14.8 Personality Adjustment

Question 1

Though life has its frustrations, a well-adjusted person is able to do 2 things.

Answer 1

Love and work

Question 2

How did Klein propose a well-adjusted adult operate?

Answer 2

If more from the depressive position, the person would be more adjusted

Question 3

How did Adler view the healthy individual?

Answer 3

As measured by his success in fulfilling the 3 major challenges of life; society, love and marriage

Question 4

How did Jung view the ideal personality type?

Answer 4

He did not single out any of his personality types because he believed that everyone possessed all attitudes and functions in various degrees. All were necessary for successful living.

Question 5

The integrated individual has all Jung’s factors acting in harmony. But people who are nearly pure types are seen as?

Answer 5

Pathological

Question 6

Freud believed that there are no clear boundaries between mental illness and mental health. Both neurotic and healthy people struggled with the same conflicts. Where does the difference then lie?

Answer 6

In the extent of the negative impact of these conflicts on functioning.

Question 7

What was anxiety previously referred to?

Answer 7

As neorosis - emerges from fixated libidinal development.

Question 8

How does anxiety (neuroses) develop?

Answer 8

As a result of pressure on the ego to balance the demands of the ID and the superego.

Question 9

Name the 3 forms of anxiety according to Freud.

Answer 9

Reality anxiety
(real dangers)

Neurotic anxiety
(ID in conflict with ego - generally happens in childhood when punished for impulsive sexual and aggressive behaviour)

Moral anxiety
(Conflict between ego and superego - fear of guilt feelings)

Question 10

According to Freud, when is a fixated libido expressed?

Answer 10

In adult life according to the character types or traits.

Question 11

Which personality types are often described as being gullible?

Answer 11

Oral personalities

Question 12

What did Freud view as an important tool in curing neurosis?

Answer 12

Transference - patient transfer emotional attitudes to the therapist, which was felt as a child.

Question 13

Name the 2 types of Transference therapies Freud distinguished between.

Answer 13

Positive transference - friendly positive feelings towards therapist

Negative transference - angry, hostile feelings

Question 14

Did Freud believe that neurotics could be cured?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

Jung agreed with Freud that sexuality was the main cause for neurosis in young adults but in contrast to Freud, felt that ………. led to neurosis.

Answer 15

a denial of religious needs in older adults

Question 16

How did Adler view neurosis?

Answer 16

As the result of feelings of inferiority leading to self-absorption and neurosis.
One way of overcoming feelings of inferiority is to overemphasising od another form of behaviour.

Question 17

Maladjusted people lack ….

Answer 17

Social interest

They are self-centered and strive for personal superiority and superiority over others

Question 18

What interesting view did Adler hold on how psychopathology expressed itselftjrough work?

Answer 18

Pathology is indicated when a person who is in an unhappy marriage try to escape by becoming a “workaholic” / when a person is unable to accept a subordinate position.

Question 19

What did Freud believe in terms of the components of a healthy personality?

Answer 19

They worked together
under the influence of the ego
to achieve pleasurable
but safe discharges of tension

Question 20

How did Horney view neurosis?

Answer 20

As any deviation from normal behaviour - not necessarily pathological per se.

Question 21

According to Horney, only when does pathological behavour occur?

Answer 21

Only if external forces (such as poor parenting) block a person’s innate tendency towards positive growth.

Question 22

Horney’s theory of pathology is also based on the concept of “basic anxiety”. Explain.

Answer 22

The predominant reason that basic anxiety develops is from parent-child relationships and the absence of genuine love and affection. The child responds to basic anxiety by developing a neurotic trend.

Question 23

Horney differed from Freud (who claimed that neurosis was the result of frustration of the sexual instinct). How?

Answer 23

She maintained that sexual difficulty was the result - and not cause - of conflicts.

Question 24

Name Horney’s 3 identified neurotic trends (which are present in ALL people but over-accentuated in the neurotic)

The exclusive use of a single type of behaviour, regardless the situation, is indicative of neurosis.

Answer 24

1) COMPLIANT TYPE - moving towards people
2) HOSTILE TYPE - moving against people
3) DETACHED TYPE - moving away from people