Psychology of Personality: The Neo-Analytic Approach

The Neo-Analytic (Neo-Freudian) Approach

The approach to personality psychology that is concerned with the individual’s sense of self (ego) as the core of personality is the Neo-Analytic approach. The theory is founded by people who denied certain elements of the Freudian (Psychoanalytic Theory) of personality. Often even called the Neo-Freudian theory, this theory is far more accepted than the traditional Freudian ideals as it far more inclusive of many factors.

Neo-Analytic theorists support and agree that childhood experiences do play an integral role in the development of personality. However, many reject the significance and emphasis on sexuality, which is at the core of Freud’s beliefs. Neo-Analytic theorists also believe that personality development occurred for more than just childhood. Where Freud valued the biological instincts and drives, he undervalued social, environmental, and cultural influences on the development of personality.

The importance of sexuality and the unconscious mind have been downplayed by Neo-Analytic theorists. The Ego (no relationship or similarity to the Freudian use of the term) is significant in this theory as are the social influences on a person from other people, the environment, society, and additional outside factors.

Key contributors and Terms

  • Carl Jung (1875-1961)→ Swiss psychiatrist, worked with Freud but left because of the emphasis on sexuality and childhood. Identified the extroverted/introverted personality types which are currently the foundation for the Myers-Briggs personality test.
  • Alfred Adler (1870-1937)→ Austrian medical doctor who worked with Freud but rejected many Freudian ideas for similar reasons that Jung did. Focused on our drive to reduce inferiority and disappointment of others.
  • Erik Erikson (1902-1994)→ German born, lived in America and focused on developmental psychology. Believed stages of development were social, and not sexual, like Freud.
    • Key Terms
      • Identity crisis
      • 8 Psychosocial stages of development based on conflict
      • Ego (also different from Jung and Freud) is essentially one’s identity
      • Read more about Erik Erikson here
  • Karen Horney (1885-1952)→ German psychoanalyst and also a medical doctor, considered to be Neo-Freudian but rejected many claims Freud made as sexist (which they were). Understood the pressures and stresses of life as marked and important to personality development.
    • Key Terms
      • Basic anxiety which comes out of issues during childhood
      • Neuroticism
      • Different types of self (Horney)
        • Real Self→ The inner core of personality that we perceive about ourselves, including our potential for self-realization
        • Despised Self→ Consists of perceptions of inferiority and shortcomings, often based on negative evaluations of us and our resulting helplessness
        • Ideal Self→ The most important to Horney.  Concept of the self that we view as perfection and hope to achieve as modeled by perceived inadequacies, who we should be.
      • Read more about Karen Horney here

General Overview of the Neo-Analytic theory

  • Many theorists studied under Freud and accepted some of his beliefs, but also rejected the overall emphasis on sexuality and childhood.
  • Generally this theory allows for more free will in personality development than Freudian Psychoanalysis, but this varies
  • Identity of the self (often called the ego) is very important in this theory and varies from individual theorists.
  • Sociocultural influences on personality development are extremely important
  • Self-esteem, motivation and life goals all play an important part in the theory
  • The human can adapt to a variety of different life situations

Strengths

  • An improvement from Freud’s theories
  • Emphasis is on the self as it copes with emotions and drives on the inside and the demands of the outside world
  • Factors in both feelings and self, as well as the outside influences that impact our personality development

Weaknesses

  • Too many differing ideas, concepts, and theories fall under this label, leading to great variability in this theory.
  • Very difficult to test scientifically

 

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