PSYC FPX 4100 Assessment 3 How Major Psychological Thought Informs Professional Behavior PSYC FPX 4100 History and Modern Systems of Psychology

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Psychoanalysis

When people think of psychology, they often immediately associate it with psychoanalysis. Therapy and counseling are common career paths that come to mind in this context. Psychoanalysis is defined as a collection of psychological theories and therapeutic techniques that originated from the work of Sigmund Freud (Cherry, 2020). The principles of psychoanalysis revolve around the understanding that all individuals harbor certain unconscious thoughts, desires, memories, and feelings (Cherry, 2020). This school of thought serves as a tradition in medicine and psychiatry aimed at helping and treating individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses (Schultz & Schultz, 2016). Everyone possesses unconscious thoughts and feelings, and as we progress through life, certain experiences—whether positive or negative—shape our subconscious.

Working with Teenagers

Therapy for teenagers presents a unique challenge, as young minds are still in the process of developing their identities. Many issues that arise during adolescence can often be traced back to early childhood experiences. Techniques such as psychoanalysis can assist teenagers in understanding their unconscious thoughts. Erik Erikson developed the theory of Psychosocial Development, which is one of the most influential theories in psychology. Erikson was significantly influenced by Freud and concluded that personality develops through various stages, similar to Freud’s theories (Cherry, 2020). However, Erikson’s theory spans the entire lifespan, while Freud’s psychosexual stages are limited to childhood. Erikson emphasized that improper development at any stage could adversely affect an individual’s growth. He highlighted the importance of the teenage years, particularly Stage 5: Identity vs. Confusion, where personal identity is formed, influencing behavior and development throughout life (Cherry, 2020). With this understanding, therapists and psychologists can better assist teenagers in navigating interpersonal thoughts and conflicts.

Major Events and Milestones That Influenced Development

Sigmund Freud is widely recognized as the founder of psychoanalysis and is credited with introducing the concept of the unconscious to the field of psychology. Much of contemporary psychology is also inspired by Wilhelm Wundt, who established the first laboratory dedicated to psychological research and is often referred to as the father of psychology. Wundt was the first to differentiate psychology from philosophy (McLeod, 2008) and focused on studying the workings of the mind. Notably, Wundt did not subscribe to the idea of the unconscious mind.

Psychophysics Influences

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz was a remarkable figure—a German philosopher, lawyer, mathematician, and diplomat. He demonstrated exceptional intelligence, inventing a calculating machine at the age of 13 (Schultz & Schultz, 2016). In the early 18th century, Leibnitz introduced the concept of monadology, which posited that mental episodes consist of psychic entities called monads, akin to perceptions. He theorized that these mental episodes exist across a spectrum of consciousness, ranging from total unconsciousness to heightened awareness (Schultz & Schultz, 2016). This marked the beginning of serious inquiry into the unconscious mind, paving the way for future research in this area.

William James, an American psychologist and philosopher, emphasized the importance of will, attention, and belief, and he also acknowledged unconscious processes. Although it was often believed that he did not support the concept of the unconscious, this was a misunderstanding of his writings in Principles of Psychology (Weinberger, 2000). James argued that our will could influence our unconscious responses, asserting that the mind only knows what we consciously tell it. He contended that there is no hidden unconscious psyche, and his later writings clarified how unconscious awareness can alter behaviors and provoke responses, demonstrating its power to penetrate conscious thought. James played a crucial role in illustrating how the unconscious can impact the conscious mind.

As previously mentioned, Wilhelm Wundt is regarded as the father of psychology. He established the first laboratory specifically for psychological research, aiming to observe and document thoughts and sensations. Wundt analyzed these observations to study the elemental structure of the mind (McLeod, 2008). His school of thought, known as voluntarism, focused on the processes of the mind and organized thought. Wundt believed in the mind’s ability to organize thoughts and utilized introspection and reductionism in his studies. He theorized that consciousness could be deconstructed into its basic elements without losing its es