Freud's Psychoanalysis & Personality Theories: Key Concepts and Traits

Id

devil on shoulder

Ego

deals with reality and balances devil and angel on shoulder

Superego

angel on shoulder

Unconscious

A reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories that are outside of conscious awareness.

Preconscious

Information that is not currently in conscious awareness but can be accessed easily.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory of personality and therapeutic technique that focuses on uncovering unconscious conflicts.

Free association

A technique in which a person says whatever comes to mind to reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious strategies used by the ego to reduce anxiety by distorting reality.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality or facts to avoid uncomfortable feelings.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions from a dangerous target to a safer substitute.

Projection

Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else.

Rationalization

Creating logical explanations to justify unacceptable behavior or feelings.

Reaction Formation

Behaving in a way that is opposite of one's true feelings.

Regression

Reverting to an earlier stage of development when faced with stress.

Repression

Pushing distressing thoughts and feelings into the unconscious.

Sublimation

Redirecting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors.

Personality

An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Trait

A relatively stable and enduring characteristic that influences behavior.

Trait Theory

A theory that focuses on identifying and measuring individual personality traits.

Big Five Factors

The five broad dimensions of personality: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Extraversion

A personality trait characterized by sociability, outgoingness, and high energy.

Neuroticism

A personality trait characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness.

Openness

A personality trait characterized by imagination, creativity, and openness to new experiences.

Humanistic theories

Approaches that emphasize personal growth, self-fulfillment, and free will.

Self-actualization

The process of reaching one's full potential and achieving personal growth.

Self-esteem

One's overall sense of self-worth or personal value.

Self-efficacy

Belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish tasks.

Self-determination theory

A theory of motivation that emphasizes the role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Unconditional positive regard

Accepting and valuing a person without judgment or conditions.