Unit 4.4 Psychodynamic and Humanistic Theories of Personality

Id

The part that is there when you’re born. It is like the devil on your shoulder and runs off of the pleasure principle.

Ego

The second part of your personality that develops. It’s the main part of you’re personality, it is the driver. Tries to balance the devil and angel happy.

Superego

The last part of your personality that developes and it’s the moral compass that evaluates and judges actions based on social norms and values.

Defense Mechanisms

Mental processes that protect the individual from anxiety and socially unacceptable impulses by unconsciously distorting reality.

Denial

A defense mechanism where an individual refuses to accept reality or facts, thereby protecting themselves from uncomfortable emotions.

Displacement

A defense mechanism where an individual redirects emotional responses from a threatening target to a safer one.

Projection

A defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person, often as a way to avoid confronting their own issues.

Rationalization

A defense mechanism where an individual justifies their behaviors or feelings with logical reasons, avoiding the true reasons for their actions.

Reaction Formation

A defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a manner opposite to their actual feelings to hide their true emotions or impulses.

Regression

A defense mechanism where an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier developmental stage in response to stress or anxiety.

Repression

A defense mechanism that involves unconsciously blocking out painful or uncomfortable thoughts, emotions, or memories from awareness.

Sublimation

A defense mechanism that involves channeling unacceptable impulses or feelings into socially acceptable activities or behaviors.

Humanistic Psychology

An approach to psychology that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent potential of individuals.

Unconditional Positive Regard

The fundamental acceptance and support of a person regardless of what they say or do, often used in therapeutic settings to promote self-acceptance and personal growth.

Self-Actualizing Tendency

The inherent drive within individuals to realize their own potential and seek personal fulfillment.

Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory

A theory proposed by Sigmund Freud outlining stages of human development, emphasizing how personality is shaped through conflicts arising during different phases of childhood.

Oral

The first stage in Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory, occurring from birth to about 18 months, where an infant's pleasure centers on the mouth, such as through sucking and biting.

Anal

The second stage in Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory, occurring from about 18 months to 3 years, where pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder control, and the conflict is centered around toilet training.

Phallic

The third stage in Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory, occurring from about 3 to 6 years old, where a child's pleasure centers on the genitals and they begin to identify with their same-sex parent.

Latency

The fourth stage in Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory, occurring from age 6 to puberty, where sexual feelings are repressed and children focus on social and intellectual skills.

Genital

The fifth and final stage in Freud's Psychosexual Stage Theory, starting from puberty onward, where individuals develop sexual maturity and establish meaningful relationships.

Collective Unconscious

A concept developed by Carl Jung, referring to the part of the unconscious mind that is shared among all humans, containing universal memories, themes, and archetypes.

Archetypes

Patterns or themes universally present in the collective unconscious, representing shared memories and experiences among all humans.

Inferiority Complex

A psychological condition identified by Alfred Adler, where an individual feels a deep-seated sense of inadequacy and strives to compensate for perceived inferiorities.

Basic Anxiety

A concept by Karen Horney referring to a child's fear of abandonment and isolation due to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.

Womb Envy

A concept developed by Karen Horney that suggests men experience feelings of inferiority or envy due to women's biological ability to bear children, impacting their psychological development.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory in psychology consisting of a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as a pyramid, where lower levels must be satisfied before higher levels can be pursued.