Psychoanalytic_and_Adlerian_Theories

Running Head: REACTION PAPER     Reaction Paper Psychoanalytic and Adlerian Theories Psychoanalytic Theory Thoughts, Questions, Issues Psychoanalytic theory focuses on psychosexual stages early in life and mental development from those stages. If one psychosexual stage is not met, then it is the theory that problems may develop later in life. Personally, I think it is very important and relevant to review childhood memories and experiences so that current thought can be changed. However, I do not think that the first six years of life are as crucial as this theory suggests. Group members could be having issues because they came from a dysfunctional family, had a bad experience during childhood/teenage years or influential friends could have made an impact on the person’s way of thinking and/or acting. Most Significant Aspect The most significant aspect of this theory is the focusing on the unconscious and early childhood. This theory states that, “Normal personality development is based on a successful resolution of conflicts at various stages of psychosexual development.” (Corey, 2008). It focuses on past influences being the reason for current personality functioning. The past must be revisited and worked through in an effort to understand the affect that the unconscious has now. Concepts Agreed With I agree with the concept of the past being a determinant of current personality functioning. I will use my oldest sister as an example of why I agree. Growing up, we were not what one would consider a dysfunctional family. My other sister and I had a “normal” childhood and a productive adulthood thus far. My parents took us places, did things with us and gave us all the necessities and love we needed. My oldest sister started hanging out with a less desirable crowd in her early teens. She started drinking and experimenting with drugs. She has been to therapy numerous times. It seems that every time she found a new therapist, they put her on some kind of meds to help with stress, anxiety, sleep, etc. She has never once told me that the therapist(s) explored her past childhood. Concepts Disagreed With I do not agree with this theory’s assumption that if one of the stages is not successfully completed, an unhealthy personality may be the result. (AllPsych.com) I also do not agree with most of Freud’s theory of psychosexual development. It is assumed that girls have fantasies of having sexual relations with their fathers and use pregnancy to take the place of the father’s penis (Electra complex). It is assumed that young males want to have relations with their mothers and hold hostility towards their fathers (Oedipus complex). (Frew, 2008) My reasoning for disagreeing is that I did not want to have sexual relations with my father and my son did not despise his father because he was attracted to me. Comfort Level I would be uncomfortable using this model in group therapy. While I do agree with some of these concepts, I do not agree with everything this theory teaches; I do not agree with most of the psychosexual stages. Therefore I feel I would be unable to adequately lead a group and would most likely negatively impact the group because of my disagreements. Ethical and Diversity Issues One can run into diversity issues if the group leader does not fully understand a participant’s cultural background and/or language, thus not fully understanding their behaviors and responses in therapy. In my opinion, Freud had a skewed view of females. This could become an issue, depending on the group members’ gender and background. This theory also focuses much on relationships within the family. Cultures vary in the way “family life” is defined. It might be hard to lead a group with several different cultures who had various familial upbringings. An important ethical concern would be a group leader who does not fully support this theory leading a group and not properly utilizing all the concepts of the theory. Adlerian Therapy Thoughts, Questions, Issues I appreciate the Adlerian theory. I think it is a good theory for all, including diverse clients. I especially like that Adler believes all people create their own reality for themselves, regardless of background and culture. Adlerian theory practice focuses on people creating their own reality and motivation towards goals regardless of background and culture. Adlerian theory comprises of emotions, core fears, basic mistakes, basic life tasks, social interests, birth order, and compensation for inferiority. (Frew, 2008) Most Significant Aspect The most significant aspect of Adlerian theory is that it recognizes lifestyle is unique to each individual and the attitude is set by those values and choices of lifestyle. Alder believes these are formed in early childhood and serve as the blueprint for dealing with the challenges of life. Adler also believes that children are influenced by outside factors. (Corey, 2008) Concepts Agreed With The main concepts I agree with are, people are social beings who are influenced by social interactions; and conscious processes account for much of people’s behavior. Social interaction is very important and can influence people. I will refer back to the story of my oldest sister. She was fine until she became involved with the “wrong” social circle. I think everyone’s lifestyle is unique and we can be whomever we choose to be. It is a conscious choice of how we want to act and where we want to go in this life. An example would be me making a conscious decision to go steal something from a store. I would know full well that I stand the chance of going to jail and losing my job over it, but it was the decision I made. Concepts Disagreed With I disagree with Adler’s concept about family constellation, especially the fact that the youngest child defies the rules. I do not fit into this concept about the youngest child defying the rules. My reasoning is because I am the youngest of three siblings. I was spoiled and had been called the “baby” until I was in my teens, but always had followed society’s and elders’ rules. Comfort Level I would be very comfortable working with these concepts in group therapy. I agree with most of Adler’s theory and feel it supports my view that childhood development should be explored in therapy. Ethical and Diversity Issues When working with diverse clients, empathy and establishing a sense of trust is very important in this therapy. If the client feels that the group leader or members of the group do not really care or understand them, they may not be as open to interaction with the group. Members could also be reluctant if the group leader does not know much about their placement, what they expect from others, how they handle problems, how ordering affects them, how they see themselves, their superiority issues, and social interests. (Frew, 2008) Males and females handle problems differently, not all cultures socialize the same way, and family ordering can be seen differently in various cultures/genders. References: AllPsych Online (u.d.). Psychology 101. Chapter 3: Personality Development. Freud’s stages of psychosexual development. Retrieved on Friday July 16, 2010 from: http://allpsych.com/psychology101/sexual_development.html Corey, G. (2008). Theory and practice of group counseling. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole. Frew, J. & Spiegler, M. (2008). Contemporary Psychotherapies for a Diverse World. Boston: Lahaska Press