Psychology

Theories establish the foundation of Psychology. The understanding of human behavior is muddled by numerous factors such as individual differences, differing contexts and situations, culture, societal changes, etc., setting the necessity for the development and application of various theories and approaches in Psychology. Hook, Watts  Cockcroft, 2004 Greene  Kropf, 2009) The psychoanalytic theory and approach proposed by Sigmund Freud and the person-centered approach by Carl Rogers are just two of the theories and approaches in the field of Psychology that are applied in practices, such as counseling.

As previously discussed, existing theories and approaches were developed based on varying factors, setting both similarities and differences among them. In the succeeding discussions, the approaches by Freud and Rogers mentioned above would be compared and contrasted. The comparison and contrast will begin with a comprehensive discussion of each approach  first, the psychoanalytic approach and then the person-centered approach  followed by a direct comparison-contrast focusing on various factors and standards such as how both approaches are applied in counseling and used in understanding or interpreting human behavior.

Freuds Psychoanalytic Approach
Psychoanalysis, also known as Freudian Psychology, is an approach, which claims that human behavior is influenced by the unconscious. According to Freud, previous events, which are sexual and hostile in nature, are ingrained in a human beings mind, that although forgotten, will still manifest in human behavior. Freud said, Mankind, as a whole, also passed through conflicts of a sexual, aggressive nature, which left permanent traces, but which were for the most part warded off and forgotten later, after a long period of latency, they came to life again and created religious phenomena similar in structure and tendency to neurotic symptoms (Brill, 1985, p. 285). Thus, the memories and experiences of human beings in their early lives bear weight on their behavior and attitudes growing up, which made the approach an important area of study in Psychology and human development. (Sigelman  Rider, 2005)

In support of Freuds psychoanalytic theory are different discussions that comprehensively set its basic principles. One prominent factor that influences human behavior in psychoanalysis is instinct.
Central to Freudian psychoanalytic theory is the notion that humans have basic biological urges or drives that must be satisfied. Freud viewed the newborn as a seething cauldron, an inherently selfish creature driven by instincts, or inborn biological forces that motivate behavior. These biological instincts are the source of the psychic (or mental) energy that fuels human behavior and that is channeled in new directions over the course of human development (Sigelman  Rider, 2005, p. 30).

Thus, instincts play an important role in shaping human behavior. Freud considered instincts as an innate influence that fuels an unconscious motivation to think or speak, and behave in a certain way. However, the key concept is human behavior exhibited unconsciously, which means that a human being is entirely unaware that his or her behavior are influenced by inner values, desires, etc. In retrospect, considering that the basic concepts of the psychoanalytic theory include early experiences, instincts, and unconscious motivation, Freud believed that behavior is deeply tied to human nature or the nature with which an individual is born with. Consequently, an individuals instincts and human nature enables him or her to fulfill her needs, wants, and desires.

The concept of the Id, Ego, and Superego, as proposed by Freud, also supports the psychoanalytic theory. The Id, Ego, and Superego are considered as mental states, which manifest in the way of thinking and behavior of human beings. The Id may be called as an instinctive mental state in which human drives and desire take over. The Id is also the unconscious mental state through which a human being behaves based on the pleasure principle with unawareness. (de Berg, 2004 Berger, 2005 Ahles, 2004) In contrast, the Ego is the rational or logical mental state that allows an individual to think clearly and behave rationally in conjunction with reality.

The Ego is the antithesis of the Id. It is conscious and develops from the Id during early childhood. Logical and reasonable it controls the Id and tries to adapt to the needs of the ordinary life (Boenheim, 2007, p. 54).

Although the Ego is in contrast with the Id, it is responsible for helping an individual fulfill his innermost desires in the most rational way. On the other hand, the Superego influences human beings to think and behave in conjunction with morality. An individuals Superego is developed during childhood. (Strauch, 2001) Once the superego emerges, children have a parental voice in their heads that keeps them from violating societys rules and makes them feel guilty or ashamed if they do (Sigelman  Rider, 2005, p. 31). Furthermore, the superego is responsible for
The approval or disapproval of actions and wishes on the grounds of rectitude.

