The psychoanalytic theory of personality was developed by Sigmund Freud in the late 19th century, and has developed since then into a mode of investigation that uses the interactions between the conscious and unconscious mind as a framework to determine the source of psychological attributes and problems (Lazarus et al., 2014). In essence, this theory of personality dictates that human behavior is often irrational and governed by subconscious forces that cannot be strictly controlled. By investigating these impulses and the motivations behind them, it is possible to better understand ourselves and address our potential issues.
The way psychoanalysis is used in assessments is multifaceted and very much standard for clinical psychological practice. For instance, one of Freud’s major elements of psychoanalysis is projection, or the subconscious expression of anxiety-provoking impulses onto something else (Bram, 2015). With this in mind, many elements of psychoanalytic assessment take advantage of projection by inspiring the patient to project their fears or other information contained in their subconscious onto something else, revealing it to the person conducting the assessment. This approach allows psychoanalysis to play a large part in personality assessment, by showing the patient what their subconscious fears and anxieties may be.
The use of psychoanalysis as a fundamental component of personality assessment has continued even to the present day, with intriguing trends making use of psychoanalysis across many different cultures. Intriguingly, many practicing analysis have reduced the rate by which they use strict psychoanalysis, as many are somewhat unfamiliar with personality assessments that use methods like projecting (Bram, 2015). However, other analysts have utilized psychoanalysis in conjunction with other approaches, such as establishing a taxonomy of moods, states and activities that make up someone’s personality (Spielberger & Butcher, 2013). Others still focus on using psychoanalysis to assess elements of personality disorders such as borderline personality disorder (BPD), performing lab tasks or manipulating interpersonal stimuli in a way that reveals the extent of their condition (Lazarus et al., 2014).
When considering the use of psychoanalysis in personality theory, several questions can be addressed:
1. Can psychoanalysis be used to assess interpersonal behaviors as well?
As seen in the established research, interpersonal behaviors are uniquely suited to assessment through a psychoanalytic lens. As Lazarus et al. (2014) showed, a psychoanalytic assessment of people suffering from borderline personality disorder can help determine the extent to which people with BPD are able to successfully perform interpersonal functioning. Using tools like the aforementioned projection assessments, psychologists can use these to identify interpersonal stressors that might aggravate subjects regardless of the existence of other personality conditions.
2. How applicable is Freudian theories like psychoanalysis today?
While Freud’s work was groundbreaking, there is an argument to be made that his approaches have been replaced with more modern, accurate and well-tested approaches to personality. However, just as psychology evolved, so too did theories like psychoanalysis, and as such they are still used today as a measure of personality.
3. Is psychoanalysis the best way to perform personality assessment across cultures?
As previously mentioned, Freud’s theories have required some updating as more personality theories and psychology work have revealed more nuanced approaches. This is particularly true for other cultures, as Freud’s framework was particularly suited to a Western style of personality that may not reflect cultural norms and history in other parts of the world. As such, it would be prudent to consider these gaps when performing psychoanalytic personality assessments.
References
Bram, A. D., & Yalof, J. (2015). Quantifying complexity: Personality assessment and its
relationship with psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 35(sup1), 74-97.
Lazarus, Sophie A., et al. "Interpersonal functioning in borderline personality disorder: A
systematic review of behavioral and laboratory-based assessments." Clinical Psychology Review 34.3 (2014): 193-205.
Spielberger, C. D., & Butcher, J. N. (2013). Advances in personality assessment (Vol. 7).
Routledge.
