Theories of Personality Key Terms and Ideas Review

latent

hidden; the dream content that reflects the real meaning or motive of a dream (Freud) is said to be this

psyche

Jung's term for personality

basic anxiety (Horney)

(horney) feelings of insecurity in childhood created from enviornments viewed as being dangerous, threatening, unfair, unsafe, etc.

moving toward (Horney)

(horney) the neurotic trend based on compliance, helplessness, and dependence on others.

moving against (Horney)

(horney) the neurotic trend of seeking revenge, dominating, and controlling others

idealized self (Horney)

(horney) what a person thinks they should be

anima (Jung)

(jung) The archetype representing the female element of a man

shadow (Jung)

(jung) an archetype that encompasses one's animalistic and unsocial side

self analysis

the process in which people come to understand themselves through their own efforts

pleasure principle

the seeking of tension reduction and immediate gratification by the id

introversion

an attitude in which libidinal energy flows inward toward the subjective world

theory

an explanation of a body of data based on empirical observations

existential dichotomy

an inescapable human dilemma that has no solution because none of the alternatives it presents is fully satisfactory

empirical

data that are based on experience and direct observation

Parapraxis (Freudian Slip)

(freud) a psychologically motivated error in behavior or speech

Libido (Freud)

(freud) the psychic energy of the personality

necrophilia (Fromm)

(fromm) a character orientation attracted to death, decay, and destruction of living things

Automaton Conformity (Fromm)

(fromm) escaping freedom by adopting the personality offered up by one's culture

persona (Jung)

the archetype that refers to the masks people wear as they fulfill their societal roles (Jung)

real self

the aspect of the personality that reflects an individual's potentialities and who they actually are

falsifiability

the capacity to be disproved based on collected evidence

Synchronicity (Jung)

(Jung) a meaningful coincidence

social interest (Adler)

(adler) an urge in human nature to adapt oneself to the conditions of one's environment and society

Fictional Finalism (Adler)

(adler) belief or concept that guides our lives that cannot be proven true, though we act as if it were

style of life (Adler)

(adler) the specific ways in which an individual seeks to attain the goal of superiority

fixation (Freud)

(freud) a "glitch" in development that results in the excessive needs and behaviors characteristic of earlier developmental stages

(Fromm) List and describe Fromm's existential needs and explain how they are critical in the realization of the self, the development of meaning in life, and the avoidance of abnormality.

1. Relatedness: the need to unite with others in ways we maintain our individuality and integrity. 2. Transcendence: the need to convert/transform our accidental passive role of creature into an active creator. 3. Rootedness: the need to feel at home and connected. 4. Identity: the need to see others and yourself as separate entities, not roles. 5. Frame of Orientation: the need to understand the world through an ultimate concern/what makes you wake up in the morning? 6. Excitation and Stimulation: the need for productive activity. Positive freedom can only be achieved through the successful solution of the human dilemma/basic anxiety of being part of the natural world while being separate from it. Being our genuine, natural self becomes our connection to the natural world. In order to reach this, though, we need to resolve existential needs through creative, productive means in order to avoid being caught in defining ourselves/life by what we have or possess.

(Jung) Explain what is meant by archetype and describe the four archetypes relevant to the process of individuation.

An archetype is a universal image or thought that allows people to understand the world. The four that are relevant to the process of individuation are the persona, shadow, anima/animus, and the self. The persona is the person an individual presents to the world, a sort of mask put on depending on the situation. The shadow is one's dark, animalistic side that is developed through the repression of traits unacceptable to the world. Even so, the individual must accept the shadow as part of their personality. The anima/animus is the aspect of the opposite-sex in an individual that must be balanced alongside the feminine/masculine side. The self is the person we truly are.

(Freud) Explain how the id, ego and superego are interrelated in adjusted and maladjusted personalities.

In adjusted personalities, the ego presents good ego strength in managing both the wants of the id and the expectations of the superego. For example, an individual may practice delayed gratification as a way of getting what they want while still leaving room for other important issues. In maladjusted personalities, the ego can present weak ego strength and makes decisions leaning too far on either direction of the id or superego. The individual seems to have no control over their wants OR is very critical of themselves and their unconscious thoughts/wants.

(Horney) Explain the role of anxiety in the development of neurosis and then describe the neurotic trends indentified by Horney.

Neurosis is a disorder of personality where there is a fundamental disturbance in interpersonal relationships held by an individual because of basic anxiety and the ways used to cope with it. In order to cope with feelings of insecurity, the individual uses and overuses strategies that make them take on the appearance of needs. The three neurotic trends identified by Horney are moving toward, moving against, and moving away. Moving toward individuals seek affirmation and acceptance from others and are often described as needy or clingy. Moving against individuals seek their needs using aggression and through controlling others. Moving away individuals can be described as cold, indifferent with their antisocial behaviors. Though individuals have a dominant form of coping, movement between neurotic trends can happen depending on the need that has to be addressed.

Archetype (Jung)

a universal thought form or predisposition to perceive the world

Complex (Jung)

a constellation of thoughts brought together as a whole, usually by a unifying feeling

neurosis

a disorder of personality characterized by a fundamental disturbance in interpersonal relationships

paradigm

a model of the world shared by members of a community that govern their activities

resistence

a process in which a patient avoids becoming aware of unconscious conflicts by avoiding topics

transference

a process in which the patient projects onto the analyst emotional attitudes felt as a child toward important persons

biophilia (fromm)

a productive character orientation that works toward positive freedom

Free Association (Freud)

a psychoanalytic technique in which a person verbalizes whatever comes to mind no matter how trivial

Tyranny of the should ( Horney)

a set of excessive expectations a person has about the type of person they should be

operational definiton

a specification of the behaviors included in a concept; how a concept is described so it can be observed and measured

Individuation (Jung)

self-realization (Jung)

inferiority

strong feelings of inadequacy

creative self (Adler)

the Adlerian term for the aspect of the personality that establishes, maintains, and pursues the goals of the individual