Critical self-observation.
Self-punishment.
The demand for reparation or repentance of wrongdoing.
Self-praise or self-love as a reward for virtuous or desirable thoughts and actions. Contrary to the ordinary meaning of conscience, however, we understand that the functions of the superego are often largely or completely unconscious
Source Berger, 2005, p. 86 (Adapted from Brenner, 1974, pp. 111-112)

What then are the implications of the Id, Ego, and Superego to Psychology and human behavior As basic instruments in psychoanalysis, the Id, Ego, and Superego are considered in evaluating the psychological status or condition of human beings. According to Freud, it is important that there is balance in the three mental states, being that the individual recognizes his or her inner desires, but acts to fulfill them in a rational and moral manner. (Bernstein  Nash, 2006) If balance does not exist, then there will be chaos or disorder in an individuals way of thinking, which leads to manifestations of mental disorders. (Lawrence  Stell, 2004 Weinstein, 2001)

Carl Rogers Person-Centered Approach

Carl Rogers Person-Centered approach, also considered as humanistic psychology, focuses on the understanding of human behavior based on the person. As discussed by Corsini, Wedding  Dumont (2007),

The foundations of the approach are the concept of the sovereign human person Rogers postulated that all living organisms are dynamic processes motivated by an inherent tendency to maintain and enhance themselves. In human begins, this actualizing tendency is expressed by on-going attempts to realize the individuals unique potential (p. 142).

Based on Rogers humanistic theory in psychology, understanding behavior should be a simultaneous process of self-realization, which is based on the individuals perception of himself, character and behavior. A self-concept is a collection of beliefs about ones own nature, unique qualities, and typical behavior, the individuals perception of himself, character and behavior. A self-concept is a collection of beliefs about ones own nature, unique qualities, and typical behavior. Your self-concept is your own mental picture of yourself. Its a collection of self-perceptions (Weiten, 2008, p. 509).

Another concept, which is highly important in understanding behavior based on Rogers person-centered approach, is the congruence between an individuals self-concept and his or her actual experiences. These ideas are considered as the ideal self and the actual self. For Rogers, it is important that individuals gain balance between his or her ideal self and actual self. To understand Rogers person-centered approach, let us understand the following basic principles wherein the theory is applied in groups

Feelings are the core focus The person-centered approach sees the understanding and expression of feelings as the most legitimate focus of work. If an individual was to say, My best friend ignored my, the psychoanalytic group would explore the deeper meaning in this statement with regard to past issues, fears of abandonment, family of origin issues, and so on.

Relationships are everything It is through the relationships among members that growth, learning, and healing take place. The content about which people speak, the issues they raise, and the subjects they discuss are far less important than the bonding that takes place among members.

Growth is as important as remediation The person-centered theory is growth-oriented. It seeks to help anyone, regardless of present functioning, to reach greater potential.

It is all about trust Trust and openness create a setting where members can move their locus of evaluation within the self so that each person learns to value himself or herself rather than looking toward others to gauge his or her value. When the locus of evaluation rest within the self, ones personal experience becomes the criterion on which the individual can assess ones value (Cain 2008).
Being real This means being aware of what you are feeling in the present moment and being willing to express those genuine feelings aloud.

Active listening and responding The person-centered approach to helping is most known for its skill geared to reflect others feelings.

Facilitation Rogers believed that anything worth learning could not be taught.
Exploring conditions of worth People may engage in certain behaviors depending on whether it results in regard from another person or a group. Rogers believed that seeking the approval of others resulted in learning that ones value was associated with the attainment of regard from others to the point where a person learns to disregard whether or not the behavior is healthy or beneficial to the person (Cain, 2009).

