid the vicissitudes of everyday life , he develops ego defense mechanisms to protect his ego to the outside world and make sense of his actions , and this he does...