The Psychoanalytic Perspective | Curiosity Killed the Kat

I was in fourth year High School when I first heard of Psychoanalysis but we used it in analyzing literature. During that time I didn't really understand the perspective I only know that we use it to analyze how the life of the author from childhood till he died affects his works. Studying it now that I am in University and have a more focused view on it made me see how it really is. It often uses what happened in the child's past to justify his/her actions and although I admit that childhood experiences may affect their behaviors I do not believe that this is the only basis on understanding personality. I also find most of Freud's theories like the Interpretation of Dreams (which I will discuss later on this post) and the complexes that we develop as children to be absurd.

If you are as curious as I am about this perspective I'm sure you want to view the video below so don't be shy just hit play...

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...and since I know you're one curious cat like me here's another video (it's more of a Freudian-centered video).

                                                                           Source: google.com

Freud's Interpretation of Dreams

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The Interpretation of Dreams by Freud is Probably on of the things from him that I find to be really absurd. I just find it so silly that almost all objects you cab dream about would be an image of a phallic symbol for him and makes me feel that he should've saved himself the trouble of writing a whole book by just saying that he all our dreams are manifestation of our sexual frustrations (sorry for the feels). I know that this is a way for him to let go of his sexual frustrations due to the era in which he lived in but this is a great example of why most psychologists are not very welcoming of his ideas. 

Another thing that I don't particularly like about Freud is his view on women. His theories suggest that he has a not so good perception on women (as is demostrated on the picture abive). I know that this, again, is a product of the times where he was born but I find it ironic since it was stated that most of his clients are women.

Karen Horney

Karen Horney is one of the Neo-Freudian Psychologists that we discussed. She is like a breath of fresh air after studying Freud. I find her theories more relateable and believable and no I am not just saying this because she is the only woman theorist but because of how much her theories on neurosis and how people either move towards, away, or against people to help their anxieties (Burger, 2011). Personally, I think I use both moving towards people and moving away from people to cope with anxious times. I am a very dependent and sometimes clingy person especially when faced with unfamiliar settings and would often use the familiarity of those near me to make me calm. I also often times look for affection although I never lacked this growing up maybe it was too much and I found it to be normal to look for this kind of affection. I also tend to move away from people to avoid rejection. I even move away from my those that are close to me in fear of them leaving me behind in the end. 

Another thing that made me admire Horney more is her drive to achieve what she wants despite her gender (which is a huge issue in their time). I also admired her rebuttal to Freud's theory of how women have penis envy by saying that men are the ones who are envious of the ability to give life and this envy fuels their want to provide for their family.

And since I love her so much here is another one of her quotes.

                                   Source: google.com

Reference(s): Burger, J. M. (2011). Personality (8th ed.). Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Pub. Co.