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Introduction
This article will discuss similarities and differences in the theories and beliefs between three approaches. Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic approach, Alfred Adler’s individual psychology and Carl Roger’s person – Centered therapy. It will compare their theory of human nature, theory of personality, theory of function/dysfunction, theory of change and the therapeutic relationship.
Theory of Human Nature
Freud’s theory assumes humans are biological factors; his views where deterministic thus humans are driven by their impulses and animalistic instincts that are hidden in the unconscious and will later evolve in their first years of life through psychosexual stages (Gerald, 2012). His views on humans were objectified by the notion that they’re incapable of controlling those impulses and are determined at birth (Ziegler, 2002).
In addition to Freud’s reductionistic theory that viewed humans as bits and pieces, Adler, came to realize that the Lifestyle of a person, the way they understand their environment and live their lives, is the key to understanding humans as whole, holism (Papanek & Papanek, 1961). In keeping with his holism, he used the term teleology to describe the human’s psyche need to set goals and have a purpose, rather than being defined by their childhood traumas (Boeree, 1997). Feelings of inferiority arise when newborns, while being dependent by everyone around them, must face society’s unrealistic demands to adapt, grow up and become independent like the adults who are more capable to satisfy their needs (Adler, 1927). He believed humans are born imperfect but with a core motor of striving for perfection, an innate trait that must be postnatally nurtured by socialization for it to survive, the social interest (Boeree, 1997).
Rogers as did Adler, saw humans as capable beings, able to grow and live authentic, productive and fulfilled lives (Corey, 2012). The actualizing tendency is a person’s single motivational force that fuels them to behave in a self-understanding and self-directed way. Although Rogers believes the incongruence between self and experience is a typical aspect of the human condition, this does not lessen his final belief in the autonomy of individuals. A person can assess their outward and inner circumstances while making constructive decisions and acting on them. This demonstrates a belief in free will and agency (Pescitelli, 1996).
Theory of Personality
The almighty id is at the center of Feud’s Psychoanalysis personality structure. It is blind, hence why located in the unconscious, it has no moral code, it is uncontrollable, and driven by pleasure and instinctive needs (Corey, 2012). The ego, located in the conscious and unconscious, is the connection between the id and the environment regulating the id’s unstoppable needs, and the superego located in the preconscious is the moral code the id lacks (Freud, 1923). The id’s needs must be met properly through the psychosexual stages; the oral stage of sucking and biting, the anal where pleasure comes from holding it and letting it go, the phallic focused on genitals and masturbation, the latent which he described as repression in order to learn and the genital stage where pleasure comes from sexual intercourse. If the id’s needs are not met properly or over met it is the ego’s job to regulate those urges otherwise the person becomes fixated in a certain stage (Elkatawneh, 2013).
Adler noted three categories of neurosis might be separated based on the varying amounts of energy they required, although all illness is a problem of insufficient social interest to him. He believed that the psychological types, ruling, leaning and avoiding type would have an impact on a human’s personality development because they lack energy in some aspect of their personality. The useful type, a healthy person, has both energy and social interest. He incorporated the Birth order in his theory of personality which is probably what he is most famous for, including not only the parents but also the siblings. Firstborns will battle with dethronement by the second, the second will always compete with the first, while the youngest is usually the most pampered one (Boeree, 1997).
In addition to Freud and Adler, Rogers, didn’t see humans as types or orders nor stages; he believed that each human is a unique individual. The self-concept, the organized, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself and their reality experiences conduct their dominant behaviors. If they get enough positive regard (love, attention, acceptance) as babies they will be able to become everything, they were meant to be (Corey, 2012).
Theory of Function & Dysfunction
Mental health by Freud is the ego’s ability to control the emotions, internal needs and instincts. As he said: “Where there was id there shall be ego” (Watson et al., 1940). When the ego can’t deal with those innate aggressive and sexual urges, it’s internalized standards are corrupted and the person becomes fixated in a certain psychosexual stage; ego defense mechanisms sort those fixations in the unconscious so the person can deal with the anxiety they create (Baumeister et al., 1998).
