4.4 Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories of Personality

Personality

An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting that distinguishes one person from another.

Psychodynamic Theory

A psychological view that explains personality in terms of unconscious forces and childhood experiences.

Psychoanalysis

A method of therapy and theory of personality founded by Sigmund Freud that focuses on unconscious motives and conflicts.

Free Association

A technique in psychoanalysis where a patient says whatever comes to mind to uncover unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Id

The part of the personality driven by unconscious energy, seeking immediate gratification and pleasure.

Ego

The rational part of personality that mediates between the desires of the id and the realities of the external world.

Superego

The part of the personality that represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment and future aspirations.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious psychological strategies used by the ego to manage anxiety stemming from conflict between the id and superego.

Denial

A defense mechanism where a person refuses to accept reality or facts, blocking external events from awareness.

Displacement

A defense mechanism transferring emotional reactions from a primary target to a safer, substitute target.

Projection

Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person.

Rationalization

Justifying behaviors or feelings with seemingly rational explanations to avoid facing the true underlying reasons.

Reaction Formation

A defense mechanism where unacceptable impulses are transformed into their opposite, more acceptable behaviors.

Regression

A defense mechanism where an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development when faced with stress.

Repression

A defense mechanism involving the unconscious blocking of disturbing thoughts or desires from conscious awareness.

Sublimation

A defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses are transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior.

Projective Tests

Psychological assessments that use ambiguous stimuli to reveal the inner aspects of an individual's personality.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

A projective test in which subjects create stories about ambiguous scenes, revealing their underlying motives and feelings.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

A projective test in which individuals interpret inkblots, revealing underlying thoughts, feelings, and themes.

Preconscious

The part of the mind containing information that is not currently in conscious awareness but can be accessed easily.

Unconscious

The part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires not accessible to conscious awareness but that influences behavior.

Collective Unconscious

A component of the unconscious mind shared by all humans, containing universal experiences and archetypes, as proposed by Carl Jung.

Humanistic Psychology

A psychological perspective that emphasizes human growth, potential, and free will, focusing on the individual self-concept.

Unconditional Positive Regard

An attitude of acceptance and non-judgment, essential for healthy development, as proposed by Carl Rogers.

Self-Actualizing Tendency

The innate drive in every individual to realize their fullest potential and maintain and enhance the self.