PSYC 1000 Lecture 50

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Theory Although important in historical context, Poor scientific theory –Vague, Untestable, Post-Hoc (after the fact) can predict almost any outcome making it very difficult to predict anything –E.g. Sublimation or displacement vs. reaction-formation Lack of support from research findings –Little evidence that defense mechanisms represent sexual and aggressive impulses –History does not support Freud’s idea that sexual repression causes psychological disorder –Indeed, little evidence for repression

Evaluation: Repression Loftus and other researchers question notion of repression –Contrary to how memory appears to work: e.g., mind does not “record” in detail everything in our lives –Controversial (e.g., False Memory Syndrome) Problematic Findings –All or most people experiencing known traumatic event remember them (too well!!) Children who saw parents murdered Survivors of Nazi death camps Battle-scarred veterans –People who keep diaries remember positive and negative events equally

Humanistic Perspective Reacted to –Negative views of Freud: e.g., negative, unconscious motivations, Thanatos –Impersonal view of Behaviorists Central role to idea of Self –More later on Self and Positive Psychology Two major historical figures –Abraham Maslow –Carl Rogers (more in abnormal section)

Humanistic Theories Holistic –Explain people’s separate acts in terms of their entire personalities Dispositional –Focus on innate qualities within a person that exert a major influence over the direction of behaviour Phenomenological –Emphasize individual’s frame of reference and subjective view of reality

Humanistic Perspective Abraham Maslow ( ) –Hierarchy of Needs –Highest level Self- Actualization –Studied self-actualization processes of productive and healthy people (e.g., Lincoln) Self-Actualization –Ultimate psychological need that arises after basic physical and psychological needs met and self- esteem achieved –Motivation to fulfill one’s potential

Humanistic Perspective Carl Rogers ( ) –Focus on growth and fulfillment of individual –Self-Concept: All thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to question, “Who am I?” Humans have basic needs for Positive Self Regard (i.e., value self) and Self-Actualization Incongruency between Actual and Ideal Self major source of psychopathology, personal dissatisfaction, …

Evaluating Humanistic Perspective Concepts vague: e.g., self-actualization Emphasis on self could promote self- indulgence and lack of concern for others Naive Optimism: theory does not address reality of human capacity for evil Theory influenced popular ideas on child-rearing, education, management, etc.

Social- Cognitive Perspective Behavior influenced by interaction between persons and social context Bandura’s concept of Reciprocal Determinism (above) –Different people choose different environments –Personalities shape how we interpret and react to events –Personalities help create situations to which we react

Social-Cognitive Theories Bandura also believed self-efficacy was central in personality – Beliefs about your own competency in specific situations Based on: Actual accomplishments – Positive and negative reinforcement Vicarious experience – observational learning Persuasion – belief is formed based on feedback from others or self Emotional arousal – anxiety associated with low efficacy whereas excitement associated with high efficacy.

Example of Reciprocal Determinism A. Hostile thinking leads to hostile behavior B. Hostile Behavior creates environment of anger C. Hostile Behavior intensifies hostile thoughts D. Angry environment calls forth more hostile behavior E. Angry environment calls forth more hostile thoughts F. Hostile thoughts make environment seem more threatening

Personal Control –Sense of controlling environments rather than feeling helpless Locus of control (Rotter) –External Attributions: chance or outside forces beyond personal control determine fate –Internal Attributions: we control own destinies Culture and Attributions

Attributions and Culture Chinese-Americans viewed animated fish displays Asked why single fish and group swim apart? Then rate alternative reasons. First primed by either American or Chinese Symbols (e.g., Statue of Liberty, Great Wall of China)

EXTERNAL INTERNAL

Evaluating Social Cognitive Perspective Built from research on learning and cognition, including social cognition Sensitizes researchers to importance of situations Imprecise explanations of development of personal constructs & competencies Fails to consider unconscious motives Today, cognitive-behavioral theory is major psychological approach to explaining human behavior

Next Class Self Theories Comparing personality theories