Feminist Theory Of Neurotic Need, And Neo Freudian Psychology

While Psychoanalysis has provided many psychological breakthroughs in the field of mental health, it has also created great issue in relation to gender equality. Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory has contributed to the solidification of female oppression, and to the inferior status of women in the twentieth century. Psychoanalysis had become so intwined into the constructs of a male dominated society that it creates further barriers in attempts for gender equality. While many people have established their point of view through scholarly journals or scientific writings, Angela Carter uses an artistic approach by contesting Freud’s psychoanalytic theory in her

Karen Horney is one of the preeminent figures and founders of modern psychoanalysis. Although her ideas are not widely taught today or accepted as a basis of psychoanalysis in and of themselves, her ideas of social and environmental influences are “integrated into modern psychoanalysis therapies and personality development theory” (Quinn). She was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud and was one of his early followers. Yet Horney joined the class of neo-Freudians after her research and writing led her to develop and establish psychoanalytical theories that ran counter to Freud's ideas. She objected to the Freudian psychology of women, which instigated the search for her own theories for the causes of neurosis. This in turn led to her

She began to perceive people in different ways after being exposed to the psychiatric training process. She quotes, “we would assume that other people are just like us - normal human beings - until it becomes apparent that they are not since they either have mental illnesses or diseases” (Luhrmann 5). To understand why people suffer and why they are categorized as “different”, there are multiple reasons for why an individual could cater a mental illness or a disease: the most important risk factor happens to be social isolation (Luhrmann 18). Recently, depression and mood disorders became more common in the twentieth century because there were no other times in human history where so many people have thoughts of being lonely (Luhrmann 18). Backgrounds also help explain where people are coming from and are key in providing an explanation of how a psychiatric illness could be hereditary (Luhrmann 18). For example, living under war-like conditions can bring post-traumatic stress disorders and shape the way people interact inside

Throughout the early days of psychology, opportunities for women where limited and it was an extremely difficult time for women to become apparent in the field of psychology. Women struggled for equality in the field of psychology and this began with our pioneers, Mary Whiton Calkins, who sat her PhD but was never awarded it, Margaret Washburn, being the first women to be awarded a PhD and Christine Ladd Franklin.

This essay will be exploring the psychosocial influences on a 68 year old lady called Susan Smith’s perception to her health, along with her response to illness. To do this we must look at a definition of both psychology and sociology and discuss any possible effects these have had on Susan’s perception of health issues. Also this essay will be looking at any influences such as education, in relation to a female of Susan’s age and background, and discuss whether these issues have affected Susan’s health and her responses to illness.

Until the medical breakthroughs that we have made in the modern day, psychology as a science was not fully understood. Modern technology has given us a clearer idea of psychology, but in the past there was less known about the science. This alongside a predominantly male medical discourse led to a medical diagnosis in many women called hysteria. Female hysteria was a medical diagnosis given to specifically women as far back as the ancient Greek civilization. Hysteria started as a supernatural phenomena, but as medicine evolved it would be described as a mental disorder, (Tasca). Hysteria. in actuality, is an absurd and fabricated diagnosis that institutionalized and discriminated countless women. The way it makes a women feel, and the fact that it strips a woman of any sort of free will is a sickening display of blatant misogyny. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman perfectly displays not only the misogyny, but the torture a woman must face trapped under a hysteria diagnosis. Hysteria as a diagnoses fails to effectively treat many women, instead leading to the mistreatment and wrongful institutionalization of women.

The doctor’s anecdote of his wife taking phosphates, tonics, journeys and air along with exercise was above reproach. If women had more of a voice, would approaches to treatment for mental illness have been more effective? Feeling powerless, the wife was relieved of her duties and cared for by her husband, the housekeeping was done by Jennie, her sister-in-law, and Mary cared for the baby.

Karen Horney was born in Blankenese, Germany, on September 16, 1885. She attended medical school and began studying psychoanalysis. Horney moved to the United States in the 1930s and wrote two influential and controversial works, The Neurotic Personality of Our Time and New Ways in Psychoanalysis, which deviated sharply from Sigmund Freud's work. She died in New York City on December 4, 1952.

Karen was a surprise to her parents, John and Joyce Reller, because she was born early on a military base. Her mom was visiting her dad in Oklahoma and during that trip Karen was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Since it was a trip, Karen was only there for a few days before she was brought to her hometown, Old Monroe.

In relation to the nursing metaparadigm, Beck’s theory was intended for women with PPD and to serve as an educational tool for nursing students; healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors, mental health care workers and those within social services. Beck did not clearly define health; however, her focus was on mental health as PPD is a mental health disorder. Holistic health was a predominate factor in her theory, referring to the “wholeness” of a person, where the entire being, physically, emotionally, and psychologically are entwined with the environment as one. Beck determined that the interpersonal environment of the individual woman, if unstable, has an outward affect on them as well as on the family. Regardless of the setting of the individual’s environment, variables, be it rich or poor, famous or non famous, different cultures and backgrounds, all are subject to the effects of PPD (Lasiuk & Ferguson, 2005).

Julia Kristeva’s Black Sun: Depression and Melancholia explores the melancholic subject within Freud's psychoanalytical framework. It is a well-observed symptom of depression that language dies and that the ultimate result of life-threatening depression is total silence. The melancholic subject’s problem is simply an inability to speak in a meaningful way. Kristeva argues that a person afflicted with melancholia is incapable of talking about their illness, especially in terms of her post-Freudian psychoanalytic practice. Unlike traditional feminists who always query, deny, even criticize Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic

The Sarah self-referred for assessment at am outpatient clinic. She subsequently requested a referral to a psychologist in Chicago, IL. Sarah is a 24-year-old adult Caucasian female who identified as a lesbian. She reported a history of depressive symptoms that have worsened in the last few months. She is seeking treatment for these intensified depressive symptoms. She described having “depression” many years ago, but became evasive when asked to clarify. In addition, she noted a concern with experiencing anger and hostility towards others; she stated that these emotions are “uncomfortable” for her. She clarified that in the past three months she has perceived herself as “grumpier than usual.” She reported having experienced anhedonia, fatigue, and insomnia.

The diagnoses, treatment, and overall understanding of mental illnesses have progressed greatly from when “The Yellow Wallpaper” was written. In those times the classification of a mental illness for a woman was madness. Women were treated accordingly, and not just by their doctors, but by their families and communities. Today, many facilities and medications exist to help individuals recover from a mental illness as best they can, and there are trained physicians and psychologists who can properly identify their illnesses. The only aspect that has not been completely altered since then is the way someone

Karen Horney and Alfred Adler are two very similar yet different neo-analytic theorists. At first glance, it may appear that Horney stole some of Adler's best ideas. It is, of course, quite conceivable that she was influenced by Adler. It is clear, for example, that Horney’s three neurotic solutions are very close to Adler's personality typology. Horney proposed a series of strategies used by neurotics to cope with other people and Adler developed a scheme of so called personality types that he intended to illustrate patterns that could denote a characteristic governed under the overall style of life.

When we study the history of psychology one might assume there were minimal female contributors, but that is a big misconception. Women in the past struggled with discrimination and many hurdles to gain recognition for their work. Women psychologists have gone largely unrecognized, unappreciated, and almost unseen to historical accounts. The lack of acknowledgement for women psychologists in today’s study takes away from the comprehensive study to our generation. It is exceedingly important that we receive a well-rounded education of all the great psychologists in history and not only the male founders. The following women I will discuss mention only a few who have made an influence in psychology.