Freud and Skinner's Approaches to Understanding Behavior

Freud and Skinner's Approaches to Understanding Behavior

Introduction

Amongst many of the psychologists, Sigmund Freud and B.F. Skinner are the revolutionary ones, and have contribution in science, through different approaches and ideas. Freud is known as the father of psychology as he has a major impact on the development of the theories in psychotherapy. Skinner, along with many other theorists, has also been influenced by the theories presented by Freud. However, Skinner's approach consists of behavioral perspective that is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Navarro & Lucido, 2001). On the behavioral perspective, Sigmund Freud and B. F. Skinner stand on the opposite polar ends.

The purpose of the study is to compare and contrast the approaches of the two, Freud and Skinner to understand human behavior. The study will first discuss the Freud's and Skinner's approach separately and then their approaches will be compared.

Discussion

Freud's Approach

The basic concept of Psychoanalysis is that an individual may be unaware of various factors that trigger emotions and behavior. The theorists believe that behavior is the apparent characteristic of that can be understood by analyzing the development and the inner working of the mind. Many unconscious factors have the ability to create unhappiness, which may lead to distinguishable symptoms, which may include disturbing personality traits, or general disposition or self esteem disturbances (Beystehner, 2001). Sigmund Freud was a true pioneer and one of the first psychoanalyst who acknowledged the significance if the unconscious mental activity. He emphasizes on the internal working of the human mind. His theories gained popularity at that time and widely accepted by most of the psychological school of thought. His major work is on mental life, which includes dream interpretation, theory of mind (structural), psychoanalysis techniques and various other topics.

In 1949, Freud tried to explain the three basic principles on which the psychoanalysis stands and these forces are “id, Ego and the super ego”. Id basically highlights all that has been inherited unconsciously which depends on instincts and is present by birth whereas, the ego, plays a role in controlling the demand of id. Ego is a conscious effort that is aware of the stimuli and proves to be a link with the external world and id (Hergenhahn, 2009). At last, the superego, where the demands are influenced by id, limits the satisfaction level, and also has the impact of others for instance teachers, parents and role models. It also has an effect on society, racial and cultural tradition. This takes moral aspect in the account.

Freud claims that the behavior is the final result of instincts. He defines the two major instincts that are death instinct (destructive) and love (Eros). Eros that builds on relationship while the death instinct undoing the connection. He also defined four major stages in the sexual development that are oral stage, sadistic-anal stage, phallic stage and genital stage.

There are various psychoanalysts have less attention towards sexual instincts and more stress on the cultural experience that are the determinants of development of an ...