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1 Chapter 1 : psychoanalytic theory Journal Psyche Sigmund Freud is considered to be the father of psychiatry. Among his many accomplishments is, arguably, the most far-reaching personality schema in psychology: the Freudian theory of personality. It has been the focus of many additions, modifications, and various interpretations given to its core points. These are called psychosexual stages because each stage represents the fixation of libido roughly translated as sexual drives or instincts on a different area of the body. As a person grows physically certain areas of their body become important as sources of potential frustration erogenous zones, pleasure or both. Freud believed that life was built round tension and pleasure. Freud also believed that all tension was due to the build-up of libido sexual energy and that all pleasure came from its discharge. In describing human personality development as psychosexual Freud meant to convey that what develops is the way in which sexual energy accumulates and is discharged as we mature biologically. Freud stressed that the first five years of life are crucial to the formation of adult personality. The id must be controlled in order to satisfy social demands; this sets up a conflict between frustrated wishes and social norms. The ego and superego develop in order to exercise this control and direct the need for gratification into socially acceptable channels. Gratification centers in different areas of the body at different stages of growth, making the conflict at each stage psychosexual. The Role of Conflict Each of the psychosexual stages is associated with a particular conflict that must be resolved before the individual can successfully advance to the next stage. To explain this Freud suggested the analogy of military troops on the march. As the troops advance, they are met by opposition or conflict. If they are highly successful in winning the battle resolving the conflict, then most of the troops libido will be able to move on to the next battle stage. But the greater the difficulty encountered at any particular point, the greater the need for troops to remain behind to fight and thus the fewer that will be able to go on to the next confrontation. Frustration, Overindulgence, and Fixation Some people do not seem to be able to leave one stage and proceed on to the next. One reason for this may be that the needs of the developing individual at any particular stage may not have been adequately met in which case there is frustration. Both frustration and overindulgence or any combination of the two may lead to what psychoanalysts call fixation at a particular psychosexual stage. It is assumed that some libido is permanently invested in each psychosexual stage and thus each person will behave in some ways that are characteristic of infancy, or early childhood. Psychosexual Stages of Development You can remember the order of these stages by using the mnemonic: It gets much satisfaction from putting all sorts of things in its mouth to satisfy the libido, and thus its id demands. Which at this stage in life are oral, or mouth orientated, such as sucking, biting, and breastfeeding. Freud said oral stimulation could lead to an oral fixation in later life. We see oral personalities all around us such as smokers, nail-biters, finger-chewers, and thumb suckers. Oral personalities engage in such oral behaviors, particularly when under stress. Anal Stage years The libido now becomes focused on the anus, and the child derives great pleasure from defecating. The child is now fully aware that they are a person in their own right and that their wishes can bring them into conflict with the demands of the outside world i. Freud believed that this type of conflict tends to come to a head in potty training, in which adults impose restrictions on when and where the child can defecate. Early or harsh potty training can lead to the child becoming an anal-retentive personality who hates mess, is obsessively tidy, punctual and respectful of authority. They can be stubborn and tight-fisted with their cash and possessions. Not as daft as it sounds. The anal expulsive, on the other hand, underwent a liberal toilet-training regime during the anal stage. In adulthood, the anal expulsive is the person who wants to share things with you. They like giving things away. Phallic Stage 3 to 5 or 6 years Sensitivity now becomes concentrated in the genitals and masturbation in both sexes becomes a new source of pleasure. The child becomes aware of anatomical sex differences, which sets in motion the conflict between erotic attraction, resentment, rivalry, jealousy and fear which Freud called the Oedipus complex in boys and the Electra complex in girls. This is resolved through the process of identification, which Page 1

2 involves the child adopting the characteristics of the same sex parent. Oedipus Complex The most important aspect of the phallic stage is the Oedipus complex. The name of the Oedipus complex derives from the Greek myth where Oedipus, a young man, kills his father and marries his mother. Upon discovering this, he pokes his eyes out and becomes blind. This Oedipal is the generic i. In the young boy, the Oedipus complex or more correctly, conflict, arises because the boy develops sexual pleasurable desires for his mother. He wants to possess his mother exclusively and get rid of his father to enable him to do so. Irrationally, the boy thinks that if his father were to find out about all this, his father would take away what he loves the most. During the phallic stage what the boy loves most is his penis. Hence the boy develops castration anxiety. The little boy then sets out to resolve this problem by imitating, copying and joining in masculine dad-type behaviors. This is called identification, and is how the three-to-five year old boy resolves his Oedipus complex. Identification means internally adopting the values, attitudes, and behaviors of another person. The consequence of this is that the boy takes on the male gender role, and adopts an ego ideal and values that become the superego. Freud offered the Little Hans case study as evidence of the Oedipus complex. Electra Complex For girls, the Oedipus or Electra complex is less than satisfactory. Briefly, the girl desires the father, but realizes that she does not have a penis. This leads to the development of penis