PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology



Psychology

This research reports is comprised of different case studies of people facing different psychological problems. As in these cases, Sara Jones global development delay problem. She has he problem that she acts like an 18 months old child. In the other case Lyn Jones has been faced with the incidences of being clingy and crying at certain times of the day (Elson, 2006). In the next case Brooklyn Davies has a moderate to severe learning disability and attends a special needs school which is residential. Similarly, Chanelle Davies in her early ages diagnosed 4 month pregnancy. The other cases are also like the same psychological problems.

Theories associated with Cases

Following two theories can be associated with these two theories.

Freud's Stages of Psychosexual Development

According to Sigmund Freud, personality is mostly established by the age of five. Early experiences play a large role in personality development and continue to influence behaviour later in life.

Freud's theory of psychosexual development is one of the best known, but also one of the most controversial. Freud believed that personality develops through a series of childhood stages during which the pleasure-seeking energies of the id become focused on certain erogenous areas (Erikson, 1963). This psychosexual energy, or libido, was described as the driving force behind behaviour.

If these psychosexual stages are completed successfully, the result is a healthy personality. If certain issues are not resolved at the appropriate stage, fixation can occur. A fixation is a persistent focus on an earlier psychosexual stage. Until this conflict is resolved, the individual will remain "stuck" in this stage (Erikson, 1968). For example, a person who is fixated at the oral stage may be over-dependent on others and may seek oral stimulation through smoking, drinking, or eating.

During the oral stage, the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth, so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially important. The mouth is vital for eating, and the infant derives pleasure from oral stimulation through gratifying activities such as tasting and sucking. Because the infant is entirely dependent upon caretakers (who are responsible for feeding the child), the infant also develops a sense of trust and comfort through this oral stimulation.

The primary conflict at this stage is the weaning process--the child must become less dependent upon caretakers. If fixation occurs at this stage, Freud believed the individual would have issues with dependency or aggression (Hilke, 2008). Oral fixation can result in problems with drinking, eating, smoking, or nail biting.

During the anal stage, Freud believed that the primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel movements. The major conflict at this stage is toilet training--the child has to learn to control his or her bodily needs (Kindler, 2007). Developing this control leads to a sense of accomplishment and independence.

According to Freud, success at this stage is dependent upon the way in which parents approach toilet training. Parents who utilize praise and rewards for using the toilet at the appropriate time encourage positive outcomes and help children feel capable and productive(Ornstein, ...