Freud And James Theoretical Positions Essay Example for Free

Freud And James Theoretical Positions Essay Sigmund Freud and William James helped unveil a new zeitgeist in the burgeoning field of psychology. Freud’s psychoanalysis and James’ functionalism would influence theorists and practitioners for decades, earning each man a prominent place in psychology’s history books.   What are the cornerstones of these milestone theories of human behavior, and how do they compare? In regards to basic human nature, James and Freud could not have been more divergent in their views. William James’ functionalism promoted a free will that carries us toward a â€Å"final destination. † A personal analysis that reflects one’s own unique individual experiences was highly valued. Each event in our lives moves us through a constant stream of different contexts and consciousness. Therefore, James did not focus so much on our good or evil natures, preferring instead to view our world as painted with a palette of varying shades of gray. Human beings cannot be divided into convenient categories and labels, but rather exist as unique and complex individuals. James’ pragmatic and functional mentality (we all have a purpose) leant him a slightly humanistic view in which most people strive toward a common good for the betterment of society. (James, 1983) In stark contrast, Sigmund Freud heralded a rather pessimistic view of human nature, emphasizing instincts as our innate drive and aggression or sex as our primary channels for those desires. Much of his psychoanalytic theory centers around the concept of a libidinous id—a force deep within us and beyond our awareness which harbors all of our secret impulses and desires unfit for society. Most of our lives, our personality is spent in a conflict between the bad id and the good, law-abiding superego. We repress most of our negative feelings out of conscious awareness, but they still manifest themselves in the form of physical illness and mental neurosis, just as the infamous â€Å"Anna O.† demonstrates.   Also, Freud’s proposed psychosexual stages of development further reveal his emphasis on instincts (primarily sexual) in molding everyone (Schultz Schultz, 2000). The emphasis on innate physical causes for behavior represented a strong departure from structural and empirical schools of thought, and both Freud and James brought this difference to the forefront, albeit in different forms. â€Å"No mental modification ever occurs which is not accompanied or followed by a bodily change†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†The spiritualist and the associationist must both be cerebralists†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Psychology is â€Å"the adjustment of inner to outer relations†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.The psychologist must be a â€Å"nerve-physiologist†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..All of the preceding statements, taken from William James’ Principles of Psychology (1983), highlight an underlying theme in his theory—the body (most especially the brain) is a vital and essential component of â€Å"mental life.† Consciousness, he asserted, must be studied in its natural setting, and study of the â€Å"conditions† (the physical components) of â€Å"phenomena† is crucial. He cited as proof of the brain’s importance how factors such as a blow to the head, drug use, or other sorts of brain trauma have the potential to almost complete reverse someone’s behavior and personality. In addition, his theory of habits also indicates his belief in the brain’s ability to mold lifelong behaviors. Also, James held that emotions were the direct result of physiological reactions to stimuli (Schultz Schultz, 2000). Despite his nativist assertions, however, James did appreciate that vital role environmental factors played in human development. According to functionalist thought, the function of our consciousness is to freely adapt to our environment in order to survive. We accomplish this through â€Å"choosing† our paths. An active mind that filters, combines, selects, rejects, and generally â€Å"weave(s) an endless carpet† appealed to James. He prized the role of motivation in directing our attention. Far from being mere passersby on the highway of life, we are rather highly energetic and involved â€Å"drivers† paving our own indelible mark and fueled by free will (James, 1983). Freud shared James’ basic nativism. Freud’s study of Anna O. demonstrates his certainty that the mind can exert a tremendous influence upon the body. The whole concept of neurosis states that physical bodily symptoms which have no apparent physical origin are likely the result of defects or repressions within the mind (Schultz Schultz, 2000). Freud always remained very deterministic in his theories. All people are born with innate libidinous impulses. All people repress those instincts, resulting in various complexes. All people pass through the psychosexual stages of development, and the personality of everyone is basically set by the age of seven. However, unlike William James, Freud’s stance is rooted in a passive mind completely helpless to impulse. Perhaps this passivity—and lack of faith in the human condition—is the strongest contrast between Sigmund Freud and William James. However, both men will continue to influence psychologists across the world for many generations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  References James, W. (1983). The Principles of Psychology. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Schultz, D. P. Schultz, S. E. (2000). A History of Modern Psychology. Belmont: Wadsworth Thomson Learning.

