Psychology: Freud's Personality Theories and Development Stages

Personality

Relatively enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that characterize an individual

Philosophical Views of Human Nature

Beliefs about whether people are born good, bad, or shaped by environment

John Locke

Believed humans are born a blank slate (Tabula Rasa)

Tabula Rasa

The idea that the mind is blank at birth

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Believed humans are born naturally good (Noble Savage)

Noble Savage

Belief that people are born good but corrupted by society

Thomas Hobbes

Believed humans are naturally selfish and aggressive (Human as Beast)

Human as Beast

View that humans are driven by survival and self-interest

Personality Theories

Psychoanalytic, Dispositional (Trait), Behavioral, Humanistic

Psychoanalytic Theory

Personality shaped by unconscious conflict and childhood experiences

Dispositional (Trait) Theory

Personality is made of genetically influenced traits

Behavioral Theory

Personality shaped by environment and conditioning

Humanistic Theory

Personality driven by self-growth and fulfillment

Sigmund Freud

Founder of psychoanalytic theory

Psychoanalysis

Freud's method of therapy

Unconscious Mind

Part of the mind that holds repressed thoughts and urges

Free Association

Patients say whatever comes to mind

Dream Analysis

Freud's method of interpreting unconscious desires

Manifest Content

What is remembered in a dream

Latent Content

Hidden meaning of the dream

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Projective test using inkblots

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Projective test using story-telling from pictures

Transference

Transferring feelings from important people onto therapist

Intrapsychic Conflict

Conflict between id, ego, and superego

Id

Irrational, pleasure-seeking part of personality

Pleasure Principle

Id seeks immediate gratification

Libido

Energy that fuels the id

Primary Process Thinking

Wish-fulfilling thoughts of the id

Ego

Rational part of personality

Reality Principle

Ego balances reality and desire

Superego

Moral conscience of personality

Conscience

Punishment-based part of superego

Ego Ideal

Reward-based part of superego

Anxiety

Free-floating fear that triggers defenses

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety

Repression

Unconsciously blocking painful thoughts

Denial

Refusing to accept reality

Regression

Reverting to childlike behavior

Undoing

Trying to cancel out bad behavior

Reaction Formation

Acting opposite of true feelings

Projection

Blaming others for your own faults

Displacement

Redirecting anger to safer target

Rationalization

Making excuses to justify behavior

Defensive Identification

Adopting traits of a feared person

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable urges into positive outlets

Psychosexual Development

Freud's stages based on erogenous zones

Oral Stage

Birth-1 year, mouth is pleasure zone

Anal Stage

1-3 years, anus is pleasure zone

Phallic Stage

3-6 years, genitals are pleasure zone

Oedipus Complex

Boy's desire for mother

Electra Complex

Girl's desire for father

Latency Stage

6-puberty, sexual urges dormant

Genital Stage

Puberty onward, mature sexual relationships

Fixation

Arrested development due to too much or too little gratification

Trait Theory

Personality consists of enduring traits

Idiographic Approach

Studies individuals in depth

Nomothetic Approach

Studies large groups

Gordon Allport

Developed cardinal, central, secondary traits

Cardinal Trait

Trait that dominates personality

Central Traits

Main traits of personality

Secondary Traits

Situational traits

Raymond Cattell

Developed 16 Personality Factors

Surface Traits

Observable traits

Source Traits

Core underlying traits

16PF

Cattell's personality test

Five-Factor Model (Big Five)

Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness

Neuroticism

Negative emotionality

Extraversion

Outgoing, energetic personality

Openness

Curiosity and creativity

Agreeableness

Kindness and cooperation

Conscientiousness

Responsibility and organization

Humanistic Psychology

Focus on personal growth and self-acceptance

Carl Rogers

Developed self-concept and client-centered therapy

Self-Concept

How a person views themselves

Congruence

Match between real self and ideal self

Abraham Maslow

Created hierarchy of needs

Self-Actualization

Reaching full potential

Behaviorism

Focus on observable behavior

B.F. Skinner

Operant conditioning

John Watson

Classical conditioning, behaviorism founder

Social-Learning Theory

Personality shaped by observation and cognition

Albert Bandura

Observational learning theorist

Neo-Freudians

Psychologists who revised Freud

Carl Jung

Developed collective unconscious

Personal Unconscious

Individual repressed thoughts

Collective Unconscious

Shared universal memories

Archetypes

Universal symbolic images

Introversion

Shy, inward-focused

Extroversion

Outgoing, social

Alfred Adler

Developed striving for superiority

Striving for Superiority

Drive to overcome inferiority

Inferiority Complex

Extreme self-doubt

Karen Horney

Rejected Freud's sexual focus

Ten Neurotic Needs

Excessive needs causing neurosis

Ego Psychologists

Focused on ego development and problem-solving

Revisionist Theorists

Modified Freud's theory