Freud/Rogers Freud vs. Rogers: Theories and Impact

Freud/Rogers

Freud vs. Rogers:

Theories and Impact

Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers are two of the 20th century's most renowned figures. Both psychologists developed countless advancements in their field, and both are greatly revered by psychologists and society as a whole today, for their efforts and their genius. Another similarity between the two men is that both proposed theories of personality and psychotherapy, and both men's theories are still viewed as controversial by some segments of the field. This paper will thus discuss the contributions of the two men in the respective issues, and their impact upon society.

Freud Theories

The first psychologist's theories to be examined here are those of Sigmund Freud, which center around three elements: the id, the ego, and the superego. Freud believed that the key to a healthy personality is true balance between these three elements, all of which work together to create complex individuals, according to Kendra Cherry who writes about this complex issue. The id, according to Freud, was present in a person from birth. This is the element that includes instinctive, or primal behavior and is the source of all energy, which makes it the most important component of personality, states Cherry. The psychologist also believed that this primary elements is driven by something called the "pleasure principle," which essentially means immediate gratification for desires, wants and needs. In the absence of meeting these requirements, a person will feel anxious or, in the case of a baby, will cry until these needs and wants are satisfied. Obviously, according to Cherry, this element is disruptive in society and often times it does become balanced by the other factors, or we would find ourselves grabbing things we want without thinking of consequences.

The next element, the ego, is the component that often balances out the id, for it deals with reality and develops from the id to ensure its impulses are controlled and acceptable in the real world. The ego functions both consciously and subconsciously, and operates on a "reality principle," describes Cherry, which essentially means that the ego strives to satisfy the id in societally acceptable ways. The last component of personality is the superego. This is an aspect that is mostly subconscious and gives us a sense of right and wrong. The superego emerges in late toddler stages, and has two parts: the ego ideal and the conscience. According to Cherry, "the superego acts to perfect and civilize our behavior. It works to suppress all unacceptable urges of the id and struggles to make the ego act upon idealistic standards rather that upon realistic principles. The superego is present in the conscious, preconscious and unconscious."[footnoteRef:1] [1: Cherry, K. (2011). "The Structural Model of Personality." About.com. Retrieved July 25, 2011, . ]

Rogers Theories

Carl Rogers also spoke of personality theories. Though first and foremost a therapist, Rogers dabbled in explaining just how personality forms through a variety of descriptive analyses. Rogers theories provide just as much insight into the personality of an individual as Freud, but center on a variety of issues including:

The Actualizing Tendency

This, according to Rogers, meant that every individual has a "hidden actualizing tendency." Dagmar Pescitelli writes, of this tendency, that it is constructive and directional, and that it is ever-present in all of us. Therefore, it cannot be destroyed until the individual is destroyed.[footnoteRef:2] [2: Pescitelli, D. (1996). "An analysis of Carl Rogers' theory of Personality." Retrieved July 25, 2011, .]

The Self

'Self' is the basis of Rogers' theory. The self includes "awareness of being and functioning and establishes through interaction with other individuals."[footnoteRef:3] [3: "Carl Rogers Theories." (2010). Health and Lifestyle Updates. Retrieved July 25, 2011, .]

Self-Actualizing Tendency

The last part of Rogers' triad is "a distinctly psychological form of the actualizing tendency related to this "self" is the "self-actualizing tendency." It involves the actualization of that portion of experience symbolized in the self (Rogers, 1959)," according to Pescitelli. This last part of the self theory can be a sort of "push" to experience various forms of seeing things differently.

Strengths and Weaknesses