envy and the wish to be a boy. The girl resolves this by repressing her desire for her father and substituting the wish for a penis with the wish for a baby. The girl then represses her feelings to remove the tension and identifies with the mother to take on the female gender role. Latency Stage 5 or 6 to puberty No further psychosexual development takes place during this stage latent means hidden. The libido is dormant. Freud thought that most sexual impulses are repressed during the latent stage, and sexual energy can be sublimated re: Sexual instinct is directed to heterosexual pleasure, rather than self-pleasure like during the phallic stage. For Freud, the proper outlet of the sexual instinct in adults was through heterosexual intercourse. Fixation and conflict may prevent this with the consequence that sexual perversions may develop. For example, fixation at the oral stage may result in a person gaining sexual pleasure primarily from kissing and oral sex, rather than sexual intercourse. Three essays on the theory of sexuality. How to reference this article: Page 2

3 Chapter 2 : Psychosexual Stages Simply Psychology Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of personality argues that human behavior is the result of the interactions among three component parts of the mind: the id, ego, and superego. Among his many accomplishments is, arguably, the most far-reaching personality schema in psychology: It has been the focus of many additions, modifications, and various interpretations given to its core points. Etymology Freud was a one of a kind thinker. There can be little question that he was influenced by earlier thinking regarding the human mind, especially the idea of there being activity within the mind at a conscious and unconscious level yet his approach to these topics was largely conceptual. His theoretical thoughts were as original as they were unique. The adult personality emerges as a composite of early childhood experiences, based on how these experiences are consciously and unconsciously processed within human developmental stages, and how these experiences shape the personality. Not every person completes the necessary tasks of every developmental stage. Stages of Development Believing that most human suffering is determined during childhood development, Freud placed emphasis on the five stages of psychosexual development. As a child passes through these stages unresolved conflicts between physical drives and social expectation may arise. Oral 0 â 1. Fixation on all things oral. If not satisfactorily met there is the likelihood of developing negative oral habits or behaviors. As indicated this stage is primarily related to developing healthy toilet training habits. Phallic 3 â 5 year of age: The development of healthy substitutes for the sexual attraction boys and girls have toward a parent of the opposite gender. Latency 5 â 12 years of age: The development of healthy dormant sexual feelings for the opposite sex. Genital 12 â adulthood: All tasks from the previous four stages are integrated into the mind allowing for the onset of healthy sexual feelings and behaviors. It is during these stages of development that the experiences are filtered through the three levels of the human mind. It is from these structures and the inherent conflicts that arise in the mind that personality is shaped. According to Freud while there is an interdependence among these three levels, each level also serves a purpose in personality development. Within this theory the ability of a person to resolve internal conflicts at specific stages of their development determines future coping and functioning ability as a fully-mature adult. The super ego functions at a conscious level. It serves as a type of screening center for what is going on. It is at this level that society and parental guidance is weighed against personal pleasure and gain as directed by ones id. Obviously, this puts in motion situations ripe for conflict. Ego Much like a judge in a trial, once experiences are processed through the superego and the id they fall into the ego to mediate a satisfactory outcome. Originally, Freud used the word ego to mean a sense of self, but later revised it to mean a set of psychic functions such as judgment, tolerance, reality testing, control, planning, defense, synthesis of information, intellectual functioning, and memory. Id The egocentric center of the human universe, Freud believed that within this one level, the id is constantly fighting to have our way in everything we undertake. Critique So where does this leave us? It could have been entitled Ode to the Id. There are many mental illnesses that place the id in the forefront decision making. In particular, there are those whose lives are lived on a totally narcissistic level. Then there are those with anti-social personalities, psychotic like illnesses, and more. In the world of Freud, it is the neurotic person that is most affected by the principles of his theory. As a result Freud laid out his plan for treatment: The treatment has been in use for many years with many adaptations given to it. On the plus side, psychoanalysis do present a client with the structure and time to resolve neurotic issues. On the negative side there is always expressed concern over the cost. Being that it does take time for psychoanalysis to be effective there is an associated cost that can be prohibitive. Page 3

4 Chapter 3 : Id psychology theinnatdunvilla.com According to Sigmund Freud, human personality is complex and has more than a single theinnatdunvilla.com his famous psychoanalytic theory of personality, personality is composed of three elements. The fundamental principles of the theory are developed and explained. Upon consideration, the author considers psychoanalysis to be a valuable theory despite its weaknesses because it is comprehensive, serendipitous, innovative, and has withstood the test of time. Consequently, the author contends that psychoanalysis is indeed a "great" idea in personality. As a therapy, psychoanalysis is based on the concept that individuals are unaware of the many factors that cause their behavior and emotions. These unconscious factors have the potential to produce unhappiness, which in turn is expressed through a score of distinguishable symptoms, including disturbing personality traits, difficulty in relating to others, or disturbances in self-esteem or general disposition