The psychodynamic approach views personality as consisting of three ego states - the parent, adult, and child. People shift between these states and they influence leadership styles. Additionally, the Myers-Briggs assessment evaluates personality across four dimensions: how one derives energy, gathers information, makes decisions, and judges. While each personality type has strengths and weaknesses for leadership, understanding different types can help teams work together effectively. Recent research has applied the psychodynamic lens to examine leadership dynamics in organizations and how properly aligning individuals' roles can increase efficiency. However, some criticisms argue the theory lacks reliability and distinct traits.

1. Psychodynamic
Approach
COM 657
Jessie Havens

2. Transactional Analysis
 Eric Berne
 People have 3 ego states
(Dunaetz, 2015):
 Parent: nurturing or controlling
 Child: rebellious or obedient
(reacting to parent)
 Adult: acting responsibly and
treating others like adults (listen
and understand)
 People can shift in and out of
these states
Leader
Parent
Adult
Child
Follower
Child
Adult
Parent

3. Personality Traits
 Carl Jung and Myers-Briggs
 4 dimensions in Assessing Personality
1. Where one derives energy
- Internally (I) or Externally (E)
2. Preferred way to gather information
- Sequentially (S) or Intuitively (N)
3. Criteria for decisions
- Rationally (T) or Subjective (F)
4. Preference for making judgements
- Judge easy (J) or Process (P)

4. Personality Types and Leadership
 Each dimension has an advantage and a disadvantage to leadership
(Dunaetz, 2015).
 Ex: Feelers are empathetic and loyal but also indecisive and changeable
 Raises awareness of leaders and followers to:
 Their own personalities
 The implications of personality types in their work and relationships
 Find strengths in every type
 Helps to see that others can be different but normal (Dunaetz, 2015).

5. Recent Research
 Perceiving the Leadership and Organizational Identity under the
Contemplation of Understanding of Psychoanalytical Approach
 Ozturk, Simsek, & Tariq (2020) examine the dynamics of an organization through
psychoanalytic approach
 "Leadership is a highly complex interaction between people in different positions,
contexts, and systems" (Ozturk et.al, 2020, p. 294).
 The Psychodynamic Approach in Leadership and How It Benefits Efficiency
and Productivity in Organisations
 Kutila (2022) examines how the psychodynamic approach is useful towards
building efficiency in an organization.
 "When individuals are placed in their correct job duties and are in their element, the
team and the organization may become much more efficient." (Kutila, 2022, p. 42).

6. Criticisms of the Theory
 According to Dunaetz (2015)
 Problems with reliability and validity
 Traits are not so distinct
 Esoteric nonsense in original theory
 Not good for research purposes

7. References
 Dunaetz, D. (2015, February 20). Psychodynamic Approach Northouse 6e Ch
13. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfSZY-
62D0Y&list=PLx-uqKoW1C5n2PdLpug2kFaw_1YjWESFW&index=11.
 Kutila, J. (2022). The Psychodynamic Approach in Leadership and How It
Benefits Efficiency and Productivity in Organisations. Metropolia University of
Applied Science.
 Ozturk, I., Huseyinzade Simsek, A., & Tariq, J. (2020). Perceiving
the Leadership and Organizational Identity under the Contemplation
of Understanding of Psychoanalytical Approach. International Journal
of Organizational Leadership, 9(4), 288-303.