Question

Explain interpersonal relations using psychodynamic personality theories.

Answer 1

The psychoanalytical theory developed by Sigmund Freud, emphasizes on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences as a cause one's behaviour. Freud suggested that the unconscious mind constitutes of all the thoughts and feelings that are repressed. The thoughts, feelings and memories repressed in the unconscious mind cannot be brought to one's conscious awareness. It can only be done through techniques like dream analysis, free association and etcetera.

According to Freud, during childhood, children fall for their opposite sex parent. However, since they eventually understand that it does not work that way, they take on the traits and characteristics of the same-sex parent. This eventually leads them to choose people including partners and friends who have their opposite-sex parent's characteristics. You may mostly end up liking a certain type of people and would dislike others. The one's that you are inclined to is due to your want of being with somebody who has the same characteristics as your opposite-sex parent.