Psychodynamic Model of the Human Mind - Essay Example

Running Head: Psychodynamic Model of the Human Mind Psychodynamic Model of the Human Mind [Institute’s Psychodynamic Model of the Human Mind Since centuries, humans have endeavored to understand and investigate the human mind that is considered the most complex organ in the world. In this regard, a significant importance has been given to human mind by the establishment of different theories related to physical, cognitive, and moral development of human mind in different areas, such as natural science, psychology, etc. In psychology, some of the most prominent theories related to human mind are psychosexual development of human mind by Sigmund Freud, psychosocial development of mind by Erikson, and so on. The paper will specifically study the psychodynamic model of human mind that divides the mind in different aspects or stages, and its relation with different developmental stages of human body will be analyzed as well, in order to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the topic. In order to investigate different aspects of psychodynamic model of the human mind, it is essential to understand the psychosexual development theory of human mind, which will allow us to recognize the psychodynamic model of the same. In terms of personality, one of the most renowned theorists of all the time is Sigmund Freud, who has played a vital role in the investigation process of human mind, as well as, personality development in a significant manner. According to Freud, an individual goes through different stages from his birth to adolescent period that develop his personality, and such stages play the crucial role in deciding the healthy or unhealthy personality of that specific individual. Such theory has resulted in a number of controversies; however, has facilitated in enhanced perceptions regarding the psychodynamic model of the mind. (Velicer, pp. 23-25, 2003) According to the theory, a baby passes through the oral stage from birth until eighteen months, and oral pleasure is the significant focus of child during such stage. Studies related to the theory indicated that oral activities can easily occupy the child during the oral stage, and breastfeeding is the significant evidence of the theory. Such stage may result in an oral fixation due to excess, as well as, insufficiency of satisfaction for the child. Children acquiring an oral fixation often have the inclination towards alcohol, smoke, etc. Moreover, role of uninterrupted follower is played by individuals developing their personality in this stage. Subsequently, from eighteen months to the age of three years, a child experiences the anal stage in which, elimination of feces is considered the major focus of pleasure during such period. Management of anal stimulation is learnt by children during this stage. In context of personality, an anal fixation may result in inclination towards hygiene and perfect anal control. On the other hand, less gratification may result in the contrary of the same. As the child grows up, he passes through the phallic stage until the age of six years. Focus of pleasure from anal control is replaced by the genitals. During this stage, a mother may witness the sexual desires for her in the child that are developed unconsciously. In the result, a father seems to be an opponent for the child, and major focus is on the mother’s affection. (Mitchell, pp. 44-47, 1996) It is observed that feeling of fear is developed during this stage as well due to the development of unconscious feelings in a psychological manner. Moreover, a boy during this stage tries to imitate his father, in order to identify himself as a male in competition to his father. In the result, masculine characteristics are developed during this age. In this regard, it is very essential that parents should deal efficiently with such developments, and ignorance of such feelings may result in deviancy in sexual identities of children. According to Freud, development of such feelings is limited to boys; however, recent psychoanalysts have applied the similar theory on girls during this stage as well. (Mitchell, pp. 29-34, 1996) From this age until puberty, a repression of sexual feelings is performed unconsciously by children, which results in most interaction with same sex children, rather than opposite sex individuals. Such stage is referred as latency stage by Sigmund Freud in his theory. This stage is followed by the genital stage that is experienced by adolescents during their puberty period. Awakening of sexual feelings results in the commencement of genital stage, opposite sex peers are focused during this stage, and genitals once again take the major focus of children in terms of their personality development. (Sadock, pp. 45-52, 2007) According to Sigmund Freud, every child passes through the abovementioned stages of that play a vital and crucial in the personality development of an individual. In addition, such stages have been significantly appreciated in the psychodynamic model of human mind that divides it in three different areas, which will now be discussed in this paper. In psychology, several areas of the human mind are studies in terms of their interrelationships with each other, and such study is known as psychodynamics. In such study, theorists study the different emotional, mental, and psychological development of individuals. In specific, mechanism related to unconsciousness is significantly focused in psychodynamics, which can be observed in the above discussion of the paper. In this regard, psychodynamic model of the human mind is the result of similar study carried out by Sigmund Freud after analyzing the different conflicts associated with human mind that result in various modes, such as anxiety, happiness, pleasure, etc. In order to understand the occurrence of such modes, Freud has divided the human mind in three components, id, ego, and superego that are the major focus of psychodynamic model of human mind along with emphasis on unconscious, preconscious, and conscious levels of the mind. Moreover, Freud has not divided the human mind in a physical manner in terms of their different parts; however, he has focused mainly on psychological division of human mind that has been considered a complex division due to inability of testing the theory in reality. In other words, the three components are considered as three functions of the human mind, rather than the three structural divisions in the mind. In the structural model of Freud, id is considered the fundamental component of the human mind, as it is the only function that is available to mind at time of birth. In this regard, id plays a vital role during the oral stage of a child that has already been discussed in the paper. According to the psychodynamic model, basic needs during the oral stage are met by the effective facilitation of id component. It was believed by Freud that major functioning of id component is carried out on the principle of pleasure. (Berg, pp. 