American Psychoanalytic Association, Psychoanalytic treatment is highly individualized and seeks to show how the unconscious factors affect behavior patterns, relationships, and overall mental health. Treatment traces the unconscious factors to their origins, shows how they have evolved and developed over the course of many years, and subsequently helps individuals to overcome the challenges they face in life National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, In addition to being a therapy, psychoanalysis is a method of understanding mental functioning and the stages of growth and development. Psychoanalysis is a general theory of individual human behavior and experience, and it has both contributed to and been enriched by many other disciplines. Psychoanalysis seeks to explain the complex relationship between the body and the mind and furthers the understanding of the role of emotions in medical illness and health. In addition, psychoanalysis is the basis of many other approaches to therapy. Many insights revealed by psychoanalytic treatment have formed the basis for other treatment programs in child psychiatry, family therapy, and general psychiatric practice Farrell,, p. The value and validity of psychoanalysis as a theory and treatment have been questioned since its inception in the early s. Critics dispute many aspects of psychoanalysis including whether or not it is indeed a science; the value of the data upon which Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, based his theories; and the method and effectiveness of psychoanalytic treatment. There has been much criticism as well as praise regarding psychoanalysis over the years, but a hard look at both the positive and negative feedback of critics of psychoanalysis shows, in my opinion, that psychoanalysis is indeed a "great idea" in personality that should not be overlooked. The Origins of Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud was the first psychoanalyst and a true pioneer in the recognition of the importance of unconscious mental activity. His theories on the inner workings of the human mind, which seemed so revolutionary at the turn of the century, are now widely accepted by most schools of psychological thought. In, Freud coined the term "psychoanalysis," and for the next forty years of his life, he worked on thoroughly developing its main principles, objectives, techniques, and methodology. Eventually psychoanalysis began to thrive, and by, it was established around the world as a flourishing movement. Although for many years Freud had been considered a radical by many in his profession, he was soon accepted and well-known worldwide as a leading expert in psychoanalysis Gay,, p. In, Freud succumbed to cancer after a lifetime dedicated to psychological thought and the development of his many theories Gay,, p. Whereas new ideas have enriched the field of psychoanalysis and techniques have adapted and expanded over the years, psychoanalysts today, like Freud, believe that psychoanalysis is the most effective method of obtaining knowledge of the mind. Through psychoanalysis, patients free themselves from terrible mental anguish and achieve greater understanding of themselves and others. He begins with an explanation of the three forces of the psychical apparatus--the id, the ego, and the superego. The id has the quality of being unconscious and contains everything that is inherited, everything that is present at birth, and the instincts Freud,, p. The ego has the quality of being conscious and is responsible for controlling the demands of the id and of the instincts, becoming aware of stimuli, and serving as a link between the id and the external world. In addition, the ego responds to stimulation by either Page 4

5 adaptation or flight, regulates activity, and strives to achieve pleasure and avoid unpleasure Freud,, p. Finally, the superego, whose demands are managed by the id, is responsible for the limitation of satisfactions and represents the influence of others, such as parents, teachers, and role models, as well as the impact of racial, societal, and cultural traditions Freud,, p. Freud states that the instincts are the ultimate cause of all behavior. The two basic instincts are Eros love and the destructive or death instinct. The purpose of Eros is to establish and preserve unity through relationships. On the other hand, the purpose of the death instinct is to undo connections and unity via destruction Freud,, p. The two instincts can either operate against each other through repulsion or combine with each other through attraction Freud,, p. Freud contends that sexual life begins with manifestations that present themselves soon after birth p. The four main phases in sexual development are the oral phase, the sadistic-anal phase, the phallic phase, and the genital phase, and each phase is characterized by specific occurrences. During the oral phase, the individual places emphasis on providing satisfaction for the needs of the mouth, which emerges as the first erotogenic zone Freud,, p. During the sadistic-anal phase, satisfaction is sought through aggression and in the excretory function. During the phallic phase, the young boy enters the Oedipus phase where he fears his father and castration while simultaneously fantasizing about sexual relations with his mother Freud,, p. The young girl, in contrast, enters the Electra phase, where she experiences penis envy, which often culminates in her turning away from sexual life altogether. Following the phallic phase is a period of latency, in which sexual development comes to a halt Freud,, p. Finally, in the genital phase, the sexual function is completely organized and the coordination of sexual urge towards pleasure is completed. Errors occurring in the development of the sexual function result in homosexuality and sexual perversions, according to Freud, p. Freud defines the qualities of the psychical process as being either conscious, preconscious, or unconscious p. Ideas considered to be conscious are those of which we are aware, yet they remain conscious only briefly. Preconscious ideas are defined as those that are capable of becoming conscious. In contrast, unconscious ideas are defined as those that are not easily accessible but can be inferred, recognized, and explained through analysis Freud,, p. Freud spent many years hypothesizing about the role of dreams and their interpretation. He