Sociological and Psychological Perspectives
An overview of six psychological perspectives
Psychodynamic perspective
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed a theory of the human mind that emphasised the interaction of biological drives with the social environment. Freud’s theory emphasises the power of early experience to influence the adult personality.
Freud’s theories are called Psychodynamic theories. Psychodynamic refers to the broad theoretical model for explaining mental functioning. ‘Psycho’ means mind or spirit and ‘dynamic’ means energy or the expression of energy. Freud believed that people were born with a dynamic ‘life energy’ or ‘libido’ which initially motivates a baby to feed and grow and later motivates sexual reproduction. Freud’s theory explains that people are born with biological instincts in much the same way that animals such as dogs or cats are. Our instincts exist in the unconscious mind - we don’t usually understand our unconscious. As we grow we have to learn to control our ‘instincts’ in order to be accepted and fit in with other people. Society is only possible if people can ‘control themselves’. If everybody just did what ever they felt like, life would be short and violent, civilisation would not be possible. Because people have to learn to control their unconscious drives (or instincts) children go through stages of psychosexual development. These stages result in the development of a mature mind which contains the mechanisms that control adult personality and behaviour.
Freud’s stages of Psychosexual Development
The Oral stage: Drive energy motivates the infant to feed, activities involving lips, sucking, biting, create pleasure for the baby. Weaning represents a difficult stage which may influence the future personality of the child.
The Anal stage: Young children have to learn to control their muscles and in particular the control of the anal muscles. Toilet training represents the first time a child has to control their own body in order to meet the demands of
Psychodynamic perspective
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed a theory of the human mind that emphasised the interaction of biological drives with the social environment. Freud’s theory emphasises the power of early experience to influence the adult personality.
Freud’s theories are called Psychodynamic theories. Psychodynamic refers to the broad theoretical model for explaining mental functioning. ‘Psycho’ means mind or spirit and ‘dynamic’ means energy or the expression of energy. Freud believed that people were born with a dynamic ‘life energy’ or ‘libido’ which initially motivates a baby to feed and grow and later motivates sexual reproduction. Freud’s theory explains that people are born with biological instincts in much the same way that animals such as dogs or cats are. Our instincts exist in the unconscious mind - we don’t usually understand our unconscious. As we grow we have to learn to control our ‘instincts’ in order to be accepted and fit in with other people. Society is only possible if people can ‘control themselves’. If everybody just did what ever they felt like, life would be short and violent, civilisation would not be possible. Because people have to learn to control their unconscious drives (or instincts) children go through stages of psychosexual development. These stages result in the development of a mature mind which contains the mechanisms that control adult personality and behaviour.
Freud’s stages of Psychosexual Development
The Oral stage: Drive energy motivates the infant to feed, activities involving lips, sucking, biting, create pleasure for the baby. Weaning represents a difficult stage which may influence the future personality of the child.
The Anal stage: Young children have to learn to control their muscles and in particular the control of the anal muscles. Toilet training represents the first time a child has to control their own body in order to meet the demands of