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I need help on writing an essay on 'Psychoanalytic, Neoanalytic, Jungian and Individual Psychology.' I need to include:
- key concepts
- key theorists
- therapist and client roles
- therapy limitations
- is the theory research based?

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Solution Summary

The key concepts for theory outlines are discussed. The therapy limitations and client roles are provided.

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Thank you for using Brainmass. In this particular task, you are asking for help in providing an overview of 4 key concepts in social psychology. I suggest using this simple outline:

1. Social Psychology overview - 100 words
2. Psychoanalytic theory - main ideas, theorists, counseling application (roles) & source of theory - 175 words
3. Neoanalytic theory (same as above) - 175 words
4. Jungian theory (same as above) - 175 words
5. Individual Psychology (same as above) - 175

This outline should yield the 800 words you need for this task. You can also use the listed resources to further explore the topic. All the best with your studies.

Sincerely,
AE 105878/Xenia Jones

Social Psychology Concepts
Social Psychology is the branch of the discipline that explores the manner by which feelings, thoughts and behaviors are impacted by actual, imagined and implied presence of others. Simply put, it studies how we as human beings are influenced, constructed and impacted by other people. According to Cherry (2013), Social Psychology asks questions like the following: "What is it that shapes our attitudes? Why are some people such great leaders? How does prejudice develop and how can we overcome it?"

Gordon Allport, a personality psychologist is considered one of the pioneers of social psychology. He theorized that (Cherry, 2013) "individual personalities are composed broad dispositions...A trait can be thought of as a relatively stable characteristic that causes individuals to behave in certain ways...the trait approach to personality is focused on differences between individuals. The combination and interaction of various traits forms a personality that is unique to each individual."

What is central in this theory is the notion of behavioral causes in a social context that social behavior results from interacting with others. In social psychology, trait and behavior in a particular situation is understood as caused by others and the context of the social dynamics. According to McLeod (2007), social psychology examines topics like, "the self concept, social cognition, attribution theory, social influence, group processes, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal processes, aggression, attitudes and stereotypes." Below, certain theories of importance in the study of these concepts are explored.

Psychoanalytic Theory
The psychoanalytic theory is based on the notion of psychoanalysis which looks at how the unconscious element of our mind, as theorized by Freud, impacts our thoughts and behaviors. For Freud, the development of personality is impacted by a system of unconscious impulses and reactions to unconscious drives or desires. McLeod (2007) explains that, "The aim of psychoanalysis therapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences, i.e. make the unconscious conscious. Psychoanalysis is commonly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders." Based on his notion that the psychic apparatus has 3 'parts' (id- unconscious, unorganized base impulses, ego - conscious thought, superego - the unconscious ethical element). The Id, the Ego and the Super-ego comes together to create and establish the personality and problems with personality can arise when these 3 are not in harmony. Freud believes that it is possible to reverse the effect of psychological breaks by using psychotherapy, a process of alleviating the stress and 'righting' thinking and problematic views and beliefs via verbal discourse.

For Freud, therapy can happen if special sets of conditions are arranged allowing the patient to talk his/her way through the difficulties they face leading to behavioural change. This process ...

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