defines the states of sleep to be a period of uproar and chaos during which the unconscious thoughts of the id attempt to force their way into consciousness Freud,, p. In order to interpret a dream, which develops from either the id or the ego, certain assumptions must be made, including the acknowledgment that what is recalled from a dream is only a facade behind which the meaning must be inferred. The basic objective of psychoanalysis is to remove neuroses and thereby cure patients by returning the damaged ego to its normal state Freud,, p. During analysis, a process that often takes many years, patients tell analysts both what they feel is important and what they consider to be unimportant. An aspect of analysis that has both positive and negative repercussions is transference, which occurs when patients view their analysts as parents, role models, or other figures from their past. Transference causes patients to become concerned with pleasing their analysts and, as a result, patients lose their rational aim of getting well Freud,, p. The method of psychoanalysis involves several significant steps. Second, analysts begin to form hypotheses about what happened to the patients in the past and what is currently happening to them in their daily life. It is important that analysts relay the conclusions at which they arrive based on their observations only after the patients have reached the same conclusions on their own accord. Should analysts reveal their conclusions to patients too soon, resistance due to repression occurs. Overcoming this resistance requires additional time and effort by both the analysts and the patients. Once patients accept the conclusions, they are cured Freud,, p. He claims that although his theory is correct to the best of his knowledge, "it is unlikely that such generalizations can be universally correct" Freud,, p. Finally, some critics assert that psychoanalysis is simply not a science and many of the principles upon which it is based are inaccurate. Instead, Shevrin continues, "extraclinical methods must be drawn upon in addition to the clinical method because the clinical method is the only way we can be in touch with certain phenomena" p. Only with quantification, many critics assert, can supposedly scientific theories even begin to be evaluated based on their empirical merits. In addition, Freud fully presented only twelve cases, but he mentioned over one hundred Page 5

6 minor cases. Greenberg asserts that many of the presented cases would not even be considered acceptable examples of psychoanalysis and, in short, that virtually all of the case studies had basic shortcomings p. Finally, Greenberg finds it "both striking and curious" p. In addition, critics find fault with the demographically restricted sample of individuals on which Freud based the majority of his data and theory Holt,, p. Spence concludes that the answer to the important question concerning the validity of free association will only be realized through close inspection of the transcripts of meetings between the patient and analyst. Finally, many people feel that a major flaw of psychoanalysis is that, according to Farrell, "it appears to encourage analytic and psychodynamic practitioners to overlook the place and great importance of ordinary common sense" p. Because psychoanalysis deals chiefly with unconscious motives and repressed emotions, common sense no longer seems to be applicable. Farrell and other critics believe that it is increasingly important for analysts to be aware of common sense and the role that it can, should, and does play in psychoanalysis p. Criticisms of the Principles of Psychoanalysis Storr insists, "Only a few fundamentalist psychoanalysts of an old-fashioned kind think that Freud was a scientist or that psychoanalysis was or could be a scientific enterprise," and that, " Although many psychoanalysts themselves would undoubtedly consider psychoanalysis to be a science, many critics would disagree. This is why they are so untestable" Popper,, p. Popper claims that only when individuals are not neurotic is it possible to empirically determine if prospective patients are currently neurotic p. Popper asserts that psychoanalysis has often maintained that every individual is neurotic to some degree due to the fact that everyone has suffered and repressed a trauma at one point or another in his or her life p. However, this concept of ubiquitous repression is impossible to test because there is no overt behavioral method of doing so p. Other critics claim that psychoanalysis cannot be considered a science due to its lack of predictions. Psychoanalysts, critics maintain, state that certain childhood experiences, such as abuse or molestation, produce certain outcomes or states of neurosis. To take this idea one step further, one should be able to predict that if children experience abuse, for instance, they will become characterized by certain personality traits. In addition, this concept would theoretically work in reverse. For instance, if individuals are observed in a particular neurotic state, one should be able to predict that they had this or that childhood experience. However, neither of these predictions can be made with any accuracy Colby,, p. Additional critics insist that psychoanalysis is not a science because of the lack of interpretive rules or regulations. Colby contends that critics of psychoanalysis have difficulties with the idea that "there are no clear, intersubjectively shared lines of reasoning between theories and observations" p. Colby concludes that if analysts themselves cannot concur that a certain observation is an example of a certain theory, then the regulations that govern psychoanalytic interpretation are undependable p. I have always taken it for granted that the obvious failure of Freudian therapy to significantly improve on spontaneous remission or placebo treatment is the clearest proof we have of the inadequacy of Freudian theory, closely followed by the success of alternative methods of treatment, such as behavior therapy. In addition, a good theory, according to many philosophers of science, is falsifiable, able to be generalized, leads to new theories and ideas, and is recognized by others in the field. Clearly psychoanalysis meets many of these criteria. As noted previously, Freud coined the term "psychoanalysis" in Even today, as we are rapidly approaching the twenty-first century, psychoanalysis