Beh 225

Axia College Material
Appendix D

TV Character Evaluation

Part I
Write a summary of 350-700 words identifying the contributions of Freud, Jung, and Rogers.

Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, believed our personalities have roots to our unconscious, all the ideas, thoughts, and feelings we are not aware of (Morris, G., & Maisto, A., 2005). According to Freud, our personalities consist of three separate structures: the id, the ego, and the superego. ID is the only structure present at birth, and functions according to the pleasure principle (obtain pleasure to avoid pain). The ego, id’s link to the environment, operates on self and reality principle and controls conscious ideas, thoughts and feelings. The superego’s function is to be the moral guardian and aids in normal function within the environment (Morris, G., & Maisto, A., 2005). Freud’s belief is that if the superego rejects impulses from the ego, anxiety occurs often leading to the use of defense mechanisms to reduce the discomfort produced by anxiety. Freud contends that these defense mechanisms occur unconsciously.

Carl Jung believed that personal unconscious and collective unconscious were the two components of the unconscious. Personal unconscious contains repressed thoughts, forgotten experiences and undeveloped ideas; while the collective unconscious contains memories and behavior patterns from previous generations (Morris, G., & Maisto, A., 2005). Jung believed that libido signified all life forces instead of Freud’s belief that libido signified just the sexual forces. Jung also believed there were two attitude types among people, introverts and extroverts. Introverts are concerned with personal feelings and issues while extroverts are interested in other people and events surrounding them.

Carl Rogers, a prominent humanistic theorists, contends that personalities are developed based on goals. Actualizing tendency occurs when one pushes himself/herself to fulfill the biological potential. Self-actualizing tendency occurs when one drives to fulfill self-images; a fully functioning person refers to a person with closely matched actualizing tendency and self-actualizing tendency. Rogers believes that a fully functional person is raised with unconditional regard, an environment where people value other people regardless of emotion, attitude and behavior (Morris, G., & Maisto, A., 2005).

As noted in the above paragraphs, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Carl Rogers have valuable contributions and theories regarding personality. These theories continue to be studied and evaluated for all to completely understand personality traits and disorders.

Source:
Morris, G., & Maisto, A. (2005). Psychology: An Introduction. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
Part II

Choose three of your favorite television characters; past or present. Complete the following matrix describing the characters’ personalities from the point of view of the three theorists, Jung, Freud, and Rogers. TV Character | Jung | Rogers | Freud | 1. Alan Harper-Two and a half Men | Alan represses the thoughts of his marriage. A marriage that ended in divorce then Alan turns to his brother Charlie for help. His personal unconscious holds the repressed thoughts and experiences of his short-lived marriage to Judith. With shared custody of Jake, Alan still has contact with Judith, but with each meeting, some of those repressed thoughts make him angry. Alan is an extrovert, where he is concerned about everyone around him as well as himself. | Although none of the episodes show how he was raised, there have been moments where I am led to believe Alan was reared in a conditional regard. I believe his mother Evelyn still treats him and his brother Charlie conditionally, where acceptance and love are dependent on certain behavior or conditions. | Uses defense mechanisms frequently. I can recall one particular show where he used an identification mechanism. He belittled his brother Charlie for not being successful, when it was Alan who was having problems with his chiropractic business. | 2. Sami BradyDays of Our Lives | Sami represses her feelings about the past when it benefits her. When conflict arises, these repressed thoughts are triggered and blames everyone except herself for her failure in life. Overall, Sami is an introvert, she is more consumed with her own world than she is anyone elses. | Sami grew up in a household with unconditional positive regard, however, she blames the past (Stefano) for her actions and manipulation. Through genetics, she inherited many quality traits but is more self-absorbed and does not attempt to achieve her biological potential. | Uses many defense mechanisms throughout each program. Specifically, denial, repression, regression, displacement and sublimation. Trying to find happiness, Sami resorts to schemes, lies, and manipulation. | 3. SamWorst Week | I believe the title says it all…Worst Week. Sam experiences every possible hurdle in life, all in one week. After Sam and Mel finally tie the knot, Sam attempts to repress all the incidences that occurred prior to their marriage, until Dick (father-in-law) decides to make Sam feel incompetent and unworthy of Mel’s love. Sam is an extrovert, concerned with everyone and the environment surrounding him. | Although the program has not revealed Sam’s childhood, I am led to believe that Sam was reared in with unconditional positive regard because that is the way he treats others. Sam is a fully functioning person where his self-concept resembles his potentials. | Sam has experienced many horrific experiences prior to his marriage to Mel. He uses defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety and guilt. |