Cultural Anthropology Essay -- Marching Band Arts Music Dance Papers

Cultural Anthropology Almost all cultures world wide have highly developed traditions of music and dance. According to Mari Womack, author of Being Human: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, music and dance carry much importance within a culture. "As do other artistic forms, music and dance reflect cultural and social organization. Cultural values can be conveyed in the words of a song, and the performance of a song or a dance is dependent on the social context" (Womack 226). Music and instruments are of great significance in many places world wide. For example, the BaMbuti foragers from Africa's Ituri rain forest have an instrument which they call the molimo which looks like an extremely long pipe. The men of the BaMbuti culture are the owners of the molimo and behave as if it is alive. Women and young boys are forbidden any contact with the molimo, because of its importance in male initiation rites (Womack 226). In the United States, we also have extensive rituals involving music and dance. For ex ample, in wedding receptions, many rules prevail about who dances with who when. The father-daughter dance, the bride and groom's dance, the mother-son dance, and the dollar dance are just a few of these rituals. Marching Band is another form of the music and dance combination. Marching may not sound like dancing, but, in reality, the marchers move in their individual paths which create forms that are constantly blending into each other and creating new forms. According to Jordan, my informant, "To me, it really is kind of art, just seeing all these forms move and mesh, with music to go with them and flags and stuff. It is a type of art, I guess." Along with just basic marching, the band adds choreography which produces wonde... ...s A. Sectionals B. Districts C. Regionals D. State VI. Football Games A. Home Componential Analysis of Band Activities Characteristics 1.0 1.1 Performing 1.2 Being Judged 1.3 Show on Field 1.4 Marching in Forms 1.5 Practicing Timing 2.0 2.1 Summer 2.2 During School Year 2.3 Sequential 2.4 Non-sequential Types of Activities Characteristics 1.0 Timing 2.0 Parades 1, 5 1, 4 Band Camps 5 1 Rehearsals 3, 4, 5 2 Invitationals 1, 2*, 3, 4 2, 4 Competitions 1, 2, 3, 4 2, 3 Football Games 1, 3, 4, 5 2, 4 *Marching Bands are judged at all invitationals, but their scores are not publicly announced when they are the hosting school. Works Cited Womack, Mari. Being Human: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1998.

Absoulutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian Struggles of Arnold Spirit Essay

In the book â€Å"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian† by Sherman Alexie, Arnold Spirit the main character struggles with being an Indian and going to Reardan, the all-white school where he wants to find hope. He struggles with acceptance because of his disability and he is an Indian. He also struggle with losing his best friend Rowdy as a friend, and he also struggles with losing loved ones. Though he has many, he copes with them and fixes them in the end. Throughout the story Arnold struggles with his disability. He is a very smart person but because of his disability his appearance makes him look like he is stupid. To top this all off he is also an Indian attending an all-white school. This causes the white people to make fun of him as well as the Indians and he feels different and unwanted by everyone. â€Å"And once I arrived at Reardan, I became something less than less than less than Indian. Those white kids did not talk to me. They barely looked at me†(83). This shows that he was not accepted on the reservation as an Indian or at Reardan because of what he was. He had no friends at Reardan, not even a friend on the rez anymore. When Arnold decided that he wanted to go to Reardan he wanted his only and best friend, Rowdy to go with him. When he told Rowdy about going to Reardan he felt like Arnold was abandoning him. He got really upset and angry and made it clear they were no longer friends. â€Å"I stayed on the ground for a long time after Rowdy walked away†¦But I had to stand eventually, and when I did, I knew my best friend had become my worst enemy†(53). This shows that Rowdy resented Arnold so much for going to Reardan he didn’t want to be friends with Arnold anymore. In addition to losing his best friend he lost many other people, only in a different way. One final struggle Arnold faced was losing many loved ones. He lost his dog, grandmother, Eugene (His dads best friend) and his sister. He not only blamed himself for the deaths but also many others blamed him because he left the rez and betrayed them in a way by going to Reardan and making friends with white people. â€Å"‘Your sister is dead because you left us. You killed her.’†¦Rowdy was right. I had killed my sister†¦It was all my fault†(211). This shows that Arnold felt like in a way it was his fault and some of the Indians on the rez felt the same. He blamed himself for every bad thing that had happened all his life. Arnold had a tough life, he struggled to fit in, to keep his best friend and with losing many loved ones. Arnold slowly made friends at Reardan by just being himself. In the end he and Rowdy made up. They put the past behind them. Arnold also forgave himself for all the loved ones he lost; he also hoped that everyone else forgave him too. Losing loved ones is a normal part of life. No one should take the blame when it was never their fault. Making friends is also hard Especially when you are in a completely new environment or you are shy. Sometimes best friends will fight. It can last for a short time or a long time. Its important to remember we can not judge someone because of who they are or where they come from. Put yourself in their shoes; how would you feel?