remains as a valid option for patients suffering from mental illnesses. The acceptance and popularity of psychoanalysis is apparent through the existence of numerous institutes, organizations, and conferences established around the world with psychoanalysis as their focus. The theory of psychoanalysis was innovative and revolutionary, and clearly has withstood the test of time. Perhaps even more noteworthy than the longevity of psychoanalysis is the fact that it has served as a catalyst to many professionals in the field of psychology and prompted them to see connections that they otherwise would have missed. Psychoanalysis enlightened health professionals about many aspects of the human mind and its inner workings, phenomena that had previously been inexplicable. As a direct result of psychoanalysis, approaches to psychological treatment now considered routine or commonplace were developed worldwide Farrell,, p. By far one of the greatest strengths of psychoanalysis is that it is a very comprehensive theory. Psychoanalysis, Page 6

7 originally intended as a theory to explain therapeutic or psychological concepts, explains the nature of human development and all aspects of mental functioning. However, many experts contend that psychoanalysis can also be used to describe or explain a vast array of other concepts outside of the realm of the psychological field. Page 7

8 Chapter 4 : Sigmund Freud's Theories Simply Psychology Sigmund Freud ( to ) was the founding father of psychoanalysis, a method for treating mental illness and also a theory which explains human behavior. Freud believed that events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping our personality. But with the emergence of psychoanalysis as a distinct clinical practice, both terms came to describe that. Although both are still used, today, the normal adjective is psychoanalytic. Psychoanalytic theorists believe that human behavior is deterministic. It is governed by irrational forces, and the unconscious, as well as instinctual and biological drives. Due to this deterministic nature, psychoanalytic theorists do not believe in free will. Josef Breuer, especially when it came to the study on Anna O. Today, Breuer can be considered the grandfather of psychoanalysis. The research and ideas behind the study on Anna O. These observations led Freud to theorize that the problems faced by hysterical patients could be associated with painful childhood experiences that could not be recalled. The influence of these lost memories shaped the feelings, thoughts and behaviours of patients. These studies contributed to the development of the psychoanalytic theory. The id is the aspect of personality that is driven by internal and basic drives and needs. These are typically instinctual, such as hunger, thirst, and the drive for sex, or libido. The id acts in accordance with the pleasure principle, in that it avoids pain and seeks pleasure. Due to the instinctual quality of the id, it is impulsive and often unaware of implications of actions. The ego is driven by the reality principle. It helps separate what is real, and realistic of our drives as well as being realistic about the standards that the superego sets for the individual. The superego is driven by the morality principle. It acts in connection with the morality of higher thought and action. Instead of instinctively acting like the id, the superego works to act in socially acceptable ways. It employs morality, judging our sense of wrong and right and using guilt to encourage socially acceptable behavior. Freud said that it is the unconscious that exposes the true feelings, emotions, and thoughts of the individual. There are variety of psychoanalytic techniques used to access and understand the unconscious, ranging from methods like hypnosis, free association, and dream analysis. Whereas latent content is the underlying meaning of a dream that may not be remembered when a person wakes up, manifest content is the content from the dream that a person remembers upon waking and can be analyzed by a psychoanalytic psychologist. Exploring and understanding the manifest content of dreams can inform the individual of complexes or disorders that may be under the surface of their personality. Dreams can provide access to the unconscious that is not easily accessible. They are considered mistakes revealing the unconscious. Examples range from calling someone by the wrong name, misinterpreting a spoken or written word, or simply saying the wrong thing. It thus reacts to protect the individual from any stressors and anxiety by distorting reality. This prevents threatening unconscious thoughts and material from entering the consciousness. The different types of defense mechanisms are: Repression, reaction formation, denial, projection, displacement, sublimation, regression, and rationalization. It is a stage theory that believes progress occurs through stages as the libido is directed to different body parts. The different stages, listed in order of progression, are: The Genital stage is achieved if people meet all their needs throughout the other stages with enough available sexual energy. They do not support the idea that development of the personality stops at age 6, instead they believed development spreads across the lifespan. Critics of psychoanalytic theory[ edit ] The psychoanalytic approach has a variety of advantages and limitations that have spurred further research and expansion into the realm of personality development. Advantages[ edit ] The theory emphasizes the importance of childhood experiences. Limits[ edit ] Some claim that the theory is lacking in empirical data and too focused on pathology. Freud is considered a philosopher in some areas, and other philosophers, such as Jacques Lacan, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida have written extensively on how psychoanalysis informs philosophical analysis. An Elementary Textbook of Psychoanalysis - Revised edition. Page 8

