Themes & Theories Of Psyc Week 3 Discussion. Review this week’s Learning Resources on psychodynamic theories.
Select one psychodynamic theory (e.g., psychoanalytic, psychosocial development) that interests you the most.
Locate a research article that includes the psychodynamic theory you selected.
Reflect on what you learned last week about the research-theory cycle. Think about how the theory was incorporated in the study and whether or not the findings provide evidence in support of the theory.
Post a response to the following:
Identify the psychodynamic theory you chose and briefly describe the study that included the theory. Then, explain how the psychodynamic theory was incorporated in the study. Be sure to include whether the research supported the theory, further informed theory, or did not support the theory.
Note: Support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and any additional sources you identify using both in-text citations and references. It is strongly recommended that you include proper APA format and citations.
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Psychodynamic theories.
For this discussion, I chose to focus on Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory. Erikson was a psychoanalyst who believed that personality develops over the course of eight stages, each of which is marked by a psychosocial crisis. These crises involve a conflict between two opposing forces, and successful resolution of each crisis leads to the development of a healthy personality structure.
One study that incorporated Erikson’s theory is “The Relationship Between Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory and Adult Attachment Styles” by Weinstock, Sroufe, and Egeland (2006). In this study, the researchers examined the relationship between Erikson’s psychosocial stages and adult attachment styles. They found that adults who had secure attachment styles had successfully resolved the psychosocial crises of early childhood, while adults with insecure attachment styles had not.
The findings of this study support Erikson’s theory that personality development is influenced by early experiences. They also suggest that attachment style is an important factor in adult personality.
References
Weinstock, M., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (2006). The relationship between Erikson’s psychosocial theory and adult attachment styles. Journal of Personality, 74(1), 169-192. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2005.00912.x
