Freud Quiz

conscious

Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions you are actively aware of at a given moment. This is the smallest level of the mind.
Example: Thinking about the quiz question you are answering.

Preconscious (Subconscious)

Information not currently in awareness but easily retrievable when needed; acts as a bridge between conscious and unconscious.
Example: Recalling your address when asked.

Unconscious

A vast reservoir of unacceptable thoughts, wishes, urges, and traumatic memories that are actively kept out of awareness because they create anxiety. Freud believed this level strongly influences behavior.
Example: Repressed childhood conflicts shaping adult relationships.

Iceberg Metaphor

Illustrates that most mental life occurs below awareness; the conscious mind is only the visible tip, while unconscious forces drive behavior.

Id

Primitive, unconscious part of personality driven by the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of instincts (sex, hunger, aggression).
Example: Wanting something immediately without considering consequences.

Ego

Rational, mostly conscious part that operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id, superego, and real-world demands.
Example: Delaying gratification to avoid punishment.

Superego

Moral conscience that internalizes societal norms and values, striving for perfection and producing guilt when standards are violated.

Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used by the ego to reduce anxiety caused by conflicts between the id and superego.

Repression

Pushing distressing thoughts or memories into the unconscious.
Ex: Forgetting a traumatic experience.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality or facts.
Ex: Ignoring a serious diagnosis.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer substitute target.
Ex: Yelling at a sibling instead of a parent.

Projection

Attributing your own unacceptable feelings to others.
Ex: Accusing someone else of being angry when you are.

Rationalization

Creating logical excuses to justify unacceptable behavior.
Ex: “I failed because the test was unfair.”

Reaction Formation

Behaving in a way opposite of true feelings.
Ex: Acting overly friendly toward someone you dislike.

Regression

Reverting to behaviors from an earlier developmental stage.
Ex: An adult throwing a tantrum.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions (most healthy defense).
Ex: Aggression → competitive sports.

Intellectualization

Focusing on abstract facts to avoid emotional distress.
Ex: Discussing statistics instead of feelings.

Identification

Boosting self-esteem by aligning with someone else.
Ex: Imitating a role model.

Compensation

Making up for weaknesses by emphasizing strengths.
Ex: Excelling academically to offset poor athletic skills.

Psychosexual Stages of Development

Freud believed personality develops through conflicts at each stage, each centered on an erogenous zone.

If conflicts are not resolved, a person becomes fixated, meaning part of their personality remains stuck at that stage.

Oral Stage (Birth - I year)

Erogenous zone: Mouth (sucking, biting, chewing)
Primary conflict: Weaning from the breast or bottle
Key theme: Dependence vs. independence

• Pleasure comes from oral activities.

• The infant relies on caregivers for nourishment and comfort.

• Fixation occurs if needs are over- or under-gratified.

Possible adult fixations:

• Smoking, nail-biting, overeating

• Excessive dependency or passivity

• Sarcasm or verbal aggression (oral-aggressive)

Anal Stage (1 - 3 year)

Erogenous zone: Anus (bowel and bladder control)
Primary conflict: Toilet training
Key theme: Control vs. flexibility

• Pleasure comes from controlling bodily functions.

• Parents’ responses to toilet training are critical.

• Too strict or too lenient training can cause fixation.

Possible adult fixations:

• Anal-retentive: overly neat, rigid, perfectionistic, stubborn

• Anal-expulsive: messy, careless, impulsive

Phallic Stage (3 - 6 years)

Erogenous zone: Genitals
Primary conflict: Sexual desire toward opposite-sex parent

• Children become aware of anatomical sex differences.

• Development of sexual identity occurs.

Key concepts:

• Castration anxiety (boys): fear of losing the penis due to attraction to mother

• Electra complex / penis envy (girls): attraction to father and resentment toward mother

Resolution:

• Child identifies with same-sex parent, adopting their values → formation of superego

Possible fixation outcomes:

• Vanity, recklessness

• Difficulty with authority or relationships

Latency Stage (6 years - puberty)

Erogenous zone: None (sexual energy is dormant)
Primary focus: Social, academic, and skill development

• Sexual impulses are repressed.

• Energy is redirected toward friendships, hobbies, and learning.

• Important for developing communication and coping skills.

Fixation:

• Freud believed fixation is unlikely at this stage.

Genital Stage (Puberty + )

Erogenous zone: Genitals
Primary focus: Mature sexual relationships

• Sexual urges reawaken in socially acceptable ways.

• Successful resolution of earlier stages leads to healthy adult relationships.

• Emphasis on intimacy, reproduction, and balance between love and work.

Outcome:

• Psychological health if earlier conflicts were resolved

• Difficulty with intimacy if fixations remain

Wish Fulfillment Theory

Dreams express unconscious desires, often disguised to reduce anxiety.

Manifest Content

The literal storyline or images remembered from a dream.

Latent Content

The hidden symbolic meaning representing unconscious wishes.

Dream Interpretation

Analyzing dreams to uncover unconscious conflicts and desires.

Free association

Patient says whatever comes to mind without censorship, allowing unconscious thoughts to surface.

Neurosis

Psychological distress (anxiety, guilt) without loss of reality.

Neurotic vs Psychotic

• Neurotic: distressed but rational

• Psychotic: detached from reality

Freud’s Treatment of Neurosis

• Free association

• Dream analysis

• Bringing unconscious conflicts into conscious awareness