Abnormal Psychology - Psychoanalytic Model and Behavioural Model - Essay Example

?"Abnormal Psychology- Psychoanalysis Model over Behaviour Model" Psychoanalysis is performed to understand the behavior and emotions of theindividual. These factors remain hidden in the unconscious mind and generate gloom. These symptoms may in some cases be distinguished while in others it could result in individuality attributes, impede performance in professional as well as personal fronts. All these affects the self esteem of the individual, hence there is a need to undergo psychoanalytic treatment. Psychoanalysis determines the chronological basis of the problem, changes that took place over point in time and enables one to deal with the truth (What is Psychoanalysis?). Introduction Psychoanalysis encompasses treatment of cataleptic factors encumbering relationships, work performance, mood alterations and their impact on self esteem. The method is based on the verbal procedures. The sole motive of psychoanalysis is to resolve the issues related with psychological problems by conveying cataleptic clashes to the cognizant mind, where they may be tackled and determined. The focus is on basic approaches of practicing concerns and being judgmental on them as compared to the focus on behavior. Psychoanalysis therefore focuses on altering the personality of the individual in a complete manner in contrast to bringing alteration only in behavior (Guy, 2009). According to Freud, psychoanalysis is devised to fortify self-image, enhance attentiveness, alertness and to gain control on superego. It is a continuous process and may take years to be accomplished. A psychoanalyst plays an inert role and guide the person but unlike teacher the psychoanalyst cannot teach. It is imperative that the psychoanalyst should understand the emotional confrontation of the individual; it then becomes essential to bring the issue to the aching consciousness. A psychoanalyst reveals the derivation of the emotional confrontation. In order to make the therapy an effective method it is essential for the individual to deal with the issue and resolve the pain (Guy, 2009). According to Sigmund Freud's Theory, personality of the individual is shaped by diverse factors that enable an individual to react with the situation and respond to the world. The theory states that every individual is born with an identity. The personality of the individual revolves around this identity comprising gender, annoyance and appetite. Personality of the individual facilitates growth as it expresses the congregation of basic needs and how well they are met. A. The Identity- According to Freud, based on the identity and personality a baby grows, the personality directly displays the fulfillment of the desires and how contented an individual is. As a child, when hungry, the personality demands food and therefore the baby sob but if the baby is contended then the baby is happy and playful. It is the identity that makes the baby and care taker to react in a manner to fulfill the desire. On the other hand the personality does not concern in relation to realism and also not apprehensive about others but try to fulfill one's own contentment. A child is not worried about the world around and therefore nothing matters what and when the child requires things and attention. It is beyond the control of time. B. The Ego- Interaction with the world shapes the personality of the child. According to Freud, this is the ego. This is the most imperative part of the personality as it balances the desire the identity and the conscience, the superego. It has a firm basis of the realism rule. The ego of the individual enables one to meet the needs raised by the identity and at the same time understands the actuality of the circumstances. It enables one to adjust to the circumstances depending upon the personality of the individual. A child develops this sense of understanding at the age of three. C. The Superego- As the child moves to the age of five, superego grows. It reflects the conscience of the personality. It displays the moral values and ethics that are inculcated in the child by the care providers and provide one with wisdom to do what is correct or erroneous. According to Freud, the ego takes the highest position as it can capably satisfy the desires of the personality without distressing the superego and thus enables one to understand the truth behind the situation. In case of strong identity, desires and personality satisfaction commands the individual's life; on the contrary, if superego is too burly, the individual possess highly unyielding morals, the individual is going to be critical and rigid while interacting with others. Thus, the convictions an individual possess are deep seated in the unconscious mind and it is not accessible at a conscious intensity. What an individual is responsive about is determined by the conscious mind and at this stage an individual is least aware about the personality as most of the part of the personality development is hidden and unapproachable. When the individual is prompted then only subconscious mind and emotions are activated else they remain out of the dynamic conscience (Models of Understanding Human Behavior). In cases where the normal psychology of the individual is disturbed, the personality is altered and hence the self-esteem, the ego is also modified. Such cases are considered to be of abnormal psychology and hence require appropriate psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is therefore a constant process where the analyst is required to build a repo with the patient, a bonding, an understanding similar to parent-child relationship. This familiarity and considerable approach enables the individual to rely on the analyst and transfer the hidden painful emotions from the unconscious mind to the conscious mind. According to Freud, this act is influential and provides the access to the analyst about the relevant issue bothering the individual. It is also observed that Freud's theory works well with males as compared to females (Models of Understanding Human Behavior). Freud's theory faced criticism as it is difficult to resolve the intricacies of human brain and there is no enough depth and help in accepting the facts although it may be of worth in understanding the cause of the abnormal psychology. It is still most efficient in treating mental illness. Freud's theory also faced criticism due to the emphasis on sex. Various other methods that evolved for the treatment of abnormal psychology encompasses cognitive and behavioral therapy emphasizing the fact that psychoanalysis is not the only method for the treatment of neuroses and mental illness (Plaut). The Behavioral Model emphasize on the fact how the environment shapes the personality of the individual, it emphasize on the fact that there are certain motivation factors that provide an impact on the individual's behavior, it came into picture when introspection and psychoanalysis were prevalent and laid prominence on observed stimuli and behavior responses (Models of Understanding Human Behavior). Conclusion The psychoanalytic theory although old but it provides a complete picture about the individual's likes and dislikes. It is more close to the reality as the unconscious memories really trouble the individual and reminds of the incidence that proved to be the turning points in shaping the personality and thoughts of the individual. If the analysts is able to understand the cause of worry and pain then appropriate treatment and healing could be provided, on the contrary other theories such as behavioral theory facilitates one to understand the influence of the environment which itself is changing and individual may be exposed to many different kind of environment even within the same set of conditions. For instance treatment of mother with the child is different from the father and hence thus environment varies. In order to treat mental illness the cause of the problem is to be rectified and the problem itself evades. Thus psychoanalytical theory proves to be a better theory in treating various levels of mental illness by understanding the cause of the trouble. References Guy, S. (2009). The Psychoanalytic Model of Therapy. Available at http://www.bukisa.com/articles/57660_the-psychoanalytic-model-of-therapy. [Accessed on 9th Aug' 2011]. Models of Understanding Human Behavior. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/512778/Models-Of-Understanding-Human-Behaviour. [Accessed on 9th Aug' 2011]. Plaut, E. R. Psychoanalysis: From Theory to Practice, Past to Present. Available at http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/plaut.html. [Accessed on 9th Aug' 2011]. What is Psychoanalysis? Available at http://www.med.nyu.edu/psa/psychoanalysis/. [Accessed on 9th Aug' 2011]. Read More