Different Personality Types - Assignment Example

Essay Questions on Personality Types Essay Questions on Personality Types Question Personal unconscious according to Jung comprise of information that has been forgotten temporarily or those unpleasant memories that one would not want to remember. The forgotten information could be the one forgotten after reading a book and unpleasant memories, those of rape or abortion. An important feature of the personal unconscious is the complex which is the feelings, attitudes, thoughts and memories of an individual that might worsen their situation if more of these complexes are included in the already existing ones. Collective unconscious on the other hand is one which is inborn and shared by all human beings and consist of memories from the evolutionary and ancestral past. These memories or experiences are similar to all human species. This therefore means that they are not acquired individually. As the personal unconscious consists of complexes, collective unconscious is all about an individual from which other similar persons are derived. Question 2 There exists three personality structures according to Freud: the id, ego and superego. Id is the most primitive of all personality structures that exists since birth and is entirely unconscious. Being that it is the source of all psychic energy making it main as far as personality formation is concerned; it also relies mostly on instincts. The id is known to be driven by the pleasure principle which seeks immediate satisfaction of desires, needs and wants. It is important that these needs be gratified as failure to do so, may lead to tension among individuals. When one gets thirsty for instance, they will need water to cool down the thirst, and this measure should be taken immediately. It is the id that enables infants to be comfortable as their id needs are immediately fulfilled whenever they cry due to discomfort. It is however not always possible for these needs to be immediately fulfilled. If the id has to be satisfied immediately at all times, there would be instances where robbery and stealing will be on the rise, simply because the id desires have to be met. If what to satisfy the desires of the id is absent, Freud advises that an individual should form in their mind an image of that which they desire so as to achieve fulfilment. The ego develops from the id and works to moderate its desires and bring it back to reality, as far as its desires are concerned; so that the actions of an individual are socially acceptable. The ego works with the conscious, preconscious and the unconscious. There are some instances where the needs of the id cannot be gratified and therefore have to delay till the appropriate time as per the ego. The ego has a way of looking at whether some actions are beneficial or not and therefore make a decision on whether the needs can be satisfied immediately, not at all or later on when it is appropriate. Superego is the last one to develop and deals with the understanding of right and wrong, which we acquire from either the society or parents. It comes up at around the age of five and is responsible for the way we make our judgments, through the guidelines it provides us. There are two main parts of the superego, which are the ego ideal and the conscience. The ego ideal is about the set rules and standards that ensure that good behavior prevails. These rules are meant to be followed strictly and it is as a result of this that get valued and become accomplished members of the society. Much of these rules are usually set up by those in authority and parents. As far as the conscience is concerned, it houses those bad behaviors that are condemned by the society and therefore punishable or might make an individual develop feelings of guilt or remorse. Question 3 Denial is where an individual refuses to deal with reality because the experience is beyond their ability to deal with. It is however considered as very primitive s the denial never lasts for long, there has to come a time when after having denied for a while an individual is left with no option but face reality. For example, a person may find it difficult to accept that the child they just gave birth to after carrying them for nine months has died. Rationalization is equally a defense mechanism that has an individual want to run away from facts or the truth, or simply provide excuses so that an unpleasant situation can appear better than it really is. There are people with sensitive egos and give these excuse on a conscious mind and not even realize they did. Lies therefore seem to form a better part of our lives, as it is better to listen to lies than the truth that really hurts. For example, a student gets suspended from school for stealing and on getting home, they think of a way to break the news to the parents. They have to make sure they sugarcoat their crime so that it does not appear or sound really bad to their parents’ ears. Regression is where individuals tend to return to their previous state when faced with issues in their present state, which may be stress. For example, a teenager when having issues with her present boyfriend might start thinking of their ex-boyfriends Displacement is another where an impulse is redirected, mostly hostile or destructive behavior to a less powerful or powerless person or object. For example, a teacher with domestic issues back at home may come to school and redirect their anger to the students through beating them up, for no apparent reason. Repression is the mechanism where the ego controls the id so that it does not act irresponsibly. This is by disturbing ones thoughts from becoming conscious. This is in an attempt to make sure that regrets or feelings of guilt from the superego do no come to pass. This mechanism is however all about hiding these feelings, which might later lead to anxiety later on. An example of regression, girls are always advised to take a cold bath so that they can keep their sexual feelings away. This is having them regressed. Question 4 According to Adler, the order in which one is born in the family has an effect on their personality. First born children for instance are said to be excessively given attention by parents and pampered to a great extent, till their replacement period. Everything suddenly changes at this point as attention is now diverted to the second born. They are then made to feel neglected, inferior and striving to have the attention back. It is unfortunate that they have to experience more problems as they get older. As for the middle born children, everything is often easier on their side. Though not so much pampered as their first born, they still get attention from their parents and will always strive towards making sure things do not make another turn and get the first born to their previous position. They also enjoy being elders to their siblings, younger than them. Their extreme need to be the most superior is what keeps them ever competitive. Being that the last born knows they have the least power in the house, their personality is affected and becomes lowered later in life. These children tend to be overprotected especially from their elder siblings and extremely pampered, and it is the overprotection that makes them feel that they cannot face the world alone but with the help of their elders and are feared to feel inferior in their future lives. Birth order is the order of time from the earliest to latest of sibling births in a family. First born children are charged with the responsibility of taking care of their siblings, being that they are considered to be responsible and the kind that supports authority. They also mentor their younger ones being that they have leadership traits. In this sense therefore, they are expected to act as role models. Middle born children on the other hand are peace makers in the family as they are used to compromise with their elder siblings. Last born children are not given some responsibility in the house due to their inferiority, this makes them sit on their plans; being that their voice cannot be heard in the house. I strongly agree with Adlers’ theory on birth order as being the second born in my family, I am shocked that whatever I went through is the same as what Adler has in his theory of birth order. I always wanted to remain at the top and be more superior to our first born, I equally received a lot of attention from my parents, missing out on pampering though. I happen to have a similar experience with Adler as he also was a second born. Question 5 According to the tyranny of the should, it is believed that one’s personality is determined by the social and cultural conditions that may be much of the experiences one has during childhood. Hostility among children towards their parents, for instance, is found in children who received little or no affection from parents while young. These children also in the end tend to suffer from basic anxiety. There however is a way to deal with such a situation which is by; the individual moving toward, against and away from people. It is only normal that neurotics stick to only one of the above; a normal person is expected to use either of those in their environment for comfortable coexistence. These neurotics develop a poor self-image and hate themselves, which could be presented in various ways; pride, search for glory well as distancing themselves from people and feeling unworthy. Question 6 I agree with Adlers’ theory on birth order because it relates very much with what I went through as a second born in my family, just like Adler himself. The theory has made it clear that our character as far as birth order is concerned is common with most children. I was this child that always strived to be at the top of my first born and receive all the attention with no competition from anyone. I also stood an opportunity to be a leader of my siblings who were younger than me. All this is in the birth order theory of Adler and each one of us can relate to. Read More