What are Neo-Freudians?
Neo-Freudians were psychologists who agreed with some of Freud's ideas but believed his theory focused too much on sexuality and unconscious conflict.
They believed personality is also shaped by:
- Family relationships
- Friends
- Society
- Culture
- Personal goals
- Lifelong development
Alfred Adler
Alfred Adler believed that people are motivated by the desire to improve themselves and overcome challenges.
Key ideas
- Everyone experiences feelings of weakness or inferiority during childhood.
- These feelings can encourage people to work hard and succeed.
- Healthy people try to improve themselves in positive ways.
Inferiority complex
Some people become overwhelmed by feelings of not being good enough.
This is called an inferiority complex.
People with an inferiority complex may:
- Feel they can never succeed.
- Avoid challenges.
- Lack confidence.
Compensation
People often work to overcome weaknesses by developing strengths.
For example:
- Someone who struggled at school may work very hard and become a successful teacher.
- A physically small person may become an excellent athlete.
Carl Jung
Carl Jung believed that people share unconscious memories inherited from their ancestors.
Collective unconscious
The collective unconscious is a shared store of memories, ideas, and experiences that all humans inherit.
These are not learned from experience but are thought to be passed down across generations.
Archetypes
Within the collective unconscious are archetypes.
Archetypes are universal patterns or symbols found across cultures.
Examples include:
- The Hero
- The Mother
- The Wise Old Person
- The Child
These appear in:
- Stories
- Myths
- Dreams
- Films
- Religions
Karen Horney
Karen Horney believed social relationships and culture are more important than Freud suggested.
Basic anxiety
Children need:
- Love
- Safety
- Acceptance
If these needs are not met, they may develop basic anxiety, which is a deep feeling of insecurity.
Healthy relationships
Horney believed supportive relationships help people:
- Build confidence.
- Feel secure.
- Develop healthy personalities.
She also disagreed with Freud's ideas about women, arguing that social and cultural experiences influence personality more than biological differences.
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson believed personality develops throughout life—not just in childhood.
Psychosocial development
Erikson created eight stages of psychosocial development.
At each stage, people face a challenge or conflict.
Successfully resolving each challenge helps build a healthy personality.
| Life Stage | Main Challenge |
|---|---|
| Infancy | Trust vs. Mistrust |
| Early Childhood | Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt |
| Preschool | Initiative vs. Guilt |
| School Age | Industry vs. Inferiority |
| Adolescence | Identity vs. Role Confusion |
| Young Adulthood | Intimacy vs. Isolation |
| Middle Adulthood | Generativity vs. Stagnation |
| Older Adulthood | Integrity vs. Despair |
Comparing Freud and the Neo-Freudians
| Freud | Neo-Freudians |
|---|---|
| Focused on unconscious drives and psychosexual development. | Focused more on social relationships and culture. |
| Believed personality is mostly formed in early childhood. | Many believed personality continues to develop across the lifespan. |
| Emphasised biological instincts. | Emphasised personal growth, goals, relationships, and society. |
Key Points to Remember
- Neo-Freudians built on Freud's ideas but expanded them.
- Adler believed people strive to overcome feelings of inferiority.
- Jung proposed the collective unconscious and archetypes.
- Horney emphasised the importance of supportive relationships and challenged Freud's views about women.
- Erikson developed the eight stages of psychosocial development, showing that personality develops throughout life.
- Social experiences, relationships, and culture all play important roles in shaping personality. OpenStax Psychology 2e – 11.3 Neo-Freudians: Adler, Erikson, Jung, and Horney
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