Freud and Psychodynamic Theory

psychodynamic theory

human behavior is driven by unconscious psychological processes, early childhood experiences, and internal conflicts

• this shapes personality; influencing thoughts, feelings, and actions

Freudian personality structure

Id - pleasure principle

Ego - reality principle

Superego - morality principle

Id

a primitive, unconscious part of the personality that drives basic instincts and desires; operates on the “pleasure principle” of immediate gratification

• present at birth

• mostly unconscious

Superego

the part of the personality that represents internalized morals, standards, and ideals.

• your “conscience”

  • strives for perfection and can lead to feelings of guilt or shame when moral standards are violated

• begins to develop around 3 years of age

• partly subconscious

Ego

develops from the id and operates on the “reality principle”, mediating between the id’s demands and the constraints of the external world.

• strives to find realistic ways to satisfy the id’s desires while considering social norms and consequences

• begins developing around 1 year of age

• mostly conscious

Repression

the exclusion of distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings from the conscious mind

Regression

The return of behavior that is typical of earlier stages of development

Displacement

when a person redirects an emotional reaction from the rightful recipient onto another person or object

Denial

Refusal to acknowledge or accept painful or threatening realities

Reaction Formation

Behaving in a way that is the opposite of one’s true wishes or desires in order to keep these repressed

Rationalization

the use of self-justifications to explain away unacceptable behavior

Projecting

Imposing one’s own impulses or wishes onto another person

Sublimation

The channeling of unwanted or unacceptable urges into an admissible or productive outlet

intrapsychic conflicts

inner clashes amongst the id, ego, and superego; personality is shaped by the nature and outcome of these conflicts

Carl Jung

• veiwed the psyche as both the conscious and unconscious mind

• collective unconscious: a shared, universal reservoir of psychic energy and archetypes

  • the persona: mask we face the rest of the world with

  • the shadow: repressed and negative aspects of the personality

  • the self: the unified, whole personality

Alfred Adler

• a child’s position within their family (firstborn, second, etc.) significantly influences their personality and development