Psychoanalytic theory M2

What is psychoanalysis?

A theory of personality developed by Freud that emphasises unconscious processes, early childhood experiences, and internal psychological conflict

A theory of personality developed by Freud that emphasises unconscious processes, early childhood experiences, and internal psychological conflict

What is psychoanalysis?

Why is Freud’s historical context important?

He worked in a repressive society with rigid gender roles and little understanding of mental illness, which shaped his focus on s3xuality, repression, and the unconscious

He worked in a repressive society with rigid gender roles and little understanding of mental illness, which shaped his focus on s3xuality, repression, and the unconscious

Why is Freud’s historical context important?

Why is psychoanalysis significant for personality?

It introduced the idea that personality is largely shaped by unconscious forces and past experiences, not just conscious decisions

It introduced the idea that personality is largely shaped by unconscious forces and past experiences, not just conscious decisions

Why is psychoanalysis significant for personality?

What are the three parts of the topographical model?

Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious

Conscious, Preconscious, Unconscious

What are the three parts of the topographical model?

What is the conscious mind?

Thoughts and perceptions we are aware of

Thoughts and perceptions we are aware of

What is the conscious mind?

What is the preconscious?

Information we can easily bring into awareness

Information we can easily bring into awareness

What is the preconscious?

What is the unconscious?

Repressed thoughts, memories, and desires that influence behaviour without awareness

Repressed thoughts, memories, and desires that influence behaviour without awareness

What is the unconscious?

Why is the unconscious important for personality?

It drives behaviour, emotions, and relationships without us realising it

It drives behaviour, emotions, and relationships without us realising it

Why is the unconscious important for personality?

What is the Id?

The primitive part of the mind driven by instincts (pleasure principle)

The primitive part of the mind driven by instincts (pleasure principle)

What is the Id?

What is the Ego?

The rational part that mediates between Id, Superego, and reality (reality principle)

The rational part that mediates between Id, Superego, and reality (reality principle)

What is the Ego?

What is the Superego?

The moral part that internalises societal rules (morality principles)

The moral part that internalises societal rules (morality principles)

What is the Superego?

What is the key idea of the structural model?

Personality is shaped by conflict between Id, Ego, and Superego

Personality is shaped by conflict between Id, Ego, and Superego

What is the key idea of the structural model?

Why is the structural model important for personality?

It explains inner conflict and why people act in contradictory ways

It explains inner conflict and why people act in contradictory ways

Why is the structural model important for personality?

What are defense mechanisms?

Unconscious strategies used by the Ego to reduce anxiety

Unconscious strategies used by the Ego to reduce anxiety

What are defense mechanisms?

Examples of defence mechanisms

Repression, denial, projection, displacement, reaction formation, sublimation

Repression, denial, projection, displacement, reaction formation, sublimation

Examples of defence mechanisms

Why are defense mechanisms important?

They shape personality by influencing how people cope with stress and conflict

They shape personality by influencing how people cope with stress and conflict

Why are defense mechanisms important?

What is Freud’s main idea about development?

Personality develops through stages in childhood, and unresolved conflicts shape adult personality

Personality develops through stages in childhood, and unresolved conflicts shape adult personality

What is Freud’s main idea about development?

What are the main stages in development developed by Freud?

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital

What are the main stages in development developed by Freud?

What is fixation?

Being “stuck” at a stage due to unresolved conflict

Being “stuck” at a stage due to unresolved conflict

What is fixation?

Example of fixation effects?

Oral → needy, dependent

Anal → controlling, rigid

Phallic → (Male) Exhibitionist, competitive, emphasis on success//(Female) Exhibitionist, seductive, flirtatious

Oral → needy, dependent

Anal → controlling, rigid

Phallic → (Male) Exhibitionist, competitive, emphasis on success//(Female) Exhibitionist, seductive, flirtatious

Example of fixation effects?

Why are these stages important?

Early experiences leave lasting impacts on personality

Early experiences leave lasting impacts on personality

Why are these stages important?

How is Erikson different from Freud?

Focuses on social and psychological development across the lifespan, not just childhood and sexuality

Focuses on social and psychological development across the lifespan, not just childhood and sexuality

How is Erikson different from Freud?

What is a key stage in adolescence?

Identity vs Role confusion

Identity vs Role confusion

What is a key stage in adolescence?

What happens in the Identity vs Role stage?

Identities try to form a stable identity and sense of self

Identities try to form a stable identity and sense of self

What happens in the Identity vs Role stage?

What are strengths of Psychoanalysis

Provides deep insight into personality

Highlights unconscious processes

Influential foundation for later theories

Matches everyday experiences (e.g. inner conflict)

Provides deep insight into personality

Highlights unconscious processes

Influential foundation for later theories

Matches everyday experiences (e.g. inner conflict)

What are strengths of Psychoanalysis

What are weaknesses of Psychoanalysis?

Hard to test scientifically

Based heavily on case studies

Concepts are abstract and unfalsifiable

Can be overly complex

Hard to test scientifically

Based heavily on case studies

Concepts are abstract and unfalsifiable

Can be overly complex

What are weaknesses of Psychoanalysis?