For most people, the term personality means the apparent characteristics and social skills of an individual. The theories that are set to explain the term personality are established with the goal of explaining the reasons why different situations are a motivation to people and why individuals react in a particular manner that is meant to influence his or her perspective. The purpose of the personality theories is to who people why people have a different character and why people’s personality is made up of the way of thinking, feeling, and the way individuals react toward specific issues. The studies analyzing the aspect of personality include a different concept of human behavior. Thus, this paper focuses on discussing the personality theories, by comparing and contrasting the psychoanalytic and humanistic theory.
Differences
The two theories have a clear difference, which makes them work contrary to each other. The differences between the two theories are based on the views of each theory, the thought of development of each theory, and the stages of development of the two theories. Identified by Sigmud Freud, psychoanalytic theory is the model of human nature, and it asserts that the concept of human nature is based on the notion psychic energy. When one looks at the definition of the psychoanalytic theory, it is evident that the theory explains the human behavior in relation to the interaction of the different component of personality.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The theory was developed on the three key concepts, in which these concepts were set to improve the meaning of the psychoanalytic and theory. The key elements of the psychoanalytic theory are id, ego, and superego. In this case, the Freud used these elements to explain the meaning of psychoanalytic theory, as a way of explaining how the human minds work, especially when creating urge and satisfying their urge.
Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow identified the theory of humanistic and the two thinkers felt that human nature is inherently benevolent and positive in its own way. On the other hand, the humanistic theory is a psychology model that was identified as a reaction toward the psychoanalytic theory. In other words, the theory of humanistic was developed to criticize Freud’s work (psychoanalytic theory), in particular about Freud’s view of the human beings personality.
The theory claims that usually, the meaning of an individual’s life is based on the choices that a person makes and the responsibilities for the decisions he or she is making. To explain personal perspective, the theory of humanistic use two main concepts, which are self-concept and self-actualization. In this context, the philosophers who invented the theory say that self-concept is people’s perception and understanding who peoples are, while self-actualization is the aspect of characteristics that explains everything that one needs to become who he or she want.
Similarities
Although both theories are contrary to each other, they also take into account of presenting an argument that is similar to each other. As such, the two theories have or portray an individualistic concept. Evidently, both humanistic and psychoanalytic theories put the individual at the center of their study, thus taking into account the aspect of individualism. In addition, different scholars for various aspects have criticized the two theories. As both approaches involve too much case studies, this has raised questions from philosophers, who feels that the cases studies may make the theories contradicting in one way or the other. Finally, in both theories there is not scientific validity, thus making the two arguments lack the support that is needed to show the aspect of empirical evidence.
