Transcript AS Psychology Introduction (cont)

Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalytic Theory
Ψ Freud explained behaviour by his theory of
personality (Psychoanalytic Theory) and
developed a treatment for abnormal behaviour
called Psychoanalysis.
Ψ The theory explains human development in
terms of an innate drive (something we are born
with e.g. pleasure) and early experience (the
extent to which the desires were gratified)
Structure of the Freudian Personality
Ψ Freud assumed that the mind is divided into 3
parts: Id, Ego and Superego
Id, Ego, Superego
Ψ The Id contains the innate sexual (libido) and
aggressive instincts and is located in the unconscious
mind and works on the Pleasure Principal. It demands
immediate satisfaction
Ψ The Ego is the conscious, rational part of the mind which
develops during the first 2yrs of life. It works on the Reality
Principle and takes into account what is going on in the real
world.
Ψ The Superego develops at around the age of 5yrs and is the
conscience of the child as it realises what is right and wrong. It is
formed when the child adopts many of the values of the same sex
parent (identification)
The battle between the Id, Ego and
Superego
Conflicts among the Id ,Ego and
Superego
Ψ As the Id demands instant gratification, there is
conflict with the Superego’s sense of right and
wrong.
Ψ Therefore, the Ego must step in to be the referee
between the two to restore them to reality.
Ψ This causes much anxiety and the Ego defends
itself against this by using DEFENCE
MECHANISMS which reduce the anxiety.
Defence Mechanisms
Ψ Repression: Keep threats out of consciousness.
Ψ Displacement: Move target of emotions e.g. aggression
to someone/something else.
Ψ Projection: Attribute undesirable characteristics to
someone else..”it’s not me it’s you”.
Ψ Denial: Refuse to accept the reality of an event.
Ψ Intellectualisation: Remove emotions from a
threatening event.
Ψ Examples?
Psychosexual Development
Freud suggested that adult personality depends
on childhood experiences and suggested that we
all go through 5 stages of development.
Ψ Oral: 0-18mths
Ψ Anal: 18-36mths
Ψ Phallic: 3-6yrs (Oedipus and Electra complexes)
Ψ Latent: 6yrs -puberty
Ψ Genital: Puberty onwards
Oral Personality
Symptoms of Oral Fixation:
Ψ Smoking
Ψ Constant chewing on gum, pens, pencils, etc.
Ψ Nail biting
Ψ Overeating
Ψ Drinking
Ψ Sarcasm ("the biting personality") and verbal
hostility
Anal Expulsive Personality
Anal-Expulsive Personality:
Ψ If the parents are too lenient and fail to instil the
society's rules about bowel movement control, the child
will derive pleasure and success from the expulsion.
Ψ Individuals with a fixation on this mode of gratification
are excessively sloppy, disorganized, reckless, careless,
and defiant.
Anal Retentive Personality
Anal-Retentive Personality:
Ψ If a child receives excessive pressure and punishment
from parents during toilet training, he will experience
anxiety over bowl movements and take pleasure in
being able to withhold such functions.
Ψ Individuals who fail to progress pass this stage are
obsessively clean and orderly, and intolerant of those
who aren't. They may also be very careful, stingy,
withholding, obstinate, meticulous, conforming and
passive-aggressive.
Phallic
Phallic Fixation:
Ψ For men: Anxiety and guilty feelings about sex, fear of
castration, and narcissistic personality.
Ψ For women: It is implied that women never progress
past this stage fully and will always maintain a sense of
envy and inferiority, although Freud asserted no
certainty regarding women's possible fixations resulting
from this stage. Similarly, Freud admitted uncertainty
on the females' situation when he constructed the "penis
envy" theory in the first place.
Latency
Interactions with the Environment:
Ψ This is a period during which sexual feelings are
suppressed to allow children to focus their energy on
other aspects of life.
Ψ This is a time of learning, adjusting to the social
environment outside of home, absorbing the culture,
forming beliefs and values, developing same-sex
friendships, engaging in sports, etc.
Ψ This period of sexual latency lasts five to six years,
until puberty, upon which children become capable of
reproduction, and their sexuality is re-awakened.
Genital
Fixations:
Ψ This stage does not cause any fixation. According to
Freud, if people experience difficulties at this stage, and
many people do, the damage was done in earlier oral,
anal, and phallic stages.
Ψ These people come into this last stage of development
with fixations from earlier stages.
Ψ For example, attractions to the opposite sex can be a
source of anxiety at this stage if the person has not
successfully resolved the Oedipal (or Electra) conflict at
the phallic stage.