Psychology

Freudian and Rogerian Constructs
Name
Institution
Freudian and Rogerian Constructs
Freud and Rogers developed theories that are applied in psychology. They established a useful and valid understanding of the mind through their constructs. Freud is mainly known for his psychoanalytic theory while Rogers is known for the client-centered approach. The psychoanalytic theory defines personality in terms of unconscious psychological processes such as fears and wishes. As such, Freud asserts that childhood experiences are essential in shaping the personality of an adult (Mitchell & Black, 2016).  Freud began his theory after working with a famous neurologist who was known as Charcot. It is during this time that he sided with the idea that hysteria was as a result of emotional disturbances. Hence, he practiced his psychoanalytic methods while treating people with mental disorders. He also paid much attention to early childhood, as he believed that it was the most crucial stage to acquire a complete understanding of one’s personality. Following this opinion, Freud concluded that conflicts do not occur later in life but during childhood. 
More so, Freud’s psychoanalytic construct is based on three primary tenets including the ego, superego, and the id. The id is characterized by unconsciousness, instincts and heritable traits present at birth. The ego is characterized by consciousness, is capable of domineering the mandates of the id including feelings, the recognition of stimuli, and operates as a link between the external environment and the id.

More so, the ego responds to stimuli through adaptation or flight, controls activity and makes every effort to have pleasure and avoid displeasure (Psychoanalysis, 2017)). Lastly, the superego is responsible for restriction of satisfaction and exemplifies the influence of others such as role models, teachers, and parents and even the effect of racial and cultural traditions. Freud asserts that the interdependent branches are competitive and therefore conflict may arise as a result of tension or anxiety.
On the other hand, Roger’s client-centered construct is based on a non-directive methodology that is commonly described as the if-then approach whereby ‘if’ represents a certain condition that exists in the therapeutic setting while ‘then’ represents the outcome. The main purpose of the client-centered theory is to embrace a more humanistic approach to therapy by deserting Freud’s authoritative approach and replacing it with a more positive and client-based method. This construct creates a therapeutic alliance where the client is responsible for making his or her behavioral changes towards self-actualization (Bohart, 2017). In this case, a therapist must create an ideal environment for changes to occur. The most crucial aspect of this theory is the shift from client’s attitude to that of the therapist, which translates, into trust. The counselor/ therapist entrusts individuals in the self-actualization process, believes that the clients can develop self-defined goals and as well monitor progress. The therapist also creates an ideal environment for the trust that consists of three key components including, empathy, unconditional positive regard, and counselor congruence.
The psychoanalytic and client-centered constructs have a strong influence on psychology today. Theories that were developed by Freud during his career continue to change the way people think, they have also influence professionals and even cultures. Freud believed that conflicts result from problems that children encounter when growing up while Rogers considers that people continue growing as they mature. Freud did not think that people gain knowledge as they age, as he tended to focus on childhood as the most crucial stage for the growth of the mind. Therefore, if Freud were still alive, I would recommend that he shifts focus from children to youthful adults who are still growing and gaining knowledge. On the other hand, Rogers believed that people mature, become self-actualized, and acquire knowledge throughout their life instead of only learning during childhood. As humans, we grow and learn from experience, and hence we become better persons. Rogers focuses on the client-oriented therapy has taught people the importance of appreciating views and acknowledging that every person is unique. On the other hand, Freud recognized the significance of talking to clients and understanding psychoanalytic approaches. He referred to his subjects as patients while Rogers referred to his as clients. As such, from the two approaches, we learn that human beings are more than just bodies; they are a capsular that records everything that happens in their surroundings.
Finally, social and cultural factors have influenced Freud and Rogers’ theories in several ways. For instance, Freud’s argument that conflicts originate from childhood may be due to the fact that the social environment we live in has a strong impact on our personality. If a child grows in an abusive environment, he/she is likely to develop a bad attitude towards certain individuals. As such, this may have a negative effect later in life as they may portray the same behavior as experienced in childhood. More so, cultural factors may have had an impact on the theories, for instance, Rogers’ claims that individuals gain knowledge as they grow which makes them more open to change and hence may even rectify bad behaviors. As such, Rogers’ perspective may have been influenced by specific cultural factors that he had been exposed to that made him more open to life, unlike Freud who was a bit rigid.
References
Bohart, A. C. (2017). A client-centered perspective on ‘psychopathology.’ Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 16(1), 14-26.
Mitchell, S. A., & Black, M. J. (2016). Freud and beyond: A history of modern psychoanalytic thought. Hachette UK.
Psychoanalysis. (2017). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition, 1-2.