Psychology is a relatively young science, but it has already been able to stir up the world several times with its discoveries. Among them are the "Theory of Psychoanalysis" by Z. Freud and the recognition of the driving force of human development as sex drive, the interpretation of motivation and the "Pyramid of Needs" Maslow. The neo-Freudian Erich Fromm made a lot of hype on the problem of the social character of the person, as a result of adaptation to the requirements of society. The best psychologists of the whole world tirelessly struggle over tasks: to understand a person, to delve deeper into his subconscious, to find out what drives him, his actions.
Abraham Maslow and his "pyramid of needs"
Many famous psychologists, including Maslow, worked on motivation. To understand what drives a person and makes him express himself, only this American psychologist managed to declassify. Maslow established that for the manifestation of its higher capabilities, a person needs to satisfy physiological needs. Based on these findings, the Maslow Pyramid was built . There are five steps in it, and only having satisfied the previous need, a person is able to move on to the next. The pyramid looks, if viewed from the bottom of the base, as follows:
- physiological needs;
- the need for protection and safety;
- the need to belong to a social group, to be accepted by society;
- the need for respect and recognition;
- the need for self-expression.
There are not so many people who can reach the fifth step. According to Maslow, there are only 1-2% of them. He described them as follows: these people are completely satisfied with what they have achieved, can be very keen on some activity, are simple in relationships, and are able to sympathize with people. They are independent, democratic and have a creative approach to life.
Sigmund Freud
Probably, the title "most famous psychologist" still belongs to the Austrian Sigmund Freud. His theories are so famous that there is no person who does not know this name. It was he who first talked about sexuality as the driving force behind personality development. If sexuality is for some reason squeezed out of the human mind, then it goes into the subconscious and is able to manifest itself in dreams, associations, reservations. Many well-known psychologists have condemned and still condemn the theory of psychoanalysis according to Freud, believing that it brings us closer to animals. According to him, a person’s personality includes three components:
- it is a biological attraction;
- I am responsible for resolving conflicts between it and the superego;
- superego - norms and values established by a person.
The Humanism of Erich Fromm
Famous psychologists, followers of Freud, cannot do without the theory of “humanistic psychoanalysis” by Erich Fromm. His work was based on the contradictory nature of human existence and the problems of modern society. Fromm believed that people are too selfish, and society is now in crisis. And only a "healthy" society, brought up on the basis of humanism, is able to change people's attitudes towards nature, society and among themselves. Fromm set forth his ideas of humanism and a look at man’s ability to love in the book “The Art of Love”.
The book of modern psychologist Alexander Chernitsky, "Easy Psychology", has caused a lot of unfriendly reviews. Many well-known specialists who do not perceive Freudianism reacted unfavorably to this work. Chernitsky traces the appeal to sexuality as the driving mechanism of personality development, examines the effect of dissatisfaction on the mood, actions of a person, as well as the difference in the worldview of people who lead a personal life from those who do not have it. Psychology as a science continues to develop, and, apparently, many well-known psychologists will once more stir up the public with new theories.