9 Chapter 5 : Psychoanalytic theory (video) Behavior Khan Academy Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality Development Personality development refers to enhancing an individual's personality for him to stand apart from the rest and make a mark of own. An individual with a pleasing personality is respected and appreciated by all. Sigmund Freud is said to be the founder of psychoanalytic theory. Psychoanalytic theory is a method of investigating and treating personality disorders and is used in psychotherapy. Included in this theory is the idea that things that happen to people during childhood can contribute to the way they later function as adults. Inner Forces Drive Behavior Examples of psychoanalytic theory include: April broke up with Adam, and three months later went on a date with Mark. Every time the vehicle she is riding in stops suddenly, Mrs. She thinks this is because she was in a car accident when she was a child, and in each new situation the fear of another accident crashes over her like a wave. Ever since then, he has had a very difficult time trusting people because he is afraid they will abandon him. Tom and Ashley were participating in pre-marital counseling. It came up during one session that Ashley may have difficulty really believing that Tom loves her because she never felt that her parents loved her. The violent behavior of criminals is often traced to the violent ways they themselves were treated during their formative years. Amber is 57 years old and is an accomplished professional, but she never feels like her work is good enough and is always afraid that people will be unhappy with her performance. She realizes that she might have this outlook because when she was growing up, her mother criticized everything she did. Sylvia was planning her wedding, but her mother wanted to override every decision Sylvia made. Andrew lost his car keys and was late for work. A psychoanalytic theorist might say that he lost his keys because, somewhere in his subconscious, he did not want to go to work that day and actually wanted to quit his job. Kathy was driving her daughter around in the van, trying to get the three-month-old to take a nap. She wondered if that was her subconscious telling her that it was time to reconcile with her friend. Heather often tells white lies and is known for giving evasive answers to questions. Her husband thinks Heather does this because deep down she is afraid of facing the truth about difficult situations, so she avoids the truth in both major and minor circumstances. His parents make him try out for the baseball team anyway. Justin does not make the team. He normally is a good player, but on the day of tryouts he did not do well. He probably was not able to play his best because, deep down, he did not want to make the team anyway. Lexi is adamant that she does not want to get married. Her parents divorced when she was young, and deep down, she does not really think that any marriage can work. Matt has asked Miranda several times to get together to study. Miranda keeps saying she wants to, but is never available when Matt asks. When Kelly was seven, her brother died. Now that she is about to be married, her deepest fear comes out: She met some wonderful people at school, but it took her a long time to develop close friendships because of the trust issues she had developed as a child and teenager. Laura reminded her co-worker Max of his mother, from whom he was estranged. Max found it harder and harder to separate his feelings towards Laura from his feelings towards his mother. Even though Laura was perfectly nice, her mannerisms and speech seemed like a mirror image of his mom. Sarah was adopted into a loving family when she was five. However, for years she displayed aggressive behavior towards her adoptive parents and siblings, even though they were incredibly kind to her. These all help to illustrate how psychoanalytic theory works. YourDictionary definition and usage example. Page 9

10 Chapter 6 : SparkNotes: Personality: Psychodynamic Theories Sigmund Freud's View of Personality. Sigmund Freud's life may be a classic example of psychoanalytic theory. Or, perhaps, psychoanalytic theory is a classic metaphor for Sigmund Freud's life. Psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud Freud believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining "insight". The aim of psychoanalysis therapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences, i. Psychoanalysis is commonly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. It is only having a cathartic i. Id[ edit ] The id according to Freud is the part of the unconscious that seeks pleasure. His idea of the id explains why people act out in certain ways, when it is not in line with the ego or superego. It is the impulsive, unconscious part of the mind that is based on desire to seek immediate satisfaction. The id does not have a grasp on any form of reality or consequence. Freud understood that some people are controlled by the id because it makes people engage in need-satisfying behavior without any accordance to what is right or wrong. Freud compared the id and the ego to a horse and a rider. The id is compared to the horse, is directed and controlled, by the ego or the rider. This example goes to show that although the id is supposed to be controlled by the ego, they often interact with one another according to the drives of the id. Freud defined the id as the part of the mind "cut off from the external world, has a world of perception of its own. It detects with extraordinary acuteness certain changes in its interior, especially oscillations in the tension of its instinctual needs, and these changes become conscious as feelings in the pleasure-unpleasure series. It is hard to say, to be sure, by what means and with the help of what sensory terminal organs these perceptions come about. But it is an established fact that self-perceptionsâ coenesthetic feelings and feelings of pleasure-unpleasureâ govern the passage of events in the id with despotic force. The id obeys the inexorable pleasure. Ego[ edit ] In order for people to maintain a realistic sense here on earth, the ego is responsible for creating balance between pleasure and pain. It is impossible for all desires of the id to be met and the ego realizes this but continues to seek pleasure and satisfaction. Although the ego does not know the difference between right and wrong, it is aware that not all drives can be met at a given time. The ego takes into account ethical and cultural ideals in order to balance out the desires originating in the id. There are many times so Although both the id and the ego are unconscious, the ego has close contact with the perceptual system. The ego has the function of self-preservation, which is why it has the ability to control the instinctual demands from the