Psychoanalytic

                                                              Psychoanalytic Theory
Theorist: Sigmund Freud
Focus: The psychoanalytic theory focuses on one's unconscious. He coined the term resistance as people may have wanted to recall memories but something in them did not allow it to happen or there is also repressed memories which are memories that are even more difficult to recall.
Another focus of Freud's theory is that all events and experiences cause us to experience feelings. Every memory has a feeling with it. Freud also used dream interpreation to help recall memories and aid in therapy. Freud developed psychosexual stages of development that he believed everyone goes through. These are:
     First, the oral stage which is typically from birth to one year of age. Babies find their pleasure in sucking their thumb or a binkie, anything that brings pleasure via their mouth. Second, is the anal stage which typically occurs when the baby is two years old. This is when babies typically are potty trained as they feel pleasure from their anus. Third, is the phallic stage. This typically lasts fro three years from ages three to six. During this time the toddler becomes aware of its private parts. Fourth, is the latency period where young children learn how to appropriately interact socially. Then, is the genital stage. During this time adolescents experience puberty.

Freud also had a theory of personality. This involves three parts called the id, ego, and superego. The id is the ground level of our persoalities. The ego carries out our personalities. The superego is the last part to develop in one's personlity. The ego is the balance between the supergo and the id. The id tells us the survival and instintcual needs or desires we have and the superego listens to the world. The ego helps someone balance the two.

Strengths of theory: A strength of the psychoanalytic theory is that it tries to build upon different stages of one's life to explain how someone makes their decisions.
Weakness of theory: It takes into account a lot of parts of a person for which they perhaps had no role in forming.
Personal example: A personal example of Freud's theory in action in my life if how the ego keeps me in check. I may be out with friends and want more food and my friends ordered more food but I want to be healthy and lose weight. My ego helps me find the balance between what society, my friends, want me to do and that is eat more, and my id who says food is a natural need. The ego tells me to ask if I am actually hungry and do I need the food.