For many centuries, the treatment applied to those suffering mental disorders was extremely barbaric. It was thought that mental diseases were caused by demons or other supernatural forces. However, real progress in solving the origins of mental illness was achieved by the Austrian mystic and physician, Franz Mesmer. He managed to show that using the power of suggestion when in a trance-like state could cure some mental disorders. Members of the Nancy School argued that suggestion could not only cure mental illness but could also cause it in the first place.
The most influential psychoanalyst of recent times is Sigmund Freud. His name is referred to more than any other psychologists in psychology literature. He is well known for his theory on personality development. His fame rests largely on his position as the originator of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis refers to a complex set of theories about human emotional development. His fame rests largely on his position as the originator of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis refers to a complex set of theories about human emotional development and to a form of treatment based on theoretical ideas.
Assumptions
The psychoanalytic approach is an approach to psychology which seeks to explain the unconscious mind and the influence of earlier experiences. This suggests that behaviour and feelings as adults are rooted in our childhood experiences and our behaviour and feelings are powerfully affected by the meaning of events to the unconscious mind and by unconscious motives. Freud believed there were three major parts to personality.
The largest thd unconscious part, the ‘id’, works on animal instinct and the pleasure principle. The ‘ego’, which develops slightly later in life, is the conscious, problem solving part of personality which strives to please the id, and works on the reality principle. The ‘super ego’ is the last component of personality to develop and is concerned with moral judgement and feelings. The idea of an iceberg can be used to portray his ideas. Over two thirds of personality is said to be in the unconscious sea, most of which is taken up by the id. The third that is left is believed to be the conscious tip, ego and super ego.
In a sense, this part of Freud’s thinking represents a combination of a theory of motivation, a cognitive theory and a social psychological theory. The id contains basic motivational forces; the ego corresponds to the cognitive system and the super internalises the values of family and of society in general. Areas of Explanation Freud suggested that children normally go through a series of developmental stages. This was the first theory of child development.
The first stage of the theory is the oral stage. Between the ages of 0 and 6 months, a child gains pleasure through its mouth. This stage is dominated by the child’s awareness of what it wants. Too little or too much stimulation at this stage may lead to oral fixation which may eventually lead to oral dependency. A child who has too little stimulation may become pessimistic aggressive, often depressed, talk, drink and smoke and will see other people as objects to satisfy themselves. On the other hand, children who have too much stimulation will create a child who is easily fooled and have a high opinion of him/herself and will be unable to make decisions.
The second stage, between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, is the anal stage. This stage is dominated by bowel control. The id demands immediate satisfaction (the child wants to relieve itself), however, the ego knows that the parent doesn’t want this during potty training and so conflict may arise. As a result, fixation may also occur. Those who become fixated at the anal stage can become one of two types of personality. The anal expulsive personality (children who enjoy getting rid of faeces) will be overgenerous and untidy. The anal retentive personality (children who are forced to get rid of faeces) become obsessive about punctuality and tidiness and become generally miserable.
Next comes the phallic stage between the ages of 3 and 5/6 years. At this stage, bodily satisfaction is important. However, what makes this the most important stage is the ‘Oedipus complex’. Freud believed that boys unconsciously want their mother and resent their father for having their mother’s love. As a consequence, in a bid to become more like his father, the boy takes on the characteristics of his father. Freud called this ‘identification’.