Running head: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1

Discussion Questions

Name

Institution
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 2

Discussion Questions

Question 1: Messias (2014) outlined five epochs in the history of psychology. Consider the

progression of these epochs and the factors that marked the end of one epoch and the

beginning of the next. Which epoch do you believe to be the most significantly different

from the one immediately prior? Why? How does this difference advance the field of

psychology? Explain.

The most significant epoch in the history of psychology different from the one

immediately prior is psychodynamic therapy. According to Stangor (2019), psychodynamic

therapy pays attention to the role played by levels of unconscious thoughts, memories, and

thoughts as well as the experiences during childhood in the determination of the behavior. The

school of psychodynamic, which is an invention of Sigma Freud, Alfred Adler, Carl Jung, and

Erik Erikson, reiterates that the human behavior and the feelings as mature persons or adults

together with the psychological issues have their roots within the experiences got during

childhood. Further to this, the theory opines that events during childhood moments have a lot of

influence in adult life. Consequently, they contribute towards shaping the personality and lives.

Not forgetting, every behavior has its cause that is often the unconsciousness despite the slips

that may emerge from the tongue.

Concerning the difference in the psychodynamic theory’s advancement in the field of

psychology, currently, Mcleod (2007) affirmed that the theory is an evolving diversified field

that evaluates and studies processes constituting the human thinking, patterns of responses and

impacts. In this field, the research pays attention to areas like;

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 3

 Knowledge and the expectation of the extent of the conscious plus the unconscious

response towards certain sensory-based inputs like sounds, images, textures, colors and

many more

 Utilization of the communicative aspect of motion and the basic physiological sequences

to have effect and evaluation of certain states of the mind and the body

 Assessment of the capabilities of the senses and mind to have a direct impact on the

physiological type of response and biological kind of change

According to Mcleod (2007), it is the psychodynamic therapy, where patients end up being

more aware of the dynamic types of conflicts. The same also includes the tensions that manifest

as singes or challenges within their respective lives and remains as an approach towards therapy

that is still widely used currently.

Question 2: Derrida, Brault, and Naas (1994) asserted a philosophy of psychoanalysis that

claims “madness” is not necessarily a disease, but a cognitive process lacking reason. Do

you agree? Why or why not? Does the philosophy of Derrida, Brault, and Naas affirm or

refute Freudian principles? Explain.

Yes, I agree with the statement that madness is not a disease but instead is a cognitive

type of process that lacks reasoning. On a philosophical basis, Williams (2014) identified that

understanding has been existing for a longer duration of time. Similarly, nearly everybody is

neurotic in one way or the other. Williams (2014) added that the symptoms within the human

beings' neurosis are devoid of meaning concerning life, a kind of obsession associated with
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 4

frustrating trivial components, and every persisting anxiety. Hence, when subjected further,

Williams (2014) acknowledged that mild cases of neurosis find its way within the domain

associated with the psychiatric illness. The illness is characterized by anxiety and exhaustion

from the affected individual. The cause is indeed similar to whether neurosis exists internally or

external to the usual intensity range. Williams (2014) stated that the reason might be linked with

the unavailability of appreciation from the cybernetic paradox, failure in understanding the logic

being limited, and lack of literal expression about the reality that it is after explaining.

Yes, the philosophy of psychoanalysis affirms the Freudian principles. By being a

therapy, psychoanalysis relies on the ideology that persons are not aware of the various factors

that lead their own emotions and behaviors. Beystehner (2019) identified that these unconscious

elements could produce unhappiness, where eventually has its expression via the score of

identifiable signs. The signs include the disturbing personality traits, problems in associating

with other people or issues within the self-esteem, or even the general type of disposition.

Besides, Beystehner (2019) said that the psychoanalysis holds that the majority of the mental life

is not conscious. On the same note, the previous experience during early life contributes towards

the shaping of the feeling and behaviors of an individual in the whole of his or her lifetime. The

unconscious concept was the key; Freud had the postulation cycle where ideologies have their

repression but continue operating unconsciously within the mind. At a later date, the resurface

through the consciousness depending on particular situations.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 5

References

Beystehner, K. (2019). Psychoanalysis: Freud's Revolutionary Approach. Retrieved 26 October

2019, from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/beystehner.html

Mcleod, S. (2007). Psychodynamic Approach | Simply Psychology. Retrieved 26 October 2019,

from https://www.simplypsychology.org/psychodynamic.html

Stangor, C. (2019). 1.2 The Evolution of Psychology: History, Approaches, and Questions –

Introduction to Psychology – 1st Canadian Edition. Retrieved 26 October 2019, from

https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/1-2-the-evolution-of-psychology-

history-approaches-and-questions/

Williams, N. (2014). Rational Madness - The Negative Psychologist. Retrieved 26 October 2019,

from http://www.thenegativepsychologist.com/rational-madness/