Freud

Freud & Psychoanalysis

Personality Theory

Superego
Ego
Id

- storehouse of biologically based motives and instinctual reactions for satisfying motives

-unlearned biologically based motives major motives/instinctual drives: sexual and destructive urges energy of these is libido

-left to itself Id would satisfy motives without regard to life or morals

EGO

-learned instrumental acts to satisfy motives

-elaborate ways of dealing with world-it delays satisfaction of motives

-channels motives into socially acceptable outlets -keeps one working getting along with others and adjusting to realities

-the ego works in the service of the reality principle

SUPEREGO

-socially derived motives that affect and conflict with the first two

-corresponds to conscience -restraints acquired in course of personality development on activity of ego and id

-the superego would condemn as wrong certain things which ego would do in order to satisfy the id's motives

-superego keeps person working towards the ideals

-ego ideals acquired in childhood

There is no clear line separating the 3. When libido blocked by ego/superego energy may be displaced to seek out acceptable outlet

ID in conflict causes anxiety which triggers defence mechanisms

Freud's Stages of Development

Pregenital Stages:

Oral

Anal

Phallic

Latency stage

Genital Stage-- puberty Person can become fixated at any stage if person experiences frustration anxiety, insecurity

ORAL STAGE

-1st year infant receives pleasure from sucking and other activities with the mouth - if infant is prevented from sucking or made anxious child could develop oral fixation-later in life this could lead to excessive oral behaviour-->greed, dependence, passivity, smoking, chewing pencil end, sucking thumb

ANAL STAGE -2-3 years child focuses interests on anal activity (toilet training and suppressing naughty behaviour connected with excretion) -if training too strict---> anxieties and anal syndrome- compulsiveness, excessive conformity /self control

PHALLIC STAGE --after toilet training focus on sex organs-romantic feeling to opposite sex-- Oedipus complex, Electra complex -threat of castration by father---> anxiety results in normal identification with threat

LATENCY -6--->puberty-elaboration and strengthening of defence mechanisms to protect individual

GENITAL- puberty-instead of interest in self focuses on others

Problems with Freud's Theory

-based on anecdotal information -based on clinical impressions not careful measurement -patients were all rich Viennese women

For more information about Freud see The Freud Page or A Guide to Freud

PLEASE NOTE:

Information on this site is authorized for use only by the students of this course.Students have permission to copy any of the content. For copyright information of the linked sites please see the respective authors.

BACK