Sigmund Freud
The Psychoanalytic Approach
Background
as a physician In seeing patients, began to formulate basis for later theory
Began
Sexual conflicts were primary cause of all neuroses
Instincts
elements of the personality Life instincts: Serve purpose of survival
Basic
Libido: Pleasurable behaviors
Death
instincts: Uncs drive to death and destruction
Aggressive drive: Compulsion to destroy, conquer, kill
Levels of Personality
Ordinary everyday meaning Preconscious: Between 2 layers
Conscious:
Memories of which we are not consciously aware, but can be easily called into consciousness
Unconscious:
Instincts, wishes and desires that direct all behaviors
3 Part Model of Personality
Id
Pleasure principle Instinctual Reality principle Mediator between id and superego
Morality principle Conscience Ego ideal: Moral ideal for a behavior to which a person should strive
Ego
Superego
Anxiety
Feeling
of fear and dread w/o an objective
cause
Reality: Fear of tangible dangers in the real world Neurotic: Conflict b/t id and ego Moral: Conflict b/t id and superego
Defense Mechanisms
Function:
Used by ego to defend against
anxiety Involves distortion of reality Operate unconsciously
Defense Mechanisms
Repression Denial
Formation Projection Regression Rationalization Displacement Sublimation
Reaction
Psychosexual Stages of Development
5
Stages
Oral Anal Phallic Latency Genital
Fixation:
Portion of libido is stuck in 1 stage because of excessive frustration or gratification
Oral Stage
to 1 year Id dominates Mouth is pleasure center State of total dependence on caregivers
Birth
Anal Stage
1-3 years External reality (toilet training) interferes with gratification received from defecation Learn to control id impulses
Ages
Phallic Stage
4-5 Pleasure derived from genitals Oedipus complex: Uncs desire of a boy for his mother, desire to replace his father
Ages
Castration anxiety
Electra
complex: Uncs desire of a girl for her father, desire to replace her mother
Penis envy
Latency Period
5-puberty Structures of personality largely formed by age 5 Sexual instinct temporarily dormant
Age
Genital Stage
Adolescence-adulthood
no major fixations from earlier stages are present, the individual leads a normal life Sexual energy finds acceptable outlets First 5 years of life determine adult personality
If
Assessment
Free
association
Patient says whatever comes to mind Catharsis: Expression of emotions that is expected to lead to the reduction of disturbing symptoms
Dream
analysis: The royal road to the
uncs
Manifest content Latent content
Research
study method Personality formed by age 5
Case
Studies show changes over time from preschool to ages 12-13 Middle childhood years may be more important in adult personality (ages 7-12)
of uncs well-supported Defense mechanisms: Use simpler ones earlier in life, more complex later
Notion
Criticisms of Freud
Deterministic, negative
view of human
nature Flaws in case study approach Neglect of social factors in personality Emphasis on past to neglect of present and future behavior View of women Ambiguous concepts
Contributions of Freud
Contributed
to empirical study of
psychology Role of uncs in behavior Role of childhood experiences Defense mechanisms