id. The ego is ultimately derived from bodily sensations, chiefly from those springing from the surface of the body. It may thus be regarded as a mental projection of the surface of the body, representing the superficies of the mental apparatus. Freud believed that the superego is what allows the mind to control its impulses that are looked down upon morally. The superego can be considered to be the conscience of the mind because it has the ability to distinguish between reality as well as what is right or wrong. Without the superego Freud believed people would act out with aggression and other immoral behaviors because the mind would have no way of understanding the difference between right and wrong. Freud separates the superego into two separate categories; the ideal self and the conscience. The conscience contains ideals and morals that exist within society that prevent people from acting out based on their internal desires. The ideal self contains images of how people ought to behave according to societies ideals. The unconscious[ edit ] Freud believed that the answers to what controlled daily actions resided in the unconscious mind despite alternative views that all our behaviors were conscious. He felt that religion is an illusion based on human values that are created by the mind to overcome inner psychological conflict. The unconscious mind positions itself in every aspect of life whether one is dormant or awake. This explanation gives significance to verbal slips and dreams. They are caused by hidden reasons in the mind displayed in concealed forms. Verbal slips of the unconscious mind are referred to as a Freudian slip. This is a term to explain a spoken mistake derived from the unconscious mind. Traumatizing information of thoughts and beliefs are blocked from the conscious mind. Slips expose our true thoughts stored in the unconscious. Instincts act by giving vitality and enthusiasm to the mind through Page 10

11 meaning and purpose. The ranges of instincts are in great numbers. Freud expressed them in two categories. One is Eros the self-preserving life instinct containing all erotic pleasures. While Eros is used for basic survival, the living instinct alone cannot explain all behavior according to Freud. It is full of self-destruction of sexual energy and our unconscious desire to die. Since birth, the existence of sexual drives can be recognized as one of the most important incentives of life. If one becomes fixated in any of the five stages, he or she will develop personality traits that coincide with the specific stage and its focus. Oral Stage [ edit ] The first stage is the oral stage. An infant is in this stage from birth to eighteen months of age. During this stage the need for tasting and sucking becomes prominent in producing pleasure. Fixation in this stage can lead to adult habits such as thumb-sucking, smoking, over-eating, and nail-biting. Personality traits can also develop during adulthood that are linked to oral fixation; these traits can include optimism and independence or pessimism and hostility. Anal Stage [ edit ] The second stage is the anal stage which lasts from eighteen months to three years of age. Parents stress toilet training and bowel control during this time period. Fixation in the anal stage can lead to anal-retention or anal-expulsion. Anal retentive characteristics include being overly neat, precise, and orderly while being anal expulsive involves being disorganized, messy, and destructive. Phallic Stage [ edit ] The third stage in psychosexual development is the phallic stage. This stage begins at 3 years old and ends when the child reaches six years of age. The phallic stage focuses on the genitals as pleasure seeking areas of the body. Boys in this stage experience the Oedipus complex while girls experience the Electra complex introduced by Carl Jung. In both cases the child develops incestuous feelings for the parent of the opposite sex. Children tend to develop characteristics of the same-sex parent during this stage. Males may take great pride in their masculinity and their sexuality while women may become flirtatious and promiscuous. In both instances, these personality traits are a sign of low self-esteem and self-worth. This also leads to an Oedipal Complex. Latency Stage [ edit ] The fourth stage is the latency stage which begins at the age of six and continues until the age of eleven. During this stage there is no pleasure seeking region of the body; instead all sexual feelings are repressed. Thus, children are able to develop social skills, and find comfort through peer and family interaction. Genital Stage [ edit ] The final stage of psychosexual development is the genital stage. This stage commences at the age of eleven, lasts through puberty, and ends when one reaches adulthood at the age of eighteen. The onset of puberty reflects a strong interest from one person to another of the opposite sex. If one does not experience fixation in any of the psychosexual stages, once he or she has reached the genital stage, he or she will grow into a well-balanced human being. These set of defense mechanisms occur so one can hold a favorable or preferred view of themselves. For example, in a particular situation when an event occurs that violates ones preferred view of themselves, Freud stated that it is necessary for the self to have some mechanism to defend itself against this unfavorable event; this is known as defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are used to handle the conflict between the id, the ego, and the super ego. Freud noted that a major drive for people is the reduction of tension and the major cause of tension was anxiety. Reality anxiety is the most basic form of anxiety and is based on the ego. It is typically based on the fear of real and possible events, for example being bit by a dog or falling off of a roof. Neurotic anxiety comes from an unconscious fear that the basic impulses of the id will take control of the person, leading to eventual punishment from expressing the ids desires. Moral anxiety comes from the superego. It appears in the form of a fear of violating values or moral codes, and appears as feelings like guilt or shame. When anxiety occurs, the minds first response is to seek rational ways of escaping the situation by increasing problem solving efforts and a range of defense mechanisms may be triggered. These are ways that the ego develops to help deal with the id and the superego. Defense mechanisms often appear unconsciously and tend to distort or falsify reality. When the distortion of reality occurs, there is a change in perception which allows for a lessening in anxiety resulting in a reduction of tension one experiences. Sigmund Freud noted a number of ego defenses which were noted throughout his work but his daughter, Anna Freud, developed and elaborated on them. The defense mechanisms are as follows: They are natural and normal and without these, neurosis develops such as anxiety states, phobias, obsessions, or hysteria. Totem and Taboo[ edit ] Totem and Taboo Freud desired to understand Page 11

