|
Karen J. Prager, Ph.D., A.B.P.P. Professor of Psychology and Program Head for Gender Studies Diplomate in Family Psychology The University of Texas at Dallas |
|
More Information About Dr. Prager's work Processes in Couple Relationships Teaching and Professional Practice Selected Papers and Publications
For Students:
|
Research Based on Neo-Freudian Theories
Anxiety & Coping Strategies Freud made anxiety-avoidance a central motivator in his theory of personality. Did the neo-Freudians maintain this tenet in their theories? Freud believed that anxiety avoidance largely took place outside of consciousness, and involved the use of defense mechanisms. Did the neo-Freudians maintain this notion, or did they focus more on anxiety avoidance as a conscious strategy of the ego? A person’s coping style is ___________________________. Two types of coping styles are: I. Active: Active cope-ers also called sensitizers They gather lots of information quickly They think (even ruminate) about problems They think through problems and take action on problems with the goal of solving them. II. Avoidance: People who cope via avoidance are also called repressors They try not to think about problems They avoid feeling the anxiety as long as possible. They distract themselves. Active strategies can be cognitive or behavioral. Active cognitive strategies are: Active behavioral strategies are: Two potential foci for coping: I. Problem-focused: Manage anxiety indirectly by taking care of the problem Focused on action planning, problem-solving, environment. II. Emotion-focused: Manage anxiety directly by reducing emotional distress Focused on changing one’s thinking, changing the importance of the problem, the self Effectiveness of Coping Are active or avoidance strategies more often helpful? Avoidance strategies cause problems when: self or loved one is sick one is victim of a crime one is seeking to accomplish a goal Avoidance strategies help when: Short-term postponement of problem-solving is called for. Your book’s conclusions? Aggression There are two hypotheses about the causes of aggression: I. Frustration-aggression hypothesis: aggression is always a consequence of frustration . . . Aggressive behavior always presupposes the existence of frustration . . . And the existence of frustration always leads to some form of aggression (Dollard, Miller & colleagues, 1939) II. Catharsis Hypothesis "Letting off steam" reduces aggressionResearch on the frustration-aggression hypothesis: Research on frustration and aggression: 1. Does frustration lead to aggression? Sometimes. The most aggressive children have the most stress and frustration in their lives (e.g., as applied to aggressive behavior in school) Frustrated people behave more aggressively than non-frustrated people (e.g., as applied to people who lose their place in line after waiting a long time) 2. Does frustration always lead to aggression? No. Fear of punishment may stop aggressive behavior. Most often, people seem to reject aggressive behavior because it is ineffective and has ancillary negative consequences. Research on catharsis: 1. Does aggressive behavior cause a drop in blood pressure in the face of stressful circumstances? 2. Are people more or less aggressive after they’ve experienced a catharsis. Why or why not? Leonard Berkowitz’s Revised Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: **Any unpleasantness (not just frustration) increases likelihood of aggression (e.g., exposure to unpleasant noise, cigarette smoke) **Support for the revised hypothesis? Attachment Style and Adult Relationships Object relations theory: a branch of neo-Freudian theory. I. Argues that early childhood relationships exert a strong influence on adult personality and subsequent relationships. II. Research supports this notion. A few tenets of object relations theory: 1. Personality is shaped by experiences beginning in infancy. The most influential experiences occur within the parent-child relationship. 2. The parent-child relationship influences personality because the infant develops unconscious representations of this relationship -- self, parent, and the interaction between the two –- that organize the developing personality. 3. These unconscious representations become "working models" (i.e., expectations) for future relationships (models of self, other, and their interaction). Attachment theory Originated by John Bowlby 1. Grows out of object relations theory 2. A theory about attachment relationships – those that provide comfort and security in the face of novel or threatening situations. Developmental theory of attachment **Principle tenet: The quality of the parent-child attachment shapes the child’s adult personality and relationships. 1. Why are early relationships important?
Theory of adult attachment
Romantic Relationships in Adulthood
It is within romantic relationships that adults’ "working models" or expectations from childhood are most likely to influence behavior. Limitation We do not know yet whether a "secure adult attachment style" is the cause of, or the result of, a successful romantic relationship in adulthood. The negative effects of early relationship experiences can sometimes be "healed" via good relationship experiences later in life. |