William Blakes Nurses Song - 868 Words

English 103 October 3, 2013 A Nurse’s Songs: Through Innocence and Experience William Blake’s two poems that are both entitled â€Å"Nurse’s Song† demonstrate opposing perspectives of a nurse toward the innocence of the children she is caring. In â€Å"Songs of Innocence†, the rhyming pairs of the poem suggest that the nurse is untroubled as she watches the children’s enjoyment while its syntax shows that she advocates or is in favor of the joy that their innocence brings them. In â€Å"Songs of Experience†, however, the rhyming pairs suggest that the nurse is bothered by the same happiness that the children are experiencing that she would want them to lose their innocence and be more aware of reality. It†¦show more content†¦Altogether, the rhyming pairs of the â€Å"Nurse’s Song† in â€Å"Songs of Innocence† show that the nurse feels all the more peaceful and free from commotion as she watches the children who are merrily at play whereas the rhyming pairs in â€Å"Songs of Experience† reveal the nurse’s feeling of sickly hollowness within which causes her to want the children to conceal or hide their happiness. The syntax of the two poems describes the atmosphere that the nurse and the children are in and the nurse’s outlook towards the children’s state of happiness and innocence. In the case of the poem in â€Å"Songs of Innocence†, the noun â€Å"little birds† (page 53, line 11) and its corresponding verb â€Å"fly† (page 53, line 11) show how the birds are freely flying in the air. The words compare their freedom with the children as they are being called by the nurse to go to sleep. Equally, the noun â€Å"little ones† (page 53, line 15) that corresponds to the verbs â€Å"leaped shouted laugh’d† (page 53, line 15) reflects the intensity of the children’s happiness. It also suggests that the nurse did let the children extend their playtime and that she encourages them to enjoy it until it lasts. On the other hand, in the â€Å"Songs of Experience†, the noun â€Å"days of my youth† (page 57, line 3) which corresponds to the verb â€Å"rise† (page 57, line 3) reflects how the nurse is in a nostalgic mood wherein which she recollects the times when sheShow MoreRelatedThe Importance of the Central Female Charater in William Blakes Nurses Song964 Words   |  4 PagesIn his poem â€Å"Nurse’s Song,† which can be found both in Songs of Experience and Songs of Innocence, William Blake uses a central female character to make a significant political and social point. These poems are different versions of the story of a nurse. In Songs of Innocence, that nurse is seen in one way, and the poem continues in Songs of Experience to show a significant change in the nurse. She begins as one who is wide-eyed and trusting of the world, but by the end, she has come to be quiteRead MoreInnocence and Experience Essay1422 Words   |  6 Pagesyears called Romantic period included the French Revolution, the American Revolution and wars of national independence in Europe. William Blake, one of well known Romantic poets, commented on his society by viewing it th rough the child’s eyes in the two sets of ‘Songs of innocence and of Experience’. It is said that ignorance is a blessing but not according to William Blake. Blake has another meaning to ‘Innocence’; He refers innocence to ignorance. This means that innocence is corrupted and fullRead More An Analysis of Blakes The School Boy Essay1745 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Blakes The School Boy  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   The School Boy is a typical example of Blakes Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience in its themes and imagery. Like many of the other poems in this work it deals with childhood and the subjugation of its spirit and uses imagery from the natural world. While first published in 1789 as one of the Songs of Innocence there are strong reasons why Blake moved it to the Experience1 section of the 1794 edition. If we compare it to other poems inRead More Comparison of the Portrayal of Nature in Blake and Wordsworth1518 Words   |  7 Pagesimagination as the basis of human understanding, rejecting the scientific world view of materialism. The Romantics attempted to discover the hidden union between man and nature. Imagination is a force, or energy, that allows such a bond to be made. 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His two main collection of his poetry are Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. â€Å"The Lamb†, â€Å"The Nurse’s Song†, and â€Å"The Little Black Boy† belong to the collection of Song of Innocence because of the theme of happiness. â€Å"The Tyger †, â€Å"London†, and â€Å"Holy Thursday† belong to the collection of Songs of Experience because of the theme of darkness. 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William Blake, a late 18th century English Romantic poet uses traditional forms for his poetry in that he blends the ballad, the nursery rhyme and the hymn. The meaning he constructs from these forms however is far from traditional. His style was to express very complex ideas in very simple language and compressing a lot of deep meaning into often very short poems. Blake was a rebel and was over