Psy 246 CH. 3-4 Psychoanalytic Approach and Freudian Approach

Psychoanalysis

Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts

Free Association

A procedure used in psychoanalysis in which patients say whatever comes to mind

Topographic Model

Freud’s original model of personality structure in which personality is divided into 3 different levels of awareness

3 Levels of Topographic model

Conscious, preconscious, unconscious

Conscious

In Freud’s topographic model, the part of personality that contains the thoughts we are currently aware of.

Preconscious

Retrievable info. In Freud’s topographic model, the part of personality that contains thoughts that can be brought into awareness with little difficulty

Unconscious

In Freud’s topographic model, the part of personality that contains material that cannot easily be brought into awareness

Structural Model

Freud’s model of personality that divides personality into the id, ego, and superego

ID

In Freud’s structural model, the part of personality concerned with the immediate gratification of needs

Ego

In Freud’s structural model, the part of personality that considers external reality while mediating between the demands of the id and the superego

Superego

In Freud’s structural model, the part of personality that represents society’s values

Triebe

Motivating forces, urges, or impulses that stem from the unconscious and drive human behavior

Libido

The instinctual, psychic energy/drive that powers all human behavior, love, and pleasure

Thanatos

“Death instinct” represents an innate unconscious drive towards destruction, aggression, and death

life or sxual instinct

According to Freud most human instinct is attributed to _____ or _____

outwards, aggression

Death instinct is turned ____ and expressed as ______ towards others

Defense Mechanisms

Devices the ego uses to keep threatening material out of awareness and thereby reduce or avoid anxiety

Repression

Unconscious defense mechanism that prevents distressing memories, forbidden desires, or painful impulses from entering the conscious

Sublimation

Channels socially unacceptable impulses into constructive and acceptable behaviors

Displacement

Defense mechanism in which emotions, impulses, or behaviors are redirected from original source to a safer substitute

Denial

Unconscious defense mechanism where an individual refuses to acknowledge painful aspects of external reality or internal experiences

Reaction Formation

The ego unconsciously switches acceptable impulses, thoughts, or feelings into their exact opposites

Intellectualization

Defense mechanism where an individual deals with emotional conflicts or stress by focusing on facts and logic

Projection

Defense mechanism where people unconsciously attribute to their own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or traits onto another person/group

Psychosexual stages of development

Sequence of development made up of stages characterized by primary erogenus zones and sexual desires.

Adult Personality

Each psychosexual stage has a specific influence on the

Fixation

Stagnation of psychic energy. Results when a child is unable to move through a particular stage

Oral Stage

(0-1.5 years): Trust and security through feeding and sucking.

Anal Stage

(1.5-3 years): Control and autonomy through potty training.

Phallic Stage

 (3-6 years): Identity and exploration through genital discovery.

Oedipus Complex

Children develop a sexual attraction for their opposite sex parent

Latency Stage

(6-12 years): Social skills and friendships through repression of desires.

Genital Stage

(12+ years): Emerging sexuality and self-discovery through puberty.

Dreams

Provide ID impulses with a stage for expression.

Projective tests

Assess unconscious material by asking test takers to respond to ambiguous stimuli

Rorschach and inkblot test

Predicts behavior for responses to inkblots

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Test takers are asked to tell a story about a series of ambiguous pictures

Human Figure Drawing Test

Measures intelligence and important personality constructs. Used as an indicator of psychological problems in children

Freudian Slips

Misstatements or slips of the tongue. May represent unconscious associations

Hypnosis

Allows the hypnotist to bypass the ego and get directly to unconscious material. Not everyone is responsive

Accidents

Intentional actions stemming from unconscious impulses.

Symbolic Behavior

Daily behaviors can be interpreted as symbolic representations of unconscious desires, Poses no threat to ego.

Strengths of Freud’s Theory

First comprehensive theory of human behavior and personality.

First System of Psychotherapy

Criticisms of Freud’s Theory

Not original

Not testable

Transference

Tendency for a patient or client to project positive or negative feelings for important people of the past onto the therapist