Psychodynamic vs. Humanistic Personality Theory Compared
This paper compares and contrasts psychodynamic and humanistic theories of personality, situating both within the broader context of trait theory. Drawing on empirical research regarding therapist personality differences across theoretical orientations, the paper examines how each framework conceptualizes human behavior, motivation, and the structure of the self. Key figures including Freud, Maslow, and Rogers are discussed, along with the clinical implications of each orientation. The paper also evaluates meta-analytic evidence comparing psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies, concluding that theoretical orientation may matter less to client outcomes than is commonly assumed, and that psychodynamic techniques may underpin effective therapy across multiple orientations.
- Introduction: Therapist Personality and Theoretical Orientation: Research on how therapist personality varies by orientation
- Trait Theory as a Foundation: Overview of trait theory and the Big Five
- Personality in Humanistic Theory: Maslow, Rogers, and humanistic personality concepts
- Personality in Psychodynamic Theory: Freud's Id, Ego, Superego, and unconscious processes
- Comparing the Empirical Evidence: Meta-analytic comparison of psychodynamic and CBT outcomes
- Conclusion: Shedler's argument reframing therapeutic orientation debate
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper opens with an empirical study on therapist personality differences, grounding the theoretical comparison in concrete research rather than abstract description alone.
- It contextualizes both major theories within the broader framework of trait theory, giving readers an accessible entry point before moving into more specialized content.
- The inclusion and critique of a meta-analysis adds scholarly depth, and the paper honestly acknowledges methodological limitations such as heterogeneous study designs and limited generalizability.
- The concluding reference to Shedler's challenge to prevailing assumptions provides a thought-provoking, evidence-based endpoint that elevates the paper beyond simple summary.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of compare-and-contrast structure anchored in empirical evidence. Rather than treating the two theories in isolation, it uses the Tremblay et al. (1986) study and the Leichsenring and Leibing (2003) meta-analysis to show real-world intersections between theoretical orientation and measurable outcomes, moving the discussion from abstract theory to applied clinical relevance.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a research-based framing section on therapist personality, then provides a brief primer on trait theory before dedicating focused sections to humanistic and psychodynamic personality theory respectively. A penultimate section engages with comparative empirical evidence, including a meta-analysis and its limitations. The conclusion synthesizes the discussion with a provocative scholarly quote that reframes the central comparison.
Introduction: Therapist Personality and Theoretical Orientation
A seminal study on personality trait differences among therapists practicing under different theoretical orientations provides an interesting starting point for this comparison. Tremblay et al. (1986) administered the Personality Orientation Inventory to 90 male and 90 female psychotherapists who self-designated and were equally distributed across three groups: behavioral (BEH), psychodynamic (PSY), and humanistic (HUM). The study suggested that a core therapist personality exists, and that further distinction can be achieved by examining patterns of personality associated with theoretical orientation. The caveat was that those patterns were characterized more by overlapping traits than by unique ones.
Of the three theoretical categories, the HUM group exhibited the most distinctive traits: its members were more flexible, more accepting of personal aggression and the expression of feelings in action, and differed in their development of intimate relationships. Therapists in the HUM group were also more affirming of the values of self-actualization, more inner-directed, and more sensitive to their own feelings. Therapists in the BEH group resembled those in the PSY group more than those in the HUM group, while therapists in the PSY group were most similar to those in the HUM group. Notably, therapists in the BEH group showed personality traits of limited flexibility and limited acceptance of their own feelings.
These findings raise the question of how therapist personality and theoretical orientation affect the therapeutic relationship between the psychotherapist or counselor and the client. This brings us to the conceptualization of personality across the two orientations of humanism and psychodynamics. But first: what is personality?
Personality can be defined as "an individual's unique pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that persist over time and across situations" (Boreman, 2010). When the general public discusses personality, they tend to think in general terms associated with the popularized trait theory, the basis of which is not necessarily psychodynamic or humanistic. Trait theory does, however, use a more commonly recognized vocabulary than either psychodynamic or humanistic theories, making it a useful entry point for this discussion.
References
Boreman, D. (2010, November). The science of psychology. Chapter 10: Personality. Retrieved from http://www.mesacc.edu/~edmny04781/psy101_oc/Chapter_10.pdf
Leichsenring, F., & Leibing, E. (2003). The effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of personality disorders: A meta-analysis. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(7), 1223–1232. Retrieved from http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.160.7.1223
Shedler, J. (2010, February–March). The efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 65(2), 98–109. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-65-2-98.pdf
Tremblay, J. M., Herron, W. G., & Schultz, C. L. (1986). Relation between therapeutic orientation and personality in psychotherapists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17(2), 106–110. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.17.2.106
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