Darrel,

In this thread you have been developing your own personal theory of personality. It so often ties in to what I am learning for my Theories of Personality class. At this point in the class we have just gotten through most of the theorists who built on the psychodynamic perspective. You should be in this class!

Here are some thoughts on your dragon that grow out of what I am learning in my class:

The dragon represents psychopathology and/or conflict. Most theorists I have studies so far agree that psychopathology differs from normalcy in degree rather than kind. Therefore, everybody has some of the same kinds of conflicts, but when it gets to the point that it is a problem in your life is when it can be considered to be a psychopathology.

1. The theorists disagree about the dark side of our psyches. Some overemphasize it, and others fail to recognize that it exists. Some feel that it is important to recognize the dark side, although it is always unpleasant and difficult.

2. Feelings of inadequacy stemming from failing to measure up to an unrealistic idealized self-image is a fairly common theme. Karen Horney, in particular, believed that "neurotics" (I guess that's us ) develop an idealized image which helps us to conceal our painful inner conflicts. The idealized image appears quite realistic to its creator, but always brings about eventual defeat since we can't live up to the ideal. Alfred Adler felt that we develop a superiority complex in order to cover up our feelings of inferiority.

3. Erich Fromm had a lot to say about all of these factors. "In addition to such pathogenic parental behaviors as authoritarianism, narcissism, passiism, and physical abuse, neurosis is often caused by the culture in which one lives." Fromm, therefore, calls for social reform. Some of the things he sees as problems include advertising, politics, beurocracy, repetitive and unstimulating jobs, overcrowded cities, the threat of nuclear war, poverty and unfair economic differences. One of his statements is, "The real problem of mental life is not why some people become insane, but rather why most avoid insanity."

(The rest seems to want to merge together.)

Karen Horney's approach to therapy is for the patient to discover that their neurotic solution to live (overemphasizing one of three approaches to dealing with people while repressing the other two, and creating an unrealistic self image) causes frustration and self-contempt. Also to discover the inner conflict and recognize the repressed needs.

Alfred Adler's goal is to promote a new and more socially interested style of life by bringing to light the painful inferiority complex, examining our misguided life goals, and realizing that we do not actually have a lack of ability and can overcome our problems through effort.

Carl Jung believed that it was important to examine our inner conflicts and the less pleasant components that are part of everyone's personality, and bring the conscious and unconscious opposites into harmonious unity, restoring the normal corse of individuation.

I should at least mention Sigmund Freud, especially since all of these other theorists built on his work. He's really too negative and pessimistic for me though, although some of his theory is good. It doesn't seem as relevant to your comments though.

I have probably done a lot of oversimplification, so let me know if you want to know more about anything I mentioned. I'm sure that when I get into other theorists those will apply here also. Thanks for helping me study for my upcoming test!

Recognize the dragon and his wounds, examine what he represents and the merit in what he has to say, even if it is not all pleasant. Honor yourself and your feelings. It sounds like you are on the right track!

You really have some great ideas. Keep it up! Maybe several years down the road you will be one of the new personality theorists whose philosophy is required reading for psychology students.


<font color=blue>Life is filled with tragedy; if you let it overwhelm you, you cannot enjoy life's innocent pleasures. -Robert Heinlein</font color=blue>