Sigmund Freud versus George Kelly     1
       Running Head: SIGMUND FREUD VERSUS GEORGE KELLY 
            Sigmund Freud versus George Kelly: Comparison of Psychoanalysis 
                and Phenomenology in the Case Study of “Niko” 
                        Sarah Student
                Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne 
                              Sigmund Freud versus George Kelly     2
                         Abstract 
       This paper compares two theoretical approaches in psychology and explains how they may be
       applied to personality analysis. The theoretical approaches used are psychoanalysis and
       phenomenology, specifically, the theories of Sigmund Freud and George Kelly. While
       psychoanalysis concentrates on processes of the unconscious mind in relation to personality,
       phenomenology suggests that a person's personality is the result of their conscious thoughts and
       feelings. Using a case study of “Niko,” his personality will be examined according to these
       theories. By comparing the theories of psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, and phenomenologist,
       George Kelly, specific differences between the two approaches to personality become clear. 
                              Sigmund Freud versus George Kelly     3
            Sigmund Freud versus George Kelly: Comparison of Psychoanalysis 
                and Phenomenology in the Case Study of “Niko” 
       Introduction
          The assumptions of two theorists will be applied to illustrate how personality can be
       interpreted differently. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic approach will be compared and
       contrasted with George Kelly's phenomenological approach, commonly referred to as personal
       construct theory. Using a case study of “Niko,” these theories will be illustrated in the analysis
       of his personality. 
          Personality, according to Freud, is dependent upon the experiences in infancy and early
       childhood. Certain personality traits are characteristic to situations and stages in our 
       development. How we pass through these stages determines whether we will have psychological
       issues throughout life. These issues and our thoughts are the results of our unconscious mind. 
       The mind, Freud suggested, is made up of three parts: the id, ego, and superego. These parts are
       in constant turmoil; our solutions to these conflicts result in our overt behaviors. In order for the
       mind to function it must have motivation and energy, Freud referred to these phenomena as our
       libido. 
          Kelly focused on an individual's personal experiences, conscious thoughts, and feelings
       in explaining personality. A person's individual experiences and cognition's result in what is
       called personal constructs. Constructs are our views and ideas about the world. Kelly formed 
       the personal construct theory. His theory is explained by how a person interprets his or her past
       experiences. For example, imagine a person is involved in a terrible car accident as a child. The
       child survives but spends several months in a hospital recovering. The way in which this 
                              Sigmund Freud versus George Kelly     4
        situation is interpreted becomes a construct for this individual. This person could determine that 
       they were very lucky to live and they feel life is very precious, therefore they become very
       cautious wearing seatbelts or helmets while riding a bike and they are aware of their
       surroundings at all times. This is one possible construct; another may be that this person feels 
        that they were given a second chance at life, life is short and they want to experience life to the 
        fullest. They may bungee jump, sky dive, and see life as a big adventure. For every experience 
       in our life, our interpretations become our constructs through which we live and view life.
       Methods 
          In order to analyze Niko’ s personality, a psychoanalyst needs to acquire information
       from childhood.  Niko is asked to recall any situations from childhood that come to mind.  Freud
       called  the act of expressing whatever comes to mind as free association. The psychotherapist 
       focuses on these experiences as being relevant to a patient’s personality. If Niko recalls when 
        his father moved out of the house and left him crying at the front door, this may indicate why 
       Niko has resentment toward his father in adulthood. Freud also relies on patients sharing 
        problems with the therapist in an attempt to relieve the patient from some of their emotional 
        stress. This is called a “talking cure.”   The idea of the talking cure is that when an individual 
        talks about their problems, such as relationship problems, they feel better afterwards than if they
       had not talked about their problems at all. Eventually transference is present in which an
       emotional relationship is formed with the therapist. Niko is now comfortable sharing his 
        thoughts openly and honestly. As more time goes by the relationship becomes stronger and the
       patient feels like their therapist is more like a friend who cares about them and their feelings. 
        Freud was especially concerned with aggression and sexual drive. Sessions with Niko indicate a