Influence the Future of Psychology

Influence the future of psychology

Understanding the complex psychological states such as emotion and cognition can be organized into events and assist in uncovering the phenomena of physiological issues. The human brain categorizes functions, “dividing up the sensory world into figure and ground, leading us to attend to certain features and to ignore others” (Feldman-Barrett, 2009, para. 3). Using a combination of theories as well as an understanding of cultural differences can help psychology continue to grow and develop, assisting individuals with common psychological issues. Researching the past can bring forth new theories and developments, continuing to influence human thought and behavior.

Using Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, we can begin to understand the complex nature of development. Individuals are either aware or unaware of his or her behaviors. Individuals work from various levels of the mind: the conscious, unconscious, and preconscious. Using the analogy of a tree, the three sections of the brain can be divided into the roots, trunk, and branches. The roots under the ground are the unconscious, the events or situations that cannot be easily recalled. The trunk is the preconscious, the events or information that can help uncover the roots of the problem. The consciousness is the branches of the tree, flowing freely in the air. Understanding the root of the tree (problem) begins with the preconscious – memories, thoughts, and instincts. Individuals using conscious awareness can use the information in the preconscious to assist in recovering information buried in the unconscious.

Erikson’s eight stages of development can help determine the possible reason for stagnation in child development and adult life. Individuals experiencing issues in life likely experienced a traumatic event during development; negatively influencing a particular development stage and inadvertently contributing to personality development.

Combining Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Erikson’s eight stages of development, we can begin to understand the reasoning for behavior. When needs go unmet, children and adults will often resort to using any behavior necessary to get a need met when using the unconscious part of the mind. These are usually unconscious learned behaviors from the environment. When an individual uses the conscious part of the mind, individuals can begin to reach self-actualization.

Children can learn cognitive thinking skills at younger ages, interpreting information in a way the child can understand. Discussing emotions, thoughts, feelings, and desires with children at all ages is essential for continued proper development and growth. Understanding emotion and behavior is essential for developing a healthy personality. However, it is not easy to understand emotion and behavior without the use of Freud and Erikson. Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences is helpful in determining strengths and weaknesses in personality and behavior.

Feldman-Barrett, L. (2009). The future of psychology: Connecting mind to brain. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of health. 4(4), pp. 326-339. DOI: 10.1111/j1745-6924.2009.01134.x

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763392/