Problem 8 - An Introduction to Theories of Personality

Question

Freud contends that we are capable of repressing intense anger, which remains powerful but unconscious. Kelly argues that there is no such thing as latent or repressed hostility, but only the failure to construe our behavior correctly. Which view do you prefer? Why?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Your choice will depend upon your personal analysis and interpretation of both theories. For instance, you might choose Freud's theory if you believe in the potency of unconscious emotions, or opt for Kelly's if you think that behavior is often misinterpreted. The reasons for your choice will reflect your beliefs, values, and understanding of these behaviorist theories.

Step 1: Understand the Theories

Familiarize yourself with both Freud's and Kelly's theories. Freud's theory centers around the concept that powerful feelings like anger can be repressed and remain in the unconscious. Kelly, however, rejects the idea of repressed hostility, and instead argues that what appears as repressed hostility is really just a failure to understand one's own actions.

Step 2: Evaluate Both Theories

Analyze both theories in the light of your own understanding and interpretation. Consider their applicability to your own experiences or observations. Find points of agreement and disagreement with each theory. This will help in forming a personal opinion on the topic.

Step 3: Choose a Preferred Theory

Based on your evaluation in step 2, choose the theory that you find more convincing. The preferable theory might be the one that aligns best with your personal experiences, your values, or your understanding of human behavior. It might also be the one that you feel has stronger logical cohesion or greater empirical support.

Step 4: Justify Your Preference

Finally, articulate the reasons for your preference. This involves explaining why you find one theory more compelling than the other. Your reasons could be based on your personal experiences, empirical evidence or logical analysis, among others.

Key Concepts

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory is a cornerstone of psychology, focused on the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Freud proposed that the mind is divided into three parts: the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious.

The conscious contains thoughts and feelings we're aware of, while the preconscious holds information that can become conscious. Most intriguing is the unconscious, a reservoir of feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories that are outside of our conscious awareness. Freud believed that the unconscious affects our behavior and experiences, even though we are unaware of these underlying influences.

According to Freud, we use defense mechanisms like repression to keep uncomfortable thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious. Repression involves unconsciously blocking out painful or undesirable experiences to protect ourselves from conflict and anxiety. Freud argued that these repressed memories could manifest through dreams, slips of the tongue, and neuroses, revealing insights into our innermost desires and fears.

Repression and the Unconscious

The concept of repression and its relation to the unconscious is central to Freud's theory of personality. Repression acts as a gatekeeper for the mind, pushing away emotional wounds, traumas, or desires that could cause distress if brought to conscious awareness. This process helps individuals cope with pain and maintain psychological stability.

Freud suggested that the unconscious is full of repressed impulses and past experiences, which shape personality and behavior. While these repressed elements are hidden, they have the power to influence actions and mental health. Freud believed that therapy could help bring these unconscious elements to the surface, allowing individuals to confront and deal with them in a healthy way.

However, critics argue that because the unconscious is inaccessible to consciousness, it is challenging to gather empirical evidence to support the existence of repression. Despite this, the idea that our actions can be influenced by unseen psychological processes is an enduring concept that continues to influence contemporary psychology.

Kelly's Personal Construct Theory

George Kelly's personal construct theory presents a different perspective on understanding human personality. Kelly proposed that we interpret the world and predict events through personal constructs - mental filters that are based on past experiences and are unique to each individual. These constructs are bipolar, meaning they consist of dichotomies like 'happy-sad' or 'secure-insecure'.

Unlike Freud, Kelly didn't believe in the existence of an unconscious mind filled with repressed emotions. Instead, he suggested that what Freud identified as repression is better understood as our failure to accurately construe situations and our behavior. According to Kelly, people are like scientists, constantly testing and revising their constructs to better understand the world around them. When people encounter new experiences, they integrate them into their construct systems, which are then used to anticipate future events.

Kelly's theory emphasizes personal agency and the capacity for change, proposing that by altering our constructs, we can change our interpretations of events and thus our experiences. His approach is more focused on cognitions rather than on unconscious processes, emphasizing the rational, conscious processes involved in human understanding and behavior.