Adler had a completely different view than Freud concerning mental health and unhealth; Social interaction is the most important element in a person’s development because they’re social beings (Boeree, 1997). If a person acts out in violent or disrespectful behaviors, their innate drive of social interest hasn’t been nurtured properly. The core element of individual psychology is that humans can only think, feel, and behave in relation to the objectives they are striving toward; losing faith in their goals of life and their ability to compensate for their inferiorities results in inferiority complexes (Adler, 1931).
Rogers believed that there is an unreachable aspect of a human’s potential to become their real self; because of society’s conditions of worth (to be good, perfect etc.), conditional positive regard and self-regard an ideal self is developed, a not real self. He called that incongruity, which is the core reason humans feel stuck and lose their appetite to live meaningful lives (Pescitelli, 1996). On the contrary Rogers, like Freud, talks about defense mechanisms but in addition to him the person uses them because of conflict between the real – self and the ideal self, instead of desperation to control internal urges (Rogers, 1961).
Theory of Change
Unchangeability is the side Freud’s psychoanalytic views lean upon. Being fixated in a psychosexual stage leaves no space for change in adult life. His views where not very optimistic but he believed gaining insight to the roots of their unconscious emotional disturbance could lead in beneficial outcomes (Ziegler, 2002). Psychoanalysis sole goal is to and make conscious the unconscious element of those conflicts (Watson et al., 1940). Acting-out behaviors like neurotic symptoms or dysfunctional conducts are "the royal path to a knowledge of the unconscious" because they are expressions of a person's inner drivers (Kets & Cheak, 2014).
According to Adler a person who finds themselves hindered in life's challenges due to physical or mental deficiencies will seek to compensate for this awareness of personal inadequacy; the innate drive of a person to be strong and superior (Allport, 1921). Psychic movement can only occur when it has an innate purpose. The construction of a goal requires the ability to change, as well as a certain degree of freedom of movement (Adler, 1927). In other words, Adler strongly believed that because of humans’ subjective purpose, they have the creative power to decide what they accept as truth, how they behave, and how they interpret events (Corey, 2012).
Rogers and Freud views of humans were very different; while Freud believed that humans have no chance of altering their adult personality, Rogers strongly believed in changeability (Ziegler, 2002). The actualizing tendency gives humans the ability to grow and change and will be achieved by additional acceptance and unconditional self-regard (Rogers, 1961). The self-concept plays a major role because of its ability to constantly evolve through new experiences. A human organism's "phenomenal field" experiences both conscious and unconscious are included in the here and now (Pescitelli, 1996). Thus, both the actualizing tendency and the self – concept make it impossible for humans not to lean towards change (Ziegler, 2002).
Therapeutic Relationship
Freud believed that by being emotionally detached with his patients any projected emotions towards him are more likely to be meant for someone in the patient’s personal life (Corey, 2012). As a result, the more the analyst rejects the patient, the greater his need for acceptance and love will be. Freud explained that the need for love explains the transference of conscious and unconscious libidinal urges onto the analyst, and this is the royal road for the patient to gain insight to their unconscious (Racker, 1954).
Adler would talk to his clients face to face instead of being behind them while they are lied down like Freud did and didn’t appear as an authority figure. He believed that if a person forgets appointments or is stubborn it is not about repression; the person is giving in to their neurotic Lifestyle. Building a genuine relationship with the client will lead in revealing their social interest and the energy that goes with it (Boeree, 1997).
Rogers had similar views with Adler and completely opposite to Freud’s in the way the therapist stands before the patient. Building an authentic and genuine relationship, filled with empathy and unconditional acceptance will lead the patient to self-actualization; to become who they really are (Rogers, 1961).
All three therapists played a major role in the evolution of psychotherapy. It seems that Rogers and Adler had more similar views in all aspects of this essay, but some differences are also found between them, mostly in their views of personality. Major differences though are noticed between the two and Freud. Rogers' idea of an active forward thrust differs greatly from Freud's theories, which advocate an objective for tension reduction, equilibrium, or homeostasis (Kahn, 1998). Adler replaces deterministic explanations with teleological ones and in many respects, he anticipated the humanistic tradition (Corey, 2012).
References
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Watson, G., Adler, A., Allen, F. H., Bertine, E., Chassell, J. O., Durkin, H., Rogers, C. R., Rosenzweig, S., & Waelder, R. (1940). Areas of agreement in psychotherapy: Section meeting, 1940. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 10(4), 698–709. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-0025.1940.tb05736.x
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