conflict theories Flashcards
conflict theories; background
Background
❖Criticism of biological determinism & Psychoanalysis
Mechanistic approach (“forces”)
Anthropological/cross-cultural studies
Lack of universality of principles
Limited/“popularization” of ideas
Infusion of sex but no description of other biological motives (hunger, shelter, etc.)
Complexity of ideas – all-encompassing did not mean fundamental
Parsimony vs. Reductionism
→ Emergence of a humanistic approach
❑Focus on growth
adler individual psych
ADLER
Individual Psychology
The uniqueness of individuals
Motivations emerged from:
1. Social interest: the innate potential to cooperate with others to achieve personal and societal goals
2. Inferiority feelings: physical, emotional and cognitive inabilities that emerge from self-reflection and comparison
3. Striving for Superiority: agency, completion
Individual and societal (member of a group)
Increases tension: effort
Antithetical to previous states of “release”
**4. Fictional Finalism: **subjective goal/idea (belief) that guides behaviour, idealized state
opposed to determinism
adler; style of life
Individual psychology
Style of Life (Lebensstil)
A unique character structure or pattern of personal behaviours
Teleological: behaviour was in-line with lifestyle goals, even if these were unconscious
Caused by the interplay of motivational forces, resulting in “types.”
Dominant: behaves without regard for others
Getting: expects to receive satisfaction, becoming dependent
Avoiding: no attempt to solve problems, avoid failure
Socially Useful: cooperates and mitigates between own needs and other’s
karent horney bg
Background
Feminism
Disagreement with Freud’s opinion on female development (i.e. “penis envy”)
❖Adlerian psychology and inferiority/superiority
Focus on social forces not developmental stages
parental care, environment, culture
❖Optimism
foundation to humanistic/positive psychology
Warmth, understanding, security and love could prevent these outcomes!
karen horney: theory of neurosis
Theory of Neurosis
❖Basic Anxiety
Feeling of helplessness and loneliness in a hostile environment
Foundation of neuroses
Resulted from parental dominance, lack of protection and love, and erratic behaviour
Idealized self image
Distortion in self-perception: misleading mask that prevents the individual from self-reflection
Denying inner conflicts allows them to feel superior
karen horney: naurotic needs
Neurotic Needs
Behavioural strategies that become fixed aspects of personality that lead to other interpersonal difficulties
Compliant: needs approval, affection, the dominant partner
moving toward: accepting feelings of helplessness
Detached: independence, perfection, withdrawal
moving away: avoid dependency, appear self-sufficient
Aggressive: achievement, adoration, need for power, prestige, and exploitation
moving against: hostility, rebellion, aggression
Conflict Theory
conflict theory; fact check
Fact check; Pampering in Childhood (Capron, 2004)
❖(Parental) Actions manifested in (children’s) personality traits
Overindulgence: persistent (parental) gratification leads to entitlement, tyrannical/manipulative behaviour
Low Agreeableness (narcissism)
Over Permissiveness: no restrictions leads to disregard of rules or rights of others
Low Agreeableness (narcissism), sociopathy
Overdomination: exclusive parental decision-making leads to a lack of self-confidence and dependency
Agreeableness, conscientiousness
Overprotection: excessive caution results in generalized anxiety and avoiding social situations
Neurotic
psychanalysis: humanism bg
Background
1. refutation of mechanistic (behaviourist) and deterministic (psychoanalysis) approach
Subjectivity of experience
2. Psychoanalysis → personality theory
Developmental Theory: measuring universal, stable traits/abilities throughout the lifetime
Humanistic Psychology: **strengths, positive aspirations, conscious experience of human nature **
3. Separation b/wn research and clinical work
Focus on normalcy (average, typical) and **not deviation **(individual differences, disorder)
humanism maslow
Maslow
**Self-actualization **
❖Full development of one’s abilities and realization of one’s potential
Individual differences and external circumstances can affect the attainment
The disruption resulted in disorder; maladaptive behaviours emerged to obtain fulfillment
100% satisfaction of lower levels is not necessary
- **Holistic, **“gestalt” approach
Deficiency needs (stages 1-4)
arise from deprivation
facilitate motivations
Being needs (stage 5-8)
arise from desire
facilitate inspiration
Carl Rogers
Carl rogers: Humanism
Positive regard
Unconditional love (mother and infant)
Conditional affection creates censure in behaviours
repression of self
Used in the therapeutic environment to help foster actualization
Extended the “talking cure”
Non-directive: include the client’s perspective (Maslow)
Psychoanalysis became Psychotherapy
❑Reflective: rephrased client’s perspective (allow for introspection)
Did not force interpretation
Focus on present context and change
Non-deterministic
carl rogers; client- centered therapy
Self-Actualization
**1. Openness and appreciation of all experience **
No denial of “urges”
**2. Tendency to live fully in every moment **
Past experience (anxiety) is not “haunting” or exerting influence, no repression of thought
**3. Guided by instincts (internal) than reason or opinions of others (external) **
Self-actualization not internalizing, no denial of internal desire
**4. Sense of freedom in thought or action **
No conscious “censor”
** 5. High degree of creativity **
Growth needs 6. Need to maximize potential * Growth needs, goals
