Regarding the notes on this theory of personality and on those to follow, this is true: Many persons, in a variety of ways, have aspired to explain the complexity of the human personality. Early and later philosophers, psychologists, psychiatrists and others have tried to explain it; and the attempts continue at present. Still, too many do not give credence to humankind's complexity. For, indeed, we are extremely complex, especially unusual and are especially uncommon creations. We are creations with such unique prominence that there are no others like us in the Universe. Our Creator in His wisdom created nothing exactly the same as another -- much in the manner of snowflakes.  This being said, perhaps we might say it's an exercise in intellectual snobbery to try to develop a theory that is universal; however, we continue to try for one. And, also, regarding the notes on this theory of personality and those to follow, I shall not expound on any of them.  My purpose is to give highlights and to create enough curiosity for the reader to dig deeper into their interests, finding out what they wish for themselves.  Curiosity in this case does not "kill the cat"; curiosity in this case leads to knowledge -- an ingredient lacking in more people than should these days.  However, remember, knowledge doesn't necessarily lead to wisdom.

The Psychoanalytic Theory of personality has held the interest of psychologists and psychiatrists for a long time. Sigmund Freud, its formulator, was quite an influence. The psychoanalytic position is that early experiences influence all human behavior. It attends to -- emphasizes -- three main issues: the id, the ego and the superego. Psychoanalysts say that all human personality is comprised of these closely integrated functions. The id is considered as mostly biological or physical in function -- unfettered, compelling and lacking morality, selfish and intolerant of tension. It functions on the principle of pleasure before anything else. Psychoanalysts consider the id the basic psychic energy and the seat of instincts. It always functions on the unconscious level. Its main quirk is "pleasure before everything, and at any cost."

 

The ego is the rationally functioning element of human personality. It exerts conscious control, trying always to be the mediator between the id and the superego. Though the id seeks pleasure blindly, based on the pleasure principle, the ego seeks pleasure using rationality instead of irrationality. Its main quirk is rationality, and is always conscious. The superego represents our moral system. It strives to put a right or wrong tag on our behavior, often triggering conflict among the three divisions. Its main quirk is morality. The ego is that aspect we present to the "outside" -- it is our persona our celebrity.

Psychoanalysts treat humanity as a dismal breed -- irrational, materialistic and mechanistic. Human beings, according to Freud and his ardent followers, are mere energy systems -- and the summation of that energy is the psychic energy. Anxiety occurs when there is conflict among the three divisions. Humans use defense mechanisms to control the anxiety. Many are listed. Psychoanalysts also put considerable importance on their defined stages through which each proceeds toward maturity -- the oral stage, the anal stage and the phallic stage in particular -- and later the latent stage. They also put much stock in two processes called positive and negative transference (and the "counter-transference" of each) -- positive: likening it to love for the therapist as he/she represents or substitutes for one or the other parent (or other significant person -- surrogate) in their patient's maturing life; negative:  likening it to dislike/hate for the therapist as he/she represents or substitutes for one or the other parent (or other significant person in their patient's maturing life) whom the patient considers the cause of their problem(s).

  

Complicating the psychoanalytic theory of personality, Freud introduced concepts such as the Oedipus complex and, to balance it with a feminine touch, the Electra complex (although, some who write of Freud's theory say that this wasn't of Freud's thinking.) Despite these noble attempts to balance the genders, the psychoanalytic theory of personality is very chauvinistic, giving the male gender much more attention than the female. From my perspective, Freud's greatest contribution to understanding human personality was his exquisite development of his concepts of human conscious and unconscious (and conscience.) Although not being the first to make this division, his concepts make more sense. And his concepts remain the basis for most other theories of personality. Treating patients, using the psychoanalytic theory, is complex, time consuming and costly.  And, however it is viewed, and by whoever views it, it must be considered a closed system. Its main energy is that of the id. It lacks concern for any other outside energy -- outside the self, that is. It is a self-centered model, closed and lacking any interest in a spiritual part that is invested in each person. I take issue with Freud's theory for this reason. Later in Freud's work, two of his most ardent followers bolted, Alfred Adler and Carl Gustov Jung. Jung developed a most interesting -- and every bit as complex -- a theory of personality as Freud; perhaps more complex. More modern theorists, Otto Rank (who emphasized separation anxiety as the main issue with which to deal in understanding human personality), and Karen Horney (who believed that Freud's theory was too mechanistic, which it is, and who further believed that to understand human personality, it was necessary to extend its study to include social pressures and stressors.) She developed a long list of needs that each had to fulfill to feel comfortable with themselves as well as with society. Yet, no matter what additional theories were developed, using Freud's ideas as their basis -- with the exception of Jung -- they continued to exclude the spiritual part of each individual, adding to my belief, that being closed systems, none could possibly bring the wholeness and completeness that each individual seeks in his living and his life after he dies.

Wow!  I wonder if his personality is as bad off?