Theoretical Position
Psychologists in history differ in their theoretical positions precisely because of the fact they were the founding fathers of a field, which even now is difficult to define as a science. Sigmund Freud the father of psychoanalysis had many colleagues and students who became famous in their own right. However, that fame came through their deviation from Freud’s theories. Carl Jung, Alfred Adler and William James were three followers of Freud’s theories and yet each came forth with new interpretations of Freud’s ideas. These men each partially agreed with Freud and each would not accept that Freud’s theory was all that was necessary.
Sigmund Freud
C.J. Goodwin (2005 p.368-370) expounds Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) held firmly to the belief that all problems of a mental nature and many physical ones as well come from childhood experiences. In this way, Freud differs from all other psychologists since he stuck to his theory and refused to accept others. Many psychologists believe Freud’s work is very important while others believe his work actually was a hindrance to the development of psychology. Freud’s method of treatment of psychoanalysis is both widely accepted and widely rejected and he remains the most controversial figure in the history of psychology. Freud seems to stick to his theories no matter what other proof is comes from others. Followers of Freud did their best to win some approval from Freud such as Jung but Freud always interpreted their theories through he own ideas.
Carl Jung
C.J. Goodwin (2005 p.368-370) expresses that Carl Jung (1875-1961) was at first quite close to Freud and Freud viewed their relationship as one of mentor disciple. However, Jung eventually followed Adler’s approach, which alienated him from Freud. Jung developed an approach called analytical psychology instead of following Freud’s psychoanalysis. Freud held to a concept known as personal unconscious, while Jung brought forth a new theory called collective unconscious. This theory proposes the unconscious is a collection of the experiences of our ancestors, which is a truly evolutionary concept.
Richard m. Capobianco (1988, p.247) points out that Jung appears to suggest that the unconscious may be an intelligent structure made up of collective experiences from our ancestors. This is a complete break from Freudian theory. Jung suggests introversion cannot be only pathological and that fantasies result from the unconscious structure. (p.247)
Alfred Adler
According to C.J. Goodwin (2005 p.368-370) Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was the father of the well-known theory of the inferiority complex. His ideas differ from Freud in that he did not hold as Freud did that the universality of sexual motivation was the whole truth. He placed more emphasis on the social factors rather than the biological ones. He felt personalities and behavior were just as much determined by conscious planning as by repressed events of the past. Adler termed his psychology individual psychology asserting that humans have different levels of need for self-assertion and the restriction of this was the basis for inferiority (Fisher, 2001, p. 2).
William James
C.J. Goodwin (2005 p.368-370) states William James (1842-1910) is considered America’s first psychologist. James held that the conscious was fluid and changing to the environment and was against breaking the conscious into its elements. He also held the theory that perception and emotion were dependent on each other and could not be separate. Unlike Freud James in his later life, thought there might be something to spirituality. James like Adler and Jung was to some extent a follower of Freud and yet just as the others felt Freud did not have the whole picture.
Rosenzweig, (1992, p.174 as quoted by Goodwin, 2005, p.368) reports James in his writing once asserts Freud is a man with an obsession of fixed ideas and that Freud’s ideas on dreams and symbolism were not something he could believe in. In fact, James terms Freud’s dream theory as a dangerous method.
Comparison
In comparing the theories of James, Adler, Jung and Freud, it is important to note that Freud held the belief that his contribution was definitive of how the mind works. In contrast, these other psychologists felt that there was more to psychology than Freud’s sexual and childhood explanations. There seems to be a kind of intellectual rivalry between psychologists at that time.
Adler and Jung both felt that introspection of ones own mind and experience were the keys to discovering the depth of the human mind. James also felt that the conscious mind controls the shape and outcome of personality and the psychological makeup of a human being. Jung’s theory of collective consciousness is quite a diversion from Freud and other psychologists and takes psychology away from the here and now explanation brought forth from Freud. Clearly, the agreement of Jung, Adler, and James on the importance of the individual free will in conjunction with social factors is significant. The unmoving fixation of Freud on his own ideas leads this writer to believe Freud was not flexible enough and perhaps was a victim of his own pride.
Conclusion
Each psychologist became famous through innovation rather than following the ideas of others. Freud was the first to bring out theories on sexual repression brought on by childhood experiences. Jung’s position on the collective consciousness was a radical deviation from the pathological theories of Freud. Adler’s theory of individual psychology and the inferiority complex in relation to restrictions on self-assertion were also a deviation from Freud’s fixation on sexual causes. James although continuing to support the importance of Freud’s ideas could not accept Freud’s dream theories and held to the belief that human beings were controlling the outcome of their lives through a conscious that was malleable and adaptive. Although, Jung, Adler, and James do not agree completely with Freud they all agreed that Freud’s ideas were important and the main underlying point is none of the theories including Freud’s have irrefutable proof. This point continues to hold psychology as a science that has yet to prove itself as such.
References
Capobianco, R.M., (2005). In the beginning: jung and freud on introversion previously in Psychological Perspectives, 20:2 (1988), 244, Retrieved November 25, 2007 from http://www.cgjungpage.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=819&Itemid=1
Fisher, M. (2001). Alfred adler, Retrieved November 25, 2007 from http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/adler.htm
Goodwin, C. J. (2005). A history of modern psychology (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.