In psychoanalysis, there are many theories, on the basis of which therapists successfully build their practice. However, those that lose their level of relevance and cease to be trendy, as it happened with the teachings of Z. Freud, are among them. Moreover, there are often contradictions and mutual exclusions between different points of view of scholars. Nevertheless, in all the variety of concepts and different interpretations of psychology about the person, there are several fundamental similarities between the theories in psychoanalysis.
Firstly, it is a common goal, as each scientist has created a conceptual framework with the intention of describing the nature of human personality, explaining paradoxical states and, finally, making behavior more predictable. For example, Jung describes the reasons for human actions through the prism of archetypes, while Freud operates with the concept of Id. Each of the currently existing theories strives in one way or another to achieve the above results. A second similarity between psychoanalytic theories is the reliance on the dichotomy of the conscious and unconscious. Different terms, with mechanisms of operation described quite differently, can ultimately still be attributed to one of the two levels of the psyche.
There are numerous differences between all the theories in psychoanalysis. The notion of the mechanisms of interrelation between the conscious and unconscious, as well as the levels that exist within them are key among the disparities. Moreover, each theory has a different answer to the question of the purpose of human existence. According to Jung, the latter is the realization of the individual, while according to other theorists, the purpose is reduced to serving the uncovered needs of childhood.
As part of his theory, the scientist Jean Piaget identified 4 stages of intellectual development, including sensorimotor, pre-operational, operational, as well as the stage of formal operations. In the first stage, the world is perceived on the level of reflexes, the child learns reality by means of, for example, tactile contact or gustatory sensations. After sobriety comes the second stage, during which the person forms his or her own perception of objects and phenomena. For instance, the child has a clear idea of what food, music, and social circles are attractive or unattractive. The operational stage, which occurs between the ages of 7 and 11, allows people to describe the world using logical patterns. At school, students can justify their opinions about this or that phenomenon, have reasoned arguments and debates.
Complete formation of the intellect, according to this researcher, occurs by age 15, when abstract thinking and the ability to make independent judgments appears. A child has an opportunity to form hypotheses independently, as well as to conduct self-reflection. Transition from stage to stage is carried out thanks to specific mechanisms, the main of which is equilibrium. The latter is realized due to assimilation, which presupposes inclusion of new knowledge; and also accommodation, adjustment of behavior to new knowledge.
The most attractive to me is the theory of Freud, which had an invaluable influence on the formation of modern psychoanalysis. Although some of this scholar’s postulates have been revised and reformulated, the innovativeness of his thoughts for that historical context is outstanding. I find especially valuable and important for modern practice his idea about the possibility and necessity of interpreting dreams as a way to study the unconscious level. Moreover, a great influence on my interest in psychology was Freud’s introduction of the term transference as a protective mechanism of consciousness in its interaction with the unconscious. This phenomenon still helps to explain the origin of a large number of behavioral patterns and is used in the practice of psychoanalysts throughout the world. It is impossible not to mention the importance for psychology of such a concept as sublimation, described in detail by Freud. On the basis of this concert, for many decades, therapists have been able to explain paradoxical states.