37-39, 2005) It is observed that reality and consequences of the actions cannot be determined by the child during the oral stage, and id is not capable of determining the reality as well. In the result, it is the responsibility of id to express the wants without considering the time, place, and other social constructs of the reality. For instance, id tends a child to cry when he is hungry. Similarly, a child cries when he requires a new clothing, water, milk, etc. In other words, id component of human psyche cries whenever a child wants something, and reality is not at all considered by it, as satisfaction and pleasure is the major objective of child during this period. A number of theories have stated that wishes of parents are considered by children during this age group; however, the psychodynamic model of human mind has argued drastically, and claimed the contrary in this theory. According to the model, the only important thing during the oral stage is the pleasure and wants of id, and nothing else. (Sadock, pp. 19-22, 2007) During the next three years, the child goes through the anal stage, which results in child interaction with an extensive part out of his limited world, and this age period develops the ego component in the human mind. Discussion previously done regarding the anal stage will now help in better functioning of the ego component. Contrary to id that was based on principle of pleasure, principle of reality is the basis of ego component during the anal stage. In other words, needs and wishes of people around the child are recognized by the ego, and the child starts reducing the selfish attitude, in order to avoid hurting people around him. The model has explained that ego plays a vital role in balancing the principles of pleasure and reality in an effective manner. In other words, need of the id are not avoided at all during this stage; however, reality of the situation is considered by the ego as well. It is believed by Freud that a child keeps on interacting in his surroundings with help of the two components, id and ego until the end of phallic stage that has also been discussed earlier in the paper. The development of sexual desires for mother and fear of father’s punishment is the significant example of a balanced approach of ego that allows the development of sexual desires as a need of id; however, it tries to repress those feelings, which is the principle of reality. (Ahles, pp. 55-58, 2004) According to psychodynamic model of the human mind, a new component is introduced in the human psyche that has been referred as superego in the model. According to Freud, a moral component is development at the end of phallic stage, which focuses more on moral and ethical aspect of a child’s personality. Different ethical values imposed in the society are recognized by superego in the mind, and instructs the mind to act accordingly. A number of psychoanalysts and experts have related the superego with conscience, as it is considered to play the role similar to superego. In this regard, a child acquires the three components of id, ego, and superego during his latency period, which remains forever during the lifetime, and facilitates the effective development of personality during the genital period as well. (Berg, pp. 49-51, 2005) The psychodynamic model of human mind considers an individual healthy, if his ego is the strongest one among the three components. According to the model, it is essential that the ego should be able to cater the needs of id, not ignore the ethical aspect, as well as, considering the reality and consequences of every situation experiencing by the child. An individual develops an unhealthy personality, if the ego is not the strongest one among the three components. In this regard, significant importance has been given to the balancing tool, ego in the psychodynamic model of human mind. (Ahles, pp. 68-70, 2004) For instance, taking over of id component may result in inclination towards self-satisfaction and creation of similar desires, which may ignore the ethical values and consequences of the actions. On the other hand, interactions would be based only on moral values that may result in effects on surroundings due to unemotional interactions. It is indicated by studies that most of the experiences in human lives are directed by conscious level in the human mind, which consists of a very small part of the mind, as compared with preconscious and unconscious levels. However, conscious being a small part is unable to cater the feelings and desires associated with such experiences that are available in other two levels of the human mind. (Velicer, pp. 59-61, 2003) In other words, things that keep us aware are present in the conscious level, whereas, the rest floats in the other two levels. Moreover, the psychodynamic model of Freud has indicated that id component of the model always remains in the unconscious level that results in the continuous development of desires and feelings related to self-satisfaction without the knowledge of such operation. Additionally, Freud has placed the superego component in subconscious level that prompts an individual at the time of its need. Some of the examples of things at subconscious level are missing phone numbers and memories that often come in our conscious level, and then go back in the subconscious level. Lastly, ego has been placed as a floating component that drifts in all the three levels of human mind due to its responsibility of balancing the different functions associated with the components identified in the psychodynamic model. In this regard, Freud Sigmund has endeavored to explain the different conflicts and functions associated with personality developments that are carried out during different ages in a lifetime. It is observed that a number of experts have criticized the psychodynamic model of Sigmund Freud due to its inability to authenticate its claims regarding the three component in human psyche. However, this model has been able to play a vital role in the better understanding of different aspects of personality development. Conclusively, the paper has discussed and analyzed the different aspects of psychodynamic model of the human mind with its relation with the psychosexual developmental theory, in order to understand the significance of model during the different developmental stages of individuals. It is hoped that the paper will be beneficial for students, teachers, and professionals in better understanding of the topic. References Benjamin J. Sadock. (2007). Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry. Springhouse; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Henk De Berg. (2005). Freud’s Theory and its Use in Literary and Culture Studies. Rochester; Boydell & Brewer. Scott R. Ahles. (2004). Our Inner World. Baltimore; JHU Press. Stephen A. Mitchell. (1996). Freud and Beyond. London; BasicBooks. Wayne F. Velicer. (2003). Handbook of Psychology. London; John Wiley and Sons. Total Words: 2142 Words Read More