Psychology questions - Term Paper Example

Psychology I think there is a lot of support for a deterministic view of human nature. Reading a recent book on the nature of consciousness, I wasstruck by a brain scam that was able to determine what choice a human was going to make seconds before the individual was consciously aware of the decision (Blackmore 2007). In these regards, hard scientific research points to the existence of unconscious motivations. While the extent this can be extended to a deterministic understanding of human nature is debatable, it’s clear that a number of Freud’s formulations have foundation in scientific truth.

For Christian therapy and therapy in general, I think it’s necessary to, in a sense, disregard these findings and adopt a pro-active worldview that emphasizes the individual’s agency in facing and combating their psychic complications and dysfunctions. 2. I believe that Freud’s theories are an approximation of human nature and the use of his terms like ego defense mechanisms and the unconscious are not scientifically accurate. I think any therapy would benefit from the aspects of Freudian psychotherapy that seek to find the deep undercurrents of issues over a prolonged investigative period, but that it would be erroneous to believe that a therapeutic approach that doesn’t involve specific Freudian approaches and Freudian terminology is ineffective. 3. In reviewing Freud’s stage of psychosexual development I am drawn to the means by which individuals have set stages and struggles they must encounter in order to developmentally progress.

While Freud is predominantly concerned with the childhood stages of development, he concludes his psychosexual stages of development with the genital phase which includes large portions of adolescence and young adulthood (Mitchell 1996). When I consider such stages in my own life I am drawn to the period after graduation from high school when I faced a sort of personal crisis as to my place in the world and maturity. I approached this life stage with determination and consistency in both school and my social life; I would apply these principles to my therapeutic approach as I believe they can be applied to a wide variety of developmental challenges. 4. Considering death from a spiritual standpoint, I believe that it is necessary for one to consider their own mortality and find a certain meaning or purpose in their life.

I don’t think it’s necessarily essential that an individual embrace a belief in an afterlife, but that they understand that their time on Earth is limited and that they must make the most of their opportunity here is essential. Indeed, a great amount of research attests to the importance of an individual having a sense of purpose to achieve happiness (Niven 2006). 5. The question of values in the therapeutic process is highly complex. It seems that there are certain types of values that are cursory to the core goals of the therapeutic process; for example, one’s political affiliations, their religious beliefs, or entertainment preferences for the most part should not conflict with the therapeutic process.

The issue of values becomes important when the therapist believes that the client’s particular values may be detrimental to their ultimate therapeutic progress. Values that allow activities that are harmful to other individuals, including rape or theft are such that the individual’s problems would be insurmountable until they were willing to reevaluate these values. Similarly, an individual who values a racist agenda that is opposite my particular race would present an instance where continuing therapy would be unproductive.

As a therapist if I deemed this to be the case I would have to inform the client of a conflict of interest and suggest that they seek counseling elsewhere. ReferencesBlackmore, S. (2007). Conversations on Consciousness: What the Best Minds Think about the Brain, Free Will, and What It Means to Be Human. London: Oxford University Press. Mitchell, S. (1996) Freud and Beyond: A History of Modern Psychoanalytic Thought. New York: Basic Books. Nivem, D. (2006) 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People, The: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It.

New York: HarperOne