3.1 Developmental Theories - Overview & Psychosexual Theory

Theory

A set of logically related concepts or statements that seek to describe and explain development and to predict the kinds of behavior that might occur under certain conditions

Hypothesis

Possible explanations for phenomena, used to predict the outcome of research, and narrower than a theory

Psychoanalytic, Learning, Cognitive, Contextual, & Evolutional/Sociobiological

Five Major Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology

Psychoanalytic

Theory that focuses on unconscious emotions and drives

Learning

Theory that studies observable behavior

Cognitive

Theory that analyzes thought processes

Contextual

Theory that emphasizes the impact of the historical, social, and cultural context

Evolutionary/Sociobiological

Theory that considers evolutionary and biological underpinnings of behavior

Psychosexual Theory by Freud

Theory that states that humans were born with a series of innate biologically based drives such as hunger, sex, and aggression

Psychosexual Theory by Freud

This theory states that people are driven by largely unconscious motives and emotional conflicts that are shaped by their earliest experiences with the family

Unconscious Motivation

Psychosexual Theory strongly believed in this concept defined to be the power instincts and other inner forces to influence our behavior without awareness

Libido, Erogenous Zones, & Fixation

Key Concepts in Freud's Psychosexual Theory

Libido

Psychic energy or sexual drive that motivates human behavior and shifts its focus to different erogenous zones during each stage

Erogenous Zones

Specific areas of the body that are the primary source of pleasure during each stage

Fixation

An arrest in development that can show up in adult personality

ID, Ego, & Superego

Provinces of the Mind/Structure of Personality

ID (It)

It seeks immediate gratification of all desires, wants, and needs, regardless of social norms or consequences

Pleasure Principle

The ID is governed by what principle?

Ego (I)

Is always striving to satisfy the id's desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways

Reality Principle

The Ego is governed by what principle?

Superego

Superego (Over-I)

It has internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from our parents, society, and other authority figures

Superego (Over-I)

It acts as our conscience, providing guidelines for making judgments and instilling feelings of guilt and pride

Morality Principle

The Superego is governed by what principle?

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, & Genital

Psychosexual Stages

Oral Stage

Stage in development governed by the ID

Birth to 12-18 months

How long does the Oral Stage last?

Mouth

What is the erogenous zone of the Oral Stage?

Oral Receptive

Sucking phase

Oral Sadistic

Biting Phase

Manifests as nail-biting, smoking, overeating, or excessive talking / Oral Receptive & Oral Sadistic

Fixations of the Oral Stage

Oral Passive (under gratification)

Fixation wherein a person is trusting and dependent

Oral Aggressive (over gratification)

Fixation wherein a person is dominating, hostile, and verbally abusive

Anal Stage

Stage where the ego develops gradually

12-18 months to 3 years

How long does the Anal Stage last?

Anus What is the erogenous zone of the Anal Stage?

obstinacy (stubbornness), orderliness (cleanliness), & parsimony (stinginess)

What is the Anal Triad?

Anal-Retentive & Anal-Expulsive

Fixations of the Anal Stage

Anal-Retentive

Fixation wherein a person is obsessive with neatness, orderliness, and control

Anal-Expulsive

Fixation where a person is characterized with messiness, rebelliousness, and disorganization

Phallic Stage

Superego gradually develops and is marked by libido. Children become aware of their genitals and the differences between sexes

Genitals

What is the erogenous zone of the Phallic Stage?

Oedipus Complex

In the phallic stage, boys develop sexual attachment to their mothers

Castration Anxiety

Fear of losing one’s genitals as punishment for incestuous feelings toward the mother and murderous feelings toward the father in the phallic stage

Female Oedipus Complex [Electra Complex (Jung)]

In the phallic stage, girls develop sexual attachment to their fathers

Penis Envy

In the phallic stage, female children experience profound distress upon realizing they do not have a penis

can lead to difficulties in relationships, excessive masculinity or femininity, or sexual anxieties in adulthood

Fixations in the Phallic Stage

Latency Stage

Stage where the libido is dormant or suppressed as children focus on developing social skills, hobbies, and schoolwork

6 years to puberty

How long does the Latency Stage last?

Genital Stage

Stage where libido redevelops and energy shifts to heterosexual relationships

Genital Stage

Stage where individuals seek to satisfy their sexual desires in socially acceptable ways

Puberty onwards

How long does the Genital Stage last?

Psychosexual Stages

Successful navigation of these stages is believed to lead to a well-adjusted adult capable of healthy relationships?

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious psychological strategies the ego uses to protect itself from anxiety, internal conflicts, and stressful events

Repression

Unconsciously pushing threatening or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and memories out of awareness

Repression

What defense mechanism is this? A person who experienced childhood abuse may have no conscious memory of the events

Regression

Reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress or anxiety

Regression

What defense mechanism is this? An adult throwing a temper tantrum when they don’t get their way

Displacement

Redirecting unacceptable urges or emotions onto a less threatening target

Displacement

What defense mechanism is this? Being angry at your boss but yelling at your spouse or children instead

Rationalization

Creating false but seemingly plausible excuses to justify unacceptable behavior or feelings

Rationalization

What defense mechanism is this? A student who cheated on an exam saying that he panicked because time was running out

Denial

Refusing to accept reality or facts that are unpleasant or threatening

Denial

What defense mechanism is this? An alcoholic insisting they don’t have a drinking problem despite clear evidence

Projection

Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses to another person

Projection

What defense mechanism is this? Someone who is secretly angry with a friend constantly accuses the friend of being angry with them

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable and even admirable behaviors

Sublimation

What defense mechanism is this? Aggressive urges being channeled into competitive sports or artistic expression

Reaction-Formation

Behaving in a way that is the opposite of one’s true unconscious feelings

Reaction-Formation

What defense mechanism is this? Someone with unconscious homosexual urges becoming vehemently homophobic