Theoretical Positions

FREUD AND JAMES : THEORETICAL POSITIONS

2008

Sigmund Freud and William James helped unveil a new zeitgeist in the burgeoning field of psychology . Freud 's psychoanalysis and James functionalism would influence theorists and practitioners for decades earning each man a prominent place in psychology 's history books . What are the cornerstones of these milestone theories of human behavior , and how do they compare

In regards to basic human nature , James and Freud could not have been more divergent in their views . William James ' functionalism promoted a free will that carries us

toward a final destination ' A personal analysis that reflects one 's own unique individual experiences was highly valued . Each event in our lives moves us through a constant stream of different contexts and consciousness . Therefore , James did not focus so much on our good or evil natures , preferring instead to view our world as painted with a palette of varying shades of gray . Human beings cannot be divided into convenient categories and labels , but rather exist as unique

and complex individuals . James ' pragmatic and functional mentality (we all have a

purpose ) leant him a slightly humanistic view in which most people strive toward a common good for the betterment of society (James , 1983 )In stark contrast , Sigmund Freud heralded a rather pessimistic view of human nature , emphasizing instincts as our innate drive and aggression or sex as our primary channels for those desires . Much of his psychoanalytic theory centers around the concept of a libidinous id - a force deep within us and beyond our awareness which harbors all of our secret impulses and desires unfit for society . Most of our lives , our personality is spent in a conflict between the bad id and the good law-abiding superego . We repress most of our negative feelings out of conscious awareness , but they still manifest themselves in the form of physical illness and mental neurosis , just as the infamous Anna O demonstrates . Also , Freud 's proposed psychosexual stages of development further reveal his emphasis on instincts (primarily sexual ) in molding everyone (Schultz Schultz , 2000

The emphasis on innate physical causes for behavior represented a strong departure from structural and empirical schools of thought , and both Freud and James brought this difference to the forefront , albeit in different forms . No mental modification ever occurs which is not accompanied or followed by a bodily change 'The spiritualist and the associationist must both be cerebralists .Psychology is the adjustment of inner to outer relations .The psychologist must be a nerve-physiologist .All of the preceding statements , taken from William James ' Principles of Psychology (1983 , highlight an underlying theme in his theory - the body (most especially the brain ) is a vital and essential component of mental life ' Consciousness , he asserted must be studied in its natural setting , and study of the conditions (the physical components ) of phenomena ' is crucial . He cited as proof of the brain 's importance how factors such as a blow to the head , drug use , or other sorts of brain trauma have the potential...