Source Kottler  Englar-Carlson, 2009, pp. 148-150

Comparing and Contrasting
Freuds psychoanalytic approach and Rogers person-centered approach are both individualistic, such that the process of understanding human behavior is directed towards looking at the self. For Freud, understanding an individuals behavior should be based on ones inner desires and instincts or unconscious motivations in thinking and behaving, which are developed in his or her early years. Rogers person-centered approach, on the other hand, proposes that understanding human behavior should be based on his or her self-concept and its alignment with an individuals actual experiences. In counseling therapy, the core of both approaches are similar, such that the Freudian counselor will seek to explain an individuals behavior by interpreting his or her innermost drives or desires, while the Rogerian therapist focuses on the individuals feelings and the establishment of positive relationship with the counselee in order to foster open communication wherein the counselee feels comfortable to openly share who he or she is. (Greene  Kropf, 2009 Kalat, 2007)

Another similarity between Freud and Rogers approach is the perceived goal or outcome of understanding behavior. In psychoanalysis and the person-centered approach, it is important that individuals gain balance in order to remain in a normal psychological state. In Freudian psychology, individuals should a gain balance among the Id, Ego, and Superego, in order to enable them to fulfill their desires rationally and morally. In Rogerian psychology, individuals should gain balance between their ideal selves and actual selves. The idea self is their self-concept, while the actual self is represented by their experiences. Thus, individuals should be able to set their goals and self-concept and then act on them through their actual selves with the ultimate goal of self-actualization. (Coombs, 2004)

The difference between Freud and Rogers approaches may be observed primarily by understanding how these are applied in practice, specifically in counseling. Freuds approach is geared primarily to explain why individuals behave in specific ways, while Rogers approach is ultimately for self-actualization through the understanding of behavior. Psychoanalytic approach is conducted by allowing the counselee to freely communicate his or her thoughts, fantasies, dreams, goals, and so on. The counselor may utilize the free association technique, wherein the counselee is supposed to say the first things that come to mind. The role of the counselor is to facilitate communication by eliciting responses from the counselee, and subsequently determining the inner drives and desires of the counselee based on the counselees revelations. (Corey, 2008)

In Rogerian counseling, the process of interpreting and understanding behavior is in collaboration with the counselee. If in Freudian counseling, the counselor is directly responsible for interpreting and understanding behavior and communicating the psychological states of the counselee, Rogerian counseling is the exact opposite. The humanistic approach proposed by Rogers sees human beings as rational and social individuals, and thus will be able to understand their selves if they are involved in the process and are assisted by other people. The focus of Rogerian counseling prioritizes the quality of the relationship and communication between the counselor and the counselee.

The underlying assumption is that the client cannot be helped simply by listening to the knowledge the counselor possesses or to the counselors explanation of the clients personality or behavior. Prescribing cures and corrective behaviors are seen as being of little lasting value. The relationship that is most helpful to clients and that enables them to discover within themselves the capacity to use the relationship to change and grow is not a cognitive intellectual one (Holli, Calabrese,  Maillet, 2003, p. 67).

Furthermore, the Freudian counselor focuses on understanding the behavior of the counselee based on internal mental states  the Id, Ego, and Superego  which Freud discussed as factors that were developed in early years. Furthermore, instinct plays an important role in interpreting behavior in Freudian Psychology. In Rogerian psychology, however, the focus is on the actual experiences of the individual  his or her thoughts, feelings, emotions, dreams, and goals, etc.  in conjunction with his or her actual experiences in reality.

Overall, the differences between the psychoanalytic and person-centered approaches are observed in both theory and practice. Although both approaches are individualistic and seeks to achieve balance within human beings, the goal of Freudian approach is to merely interpret and explain human behavior based on the individuals internal mental states that were believed to have formed during his or her early years, while the Rogerian approach seeks to help human beings achieve self-actualization by understanding his or her ideal self in conjunction with his actual self in reality.