12 religion and spirituality and deals with the nature of religious beliefs in many of his books and essays. He regarded God as an illusion, based on the infantile need for a powerful father figure. Freud believed that religion was an expression of underlying psychological neuroses and distress. In some of his writing, he suggested that religion is an attempt to control the Oedipal complex, as he goes on to discuss in his book Totem and Taboo. In, Freud published the book, Totem and Taboo. This book was an attempt to reconstruct the birth and the process of development of religion as a social institution. He wanted to demonstrate how the study of psychoanalysis is important in the understanding of the growth of civilization. This book is about how the Oedipus complex, which is when an infant develops an attachment for the mother early on in life, and incest taboo came into being and why they are present in all human societies. The incest taboo rises because of a desire for incest. Page 12

13 Chapter 7 : Examples of Psychoanalytic Theory There are three parts to the personality according to Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. These are the id, superego, and ego. The id is the first to develop, the ego is second, and the. Contact Author Freud and Psychoanalysis Horney underwent psychoanalysis as a young woman and felt it helped her understand her own inner thoughts and behaviors. Freud believed that feminine experience and psychopathology resulted from "disappointed" male sexuality. Women, according to Freud, would always be psychologically stunted. Horney sought to debunk this view by exposing its lack of scientific evidence and set about constructing her own theory of personality that better encompassed the range of female experience. Karen Horney, Source Horney was convinced - both by her own experiences and those of her subjects - that children who grow up having their basic needs e. Conversely, children who grow up feeling unsafe, unloved, and undervalued develop anxiety and consequently adopt maladaptive strategies to cope with this anxiety. This experience leads many women to develop a masculinity complex, originating from feelings of inferiority, as well as frustration at the disparity between sexes. Horney believed two strategies of defense derive from this defeat: If a child experiences any form of basic evil - abuse, neglect, preference for one sibling over another - it sets the stage for her to grow into a psychologically maladjusted adult. The child believes that if her own parents cannot or will not love and care for her, no one can or will. The wounds of basic evil form basic hostility: Basic hostility develops and presents itself in the following way: Basic anxiety results in the formulation of interpersonal strategies of defense, or rigid ways of relating to others that may be understood in terms of whether they move toward, against, or away from others. Source Interpersonal Strategies of Defense Interpersonal strategies of defense are utilized by neurotic individuals to help them cope with basic anxiety. Those who move toward others manage their anxiety through their dependence. They tend to seek affection and approval from others and refrain from expressing aggression or disagreement. This is known as the compliant solution. Conversely, people who move away from others respond to anxiety by removing themselves from the source or threat. This detachment results from their belief that the world will disappoint them as their own parents did, so they withdraw from it. Individuals who move against others adopt expansive solutions. They value power and seek prestige and admiration. Though they desire such attention, they do not value others and instead view people in terms of what they can do for them. The expansive solution is expressed in three ways: Narcissistic people were often favored as children and believe there is nothing they cannot accomplish. Though they regularly speak of their specialness, these individuals need constant attention and confirmation of their abilities. They seek to maintain their exaggerated view of themselves and break if the image collapses. Perfectionistic folks hold others to unrealistic standards and look down on them when they fail to meet such standards. Unsurprisingly, most people including these individuals cannot meet their exacting standards. Arrogant-vindictive individuals were often mistreated as children and seek retribution for the ills they suffered. Such individuals believe that only the strong survive. They can be competitive and ruthless in their dealings. Neurosis Neurosis is defined as a mental or emotional disorder affecting part of the personality. Most commonly, neurotic individuals experience anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and may experience physical discomfort with no known cause. Neurotic Needs Neurotic needs can be understood as coping mechanisms developed to manage anxiety. Horney detailed ten neurotic needs, which are divided into three groups: Moving Toward Others People pleasers need affection and approval at any cost. Overly dependent people need a partner to take over their life. They pathologically fear being deserted by their partner. Those with the need to restrict their lives appear to lack ambition. Life is experienced in "safe" and inconspicuous ways. Moving Against Others A neurotic need for power is the craving of power and strength for its own sake. Individuals with a neurotic need to exploit others believe that they can only achieve success by taking advantage of others. Neurotic need for social recognition or prestige is expressed when people base their self-esteem on the recognition and compliments they receive from others. A neurotic need for personal Page 13