PSY30013: Exploring Psychological Approaches and Tests

This assignment explores several key concepts in psychology. The first task analyzes the perspectives of Wundt and James, particularly focusing on James' functionalism and its relation to environmental adaptation. It emphasizes the role of natural selection in shaping behavior and understanding mental activities within an environment. The second task describes a non-scientific approach to therapy, thought field therapy, and its roots in Freudian concepts. The third task outlines a Freudian personality type test, detailing its aim, context, operational definitions, and model of measurement based on Freud's stages of development. The student reflects on their experience with the test and the resulting personality insights.

1
PSY30013
Student’s Name
University

2
PSY30013
Task 1
Step 1: Post your answer to the following question-what elements of Wundt's or James'
approaches relate to your own view of what psychology is?
William James theory of psychology called functionalism was based on the arguments made in
the Darwin’s theory. This is based on the role of the role of natural selection and the environment
in shaping and justifying the characteristics of organisms (Taylor, 2010). This means that
behavior is seen as an adaptation to the environment due to the forces of natural selection. This
means that the role of psychologists is to study the functions of behavior to create an
understanding of how mental activities of people enable them to fit within their environment. In
this case, psychologists can understand human behavior by looking at how they display mental
activities in an environment.
This theory is important in creating an understanding to psychology since it views
psychology as a functional whole and not studying one part. By looking at the environment, I am
able to understand the differences in behaviors that are displayed by individuals. This implies
that an understanding of the environment is the best way to look at psychology (Mun &
Thirumoorthi, 2015). For example, people who use drugs choose to do so due to the feeling that
the drug brings. However, the reasons behind the use of drugs relate around the issues within
their natural environment that push them towards such drugs. This means that the role of drugs is
to assist the individual to fit within the society where the forces of natural selection are more
than the individual. Then to understand the mental behaviors of people, it is important to look at
the environment in which they live and understanding the natural forces that make them unable
to cope. Therefore, the elements of this theory are important since they create an understanding

3
of the influence of the natural environment in the life of the individual.
Task 2: Step 1: Post a description of a real-world example of a 'non-scientific' approach to
therapy that is currently practiced, which has its roots in the approach of Freud and/or
Rogers. Do not mention which theorist this treatment relates to.
One non-scientific approach therapy practice is the thought field therapy for healing
mental health related problems through tapping with the fingers at meridian points of the upper
body and hands. This treatment method is mostly used to treat trauma patients for creating body
and mind relief (Irgens, Dammen, Nysæter, & Hoffart, 2012). This form of treatment is the best
since it argued that it works well especially in situations where the patient has already attempted
to heal negative thoughts. The theory is based on tapping sequence that is supposed to
correspond to other mental emotions. This leads to reduced energy blockage in the body since it
focusses on meridian lines and tapping energy points until the negative thoughts are eliminated.
When tapping the body develops survival and defense mechanisms to deal with the trauma.
However, this approach has not been scientifically approved since the studies that have been
done on the topic are limited thus its outcome is not clearly defined or documented.
This theory is related to Freud’s psychoanalysis which is also based on the issues that
have taken place in the life of the patient. The theory is based on the belief that all people possess
unconscious thoughts, feeling, desires and memories. These are the ones that lead to negative
thoughts that affect the patient. This implies that by focusing on the issues within their life,
taping ensures the patient is able to focus on the issues that affect him and how to overcome
them.
In a real world example, the focus of this process is to quickly reduce or eliminate
anxiety by manipulating how energy flows in the body. Since the body consists of energy fields,

4
then it means that distress is a result of energy imbalances in the body. Thus through finger
tapping the specific points in a sequence, health and wellness can be restored in the body. This is
because the theory looks at mental problems as encoded in the human body’s energy system. In
this case, the patient is supposed to start by rating the distress on a level of subjective units of
discomfort. This is then followed by tapping of the meridian points associated with energy build
up while focusing on the issue being addressed. This helps the patient to attune the relevant
thought that lead to perturbation.
Task 3 Step 1: Post your responses to the following prompts:
Describe a real-world example of a psychology test that you have experienced. Outline the
aim of the test and the context in which it was used. List the operational definitions and
model of measurement used.
One recent test that I did was the Freudian personality type test based on a questionnaire of 21
items. The test is used to assist me to determine what is on my subconscious to determine the
type of personality that I belong to. The aim of this test is to determine the influence childhood
events that I have experienced in my life leading to different personality types. Since Freud’s
theory is based on the role of events that take place in the life of people from their childhood,
then it means that these events end up shaping the personality of the individual when one grows
up (Solms, 2012). The operational definition and the model of measurement is based on Freud’s
five stages of development. Once the questionnaire has been answered the rating is based on the
five stages by explaining how I fit in each of the stages of development. The focus of this test is
to ask selected questions that focus greatly on the events that have taken place in my life.
Through the stages of development and vents that I experience, I develop certain personality
types which reflect how my natural environment has shaped me.

5
The first definition is the anal stage which revealed that I have a good balance between total self-
control and spontaneity which leads to an understanding of the impulses that I have.
The phallic stage result revealed that I have good balance between understanding sexuality and
sexual discretion which leads to the ability for sexual self-control.
Latency stage result revealed that I am extremely curious and striving to learn new information
every day. This means that I tend to take risky adventures for dealing with the issues within my
life.
The genital stage is based on a good balance between work and personal life. This means that I
strive for harmonious relationships with others.
As seen from the results, this test focusses on how each stage of my individual development has
been shaped by the events within my life.

6
References
Irgens, A., Dammen, T., Nysæter, T. E., & Hoffart, A. (2012). Thought Field Therapy (TFT) as a
Treatment for Anxiety Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial. EXPLORE, 8(6),
331-338.
Mun, B. W., & Thirumoorthi, T. (2015). Social Psychology Theories. In Selected Theories in
Social Science Research, . sedigheh Moghavvemi: UM Press.
Solms, M. (2012). The "Id" Knows More than the "Ego" Admits: Neuropsychoanalytic and
Primal Consciousness Perspectives on the Interface Between Affective and Cognitive
Neuroscience. Brain Sciences, 2(2), 147-175.
Taylor, E. (2010). William James on a phenomenological psychology of immediate experience:
The true foundation for a science of consciousness? History of the Human Sciences,
23(3).