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Psychoanalysis and Behaviourism

Freud proposed that the id and the superego which are frequently in conflict in the unconscious premises of the mind are controlled by the ego. For normal behavior to occur, the id and the superego have to be in equilibrium. If the ego is unable to achieve this equilibrium, abnormal behavior may surface as a result. Another main assumption that the psychoanalytic approach makes childhood experiences can mould or affect one's feelings, behavior or attitude as they grow into adults and that this influence occurs without the individual being aware of it. It is suggested that these experiences play a part in shaping one's personality as an adult and that any excruciating ordeals or distresses that one may have experienced as a child and has been suppressed into the unconscious may result into the development of abnormal behavior and psychological illnesses. .
             Unlike the psychoanalytic approach, the behaviorist approach to psychology describes behaviour as one which is learnt. It focuses on explaining behaviour based on the present compared to the psychoanalytic approach which attributes behaviour to past experiences. It suggests that all behaviour is learnt through conditioning and reinforcement. It emphasizes the role that the environment plays in shaping our behaviour. This approach suggests that we learn through the processes of two types of conditioning. These are the classical conditioning and the operant conditioning. Classical conditioning, proposed by Pavlov (1941), describes behaviour as one that is learnt through association. Pavlov observed in an experiment with laboratory dogs that they salivated when they heard the footsteps of the person who provides their meals. He concluded that they had learned to associate the footsteps to their food. To further support this, Pavlov conditioned the dogs to associate the ringing of a bell instead of footsteps to the arrival of their meal.


Essays Related to Psychoanalysis and Behaviourism

1. Compare and Contrast two of the five main approaches in psyc

... , if he/she enjoyed the date then it is likely for that person to ask to go out again or move their relationship a stage further. One of the differences between behaviourism and humanism is that behaviourists use animals as well as humans in the procedure of an experiment as they believe that animals learn in a similar fashion to that of humans. Humanists ... learning. The Humanism movement developed in the America in the early 1960's, where it was believed that it would replace the two other main approaches in psychology at the time; behaviourism and psychoanalysis. Humanists believed t...

  • Word Count: 1585
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Comparison Between Piaget and Vygotsky

... or technical ones that act on the environment.(Millar,1993:388) Vygotsky and Piaget were contemporaries with Watson and Skinner (behaviourists), Freud, (psychoanalysis) and Koffka (Gestalt psychology). (Bodrova & Leong, 1996:7) During the early part of the 20th century, the emerging field of psychology was linked to Darwinism and biological causes for behaviour. Eugenics (deliberate breeding of "superior" humans) ... revolution. He died from tuberculosis in 1938. He was strongly influenced by behaviourism. His theory reflects the influence of Marx and Engels. Although he had constraints ...

  • Word Count: 2516
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Analysis of Carl Rogers' Theories

... Goodwin (2008) writes in his book, A History of Modern Psychology that, Rogers and others 'humanistic Psychology distinguished itself by contrasting with psychologies other two forces, psychoanalysis and behaviourism'. (Goodwin, P439, 2008). Sigmund Freud's view, 'the father or psychoanalysis', was centred on the unconscious, he believed that only psychoanalysts with specific training could ... interpret the hidden subconscious thoughts of individuals. (Kahn 1998) Whereas Behaviourists such as B.F skinner whom Rogers had lengthy debates with, thought that humans free will was ...

  • Word Count: 1535
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Approaches to Psychology as a Science

... psychologists have dissimilar views on aspects of human development, which is evident in the methods and theories each have produced. Psychodynamic approach concentrates on sexual influences, social and cultural considering the importance of unconscious mind determining behaviour. Whereas behaviourism was developed from disappointment with the psychodynamic approach as well as other theories of consciousness. Cognitive ... information processing, defining thinking as information processing by making comparisons between mind and computers. However the humanistic approach is the only appro...

  • Word Count: 1741
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Methods of Defining Psychology

... to understand how evolution has shaped the way we think and feel. Educational psychology concentrates on those aspects of the psychic activity that have to do with learning. Experimenting with animals and people, it tries to understand how they learn, and to devise better ways of teaching. A psychological school, known as behaviourism, maintains that human behaviour is a learned response to a ... stimulus, and consequently tried to establish learning as the central topic of psychology. The area of ... . The term psychoanalyst is reserved for individuals who have received specialised tra...

  • Word Count: 3678
  • Approx Pages: 15
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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