4.5a - Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic Theories

suggests that personality is shaped by unconscious forces, internal conflicts, and defense mechanisms, originally developed by Sigmund Freud, emphasizing the influence of childhood experiences and unconscious drive

Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

Psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud’s therapeutic technique. Freud believed the patient’s free associations, resistances, dreams, and transferences - and the analyst’s interpretations of them - released previously repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self-insight

Preconscious Mind

contains thoughts and feelings that are not currently in conscious awareness but can be easily accessed when needed

Unconscious Mind

consists of processes and memories that are beyond conscious awareness and significantly influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

Projective Tests

tools used by psychodynamic personality psychologists to assess personality by eliciting responses that reveal the contents of the preconscious and unconscious mind

Ego Defense Mechanisms

unconscious strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety and perceived threats

Denial

an ego defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously refuses to acknowledge reality or facts, thereby protecting themselves from uncomfortable truths

Displacement

an ego defense mechanism where emotional impulses are redirected from the original source to a safer or more acceptable substitute target

Projection

an ego defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or motives to someone else, thus deflecting self-criticism

Rationalization

an ego defense mechanism where individuals justify and explain their behaviors or feelings in a seemingly rational or logical manner to avoid confronting the true underlying reasons

Reaction Formation

an ego defense mechanism where individuals suppress unacceptable impulses by unconsciously displaying opposite behavior or emotion

Regression

an ego defense mechanism where an individual reverts to earlier stages of development and childlike behaviors when faced with stress or emotional conflict

Repression

an ego defense mechanism where distressing thoughts and feelings are unconsciously blocked from entering conscious awareness

Sublimation

an ego defense mechanism where negative urges and impulses are channeled into socially acceptable or constructive activities

Free Association

in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarassing

Id

a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to Freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. Operates on pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification

Libido

a life energy that fuels our pleasure-seeking

Ego

the partly conscious, “executive” part of personality that, according to Freud, mediates among the demands of the id, the superego, and reality. Operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain

Superego

the partly conscious part of personality that, according to Freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgement (the conscience) and for future aspirations

Collective Unconscious

Carl Jung’s concept of as shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from our species’ history

Terror-Management Theory

a theory of death-related anxiety; explores people’s emotional and behavioral responses to reminders of their impending death

Thematic Apperception Test

a projective test in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about ambiguous scenes. Also known as TAT

Rorschach Inkblot Test

a projective test designed by Hermann Rorschach; seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing how they interpret 10 inkblots