Cognitive Psychology Comparison of Freud, Term Paper

However, just like Maslow, Rogers is just as interested in describing the healthy person. Positive regard is self-esteem, self-worth, and a positive self-image which are achieved through experiencing the positive regard that others show us over our years of growing up; without this, we feel small and helpless. Under Roger's theory, this "small" and "helplessness" is exactly what John is feeling, most likely as a result of the manner in which he was treated growing up. He is feeling anxious and lacks self-discipline because he does not like himself personally, as he feels that he does not meet up to the standards set for him by others. Under Roger's theory, John's actions demonstrate that he does not have a positive image of himself, a result of low self-esteem inflicted on him over the years of receiving negative feedback while he was growing up.

Freud's theory is also a clinical theory, although it is much more complex than either Maslow's or Roger's theories.According to Freud, the unconscious is the source of our motivations, whether they be simple desires for food or sex, neurotic compulsions, or the motives of an artist or scientist. And yet, we are often driven to deny or resist becoming conscious of these motives, and they are often available to us only in disguised form. In other words, Freud saw all human behavior as motivated by the drives or instincts, which in turn are the neurological representations of physical needs. Under Freud's theory, John's behavior can be explained that he unconsciously desired acceptance, which is why he was so overly critical of others. He lacked self-discipline and failed to plan ahead because these were not really important items to him. He is excessively anxious because there is a need that he is not able to fill, but is unconsciously aware of it. Thus, John's behavior can be explained three different ways under three different theories......