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Neo-Freudian Psychologists

Definition

Neo-Freudian psychologists are those who were influenced by Sigmund Freud but developed their own competing theories. They generally agree with Freud's emphasis on unconscious processes but place more focus on social interactions and less on sexual drive.

Analogy

Imagine if Freud was like the original recipe for a dish. Neo-Freudians would be like chefs who take this original recipe but add their own twist to it - maybe they reduce some ingredients (like sexual drive), add others (like social interactions), or cook it differently (focus more on ego development).

Related terms

Alfred Adler: A psychologist who proposed the concept of "inferiority complex," suggesting that striving for superiority plays a key role in personality development.

Karen Horney: She disagreed with Freud's views on women and proposed womb envy instead of penis envy. She also emphasized social relationships in personality development.

Erik Erikson: He expanded upon Freud's theories and proposed a psychosocial theory of development, emphasizing the impact of society and culture on personality development.