Psychoanalytic theories try to explain human behavior in terms of interaction of various components of personality, but mainly it focuses on unconscious psychological conflicts.
According to Freud there are three components of personality: id- demands immediate gratification of needs, ego- realistically fulfill id needs, according to social norms, superego- moral ideals. Personality well being depends on interactions between these components.
In Freud’s theory two main drives motivates human behavior: Eros and Thanatos. In his theory the pleasurable feeling experienced by human body plays important role. Five psychosexual development stages are based on desire of pleasure.
One of Freud’s associates Alfred Adler believed that birth order have main influence on personality and agree with Freud that first five years are crucial. Another Freud college, Karen Horney made her own personality theory based on Freud’s ideas, the thing which were new in her theory are ‘ideal self’ and ‘real self’.
Psychoanalytic theory developed by Freud was important and served as basement for other theories to emerge.
