Question 1

How does Melanie Klein's conceptualization of the Oedipus Complex differ from that of Freud? Do these distinctions make a difference in explaining Steve's relationships with women? If so, how?

Accepted Answer

Klein's theory actually de-emphasized the Oedipal period.Whereas Freud thought that this was one of the most important organizing factors in personality, Klein believed that the pre-Oedipal period was more important.She also suggested that the death instinct, which according to her, resulted in aggressive behavior in children, was just as, or more important than, the sexual drive in personality development.She therefore might suggest that Steve's relationships are not due to influences of libido, but rather due to influences of thanatos.Klein also discussed the possibility that our relationships with others help us to develop how we think about and experience the world.Because loved ones can have both good and bad qualities, it is possible that Steve's experiences with an emotionally detached mother caused him to be unable to form emotional attachments to the women he dates.

Question 2

How could Fromm's relatedness need explain Steve's relationships with women? How does this compare with the Freudian explanation?

Accepted Answer

Fromm's relatedness need suggests that humans have a drive for union with other humans.This need can be met only through genuine love.Steve is attempting to fulfill this need but will be unable to do so because his relationships with women are not genuine love relationships.Genuine love relationships, according to Fromm include feelings of caring, responsibility, respect and knowledge.According to the Freudian explanation Steve would be fixated at the phallic stage of development which would have been caused by an unresolved Oedipus Complex.While both Fromm's and Freud's theories can be considered psychodynamic, they differ in that Fromm's is more humanistic.Fromm also emphasized social and cultural influences on personality more than did Freud, who emphasized more psychosexual influences.

Question 3

What aspect of Hank's behavior would be the focus of a therapist who is behaviorally oriented? What aspect would be the focus if the therapist were psychodynamically oriented?

Accepted Answer

A behaviorally oriented therapist would focus on the behavior itself, i.e., Hank's eating behaviors and his argumentativeness.A psychodynamically oriented therapist, however, would see those overt behaviors as a sign of some other underlying problem.

Question 4

At what Freudian stage is Steve fixated? What evidence is there of it? Describe the stage and how it contributed to the fixation.What would have caused this fixation?

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Question 5

What is an alternate explanation (besides Freud's) of Hank's eating and argumentative behaviors?

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Question 6

Others might express their behavior differently than Steve if they were fixated at the same stage.Give some examples of how they might behave.

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Question 7

Would Freudian theory describe Hank's eating and argumentative behaviors as being internally or externally motivated? Explain the motivation.

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Question 8

Application Questions
Use Freud's states of consciousness and stages of psychosexual development to help explain Hank's behavior by answering the following questions.
-What personality (or character) type does Hank display according to Freudian theory? Provide evidence for your answer.At what stage is Hank fixated, according to the Freudian perspective? Find evidence of fixation in the case study.What would have caused this fixation?

Accepted Answer

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Use Freud's states of consciousness and...

Question 9

Find an example of a Freudian defense mechanism that Hank uses in this description. Explain it.

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Question 10

What therapeutic techniques would a Freudian therapist, like the one in the case study, likely use? What state of consciousness would be the focus of therapy? How does healing/improvement occur during Freudian therapy?

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Question 11

How could Horney's concept of basic anxiety explain Steve's relationships with women?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Which of Freud's personality types does Steve display? What evidence is there for it? What would have caused it?

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Question 13

Would a Freudian therapist view Hank's weight problem as a behavioral problem, in and of itself, or as a symptom of another problem? Explain.

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Question 14

What type of Freudian psychic energy motivates Steve's relationships with women?

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Question 15

Find an example of regression in the case study.Explain it.

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Question 16

Use Erikson's concept of lack of intimacy to explain Hank's problems in establishing long-term relationships with women.How does this differ from the Freudian explanation?

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Question 17

According to Freudian theory, is Steve aware of why he interacts with women on only a sexual basis? Which state of consciousness is most involved in controlling this behavior?

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Question 18

Use Freud's states of consciousness and stages of psychosexual development to help explain Steve's behavior by answering the following questions.
-Does the Freudian perspective indicate that Steve's relationships with women are internally or externally motivated? Which system of personality is most involved? How?

Accepted Answer

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Exam 2: Case Studies 1-2 Carl Jung: Contributions