Question

376. One major criticism of Freudian psychoanalytic theory is that it:

(A) Focuses too much attention on sexual conflicts and fixations
(B) Assumes all behaviors are learned during childhood
(C) Is too pessimistic about the future of humanity
(D) Focuses too much attention on the id and not enough on the ego
(E) Gives too much power to conscious behavior

Answer 1

The major criticism of Freudian psychoanalytic theory is its focus on sexual conflicts and its reliance on unfalsifiable concepts such as the id, ego, and superego. Freud's psychosexual development theory and the emphasis on dream interpretation also lack empirical validation.

Step-by-step explanation:

One major criticism of Freudian psychoanalytic theory is that it focuses too much on sexual conflicts and fixations.

Freud attributed adult personality largely to unresolved issues during various stages of psychosexual development in childhood, such as weaning, toilet training, and the Oedipal/Electra complex.

These fixations supposedly manifested in adulthood as neuroses or particular personality traits.

Another significant criticism pertains to the untestability of many of Freud's concepts.

Freud's ideas, such as the division of the mind into id, ego, and superego, have been challenged for not being falsifiable.

Thus, while they may offer intriguing insights, they lack empirical support and cannot be scientifically validated or refuted.

Lastly, Freud believed that dreams provide vital insights into the unconscious mind, but this aspect of his theory also faces criticism for the subjective interpretation and lack of objective measurement, raising questions about the scientific validity of this approach.