Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Theories

Flashcards for Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Theories

Sigmund Freud

Austrian neurologist (1856-1939) who introduced hypnotic methods and developed his practice around hypnosis and free association. Self-analysis after his father’s death played crucial role in developing his theories

Conscious

Thoughts and feelings that we are aware of.

Preconscious

Information that we are not aware of but can retrieve into consciousness.

Unconscious

Unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories locked deep in the mind.

Id (the child)

Unconscious psychic energy whose sole goal is pleasure; wants instant gratification.

Superego (the parent)

Internalized societal ideals, also called your conscience; strives for discipline and perfection.

Ego (the adult)

The conscious part of the personality that mediates between the id and the superego; represents reason and reality.

Repression

Banishing unpleasant thoughts (e.g., Breakup→ 'What Oh yeah, I haven't thought about it')

Denial

Refusing to acknowledge an unpleasant external event (e.g., Breakup→ Still act like they are together, wait by locker).

Regression

Retreating to a more comfortable life stage (e.g., Breakup→ Start to sleep with teddy bear).

Rationalization

Offering excuses that feel more comfortable (e.g., Breakup→ I can find someone better. They weren’t that great anyway).

Reaction Formation

Thinking the opposite of the unpleasant feeling (e.g., Breakup→→ I hate them).

Projection

Attributing your own feelings/issues to other people (e.g., Breakup→ “They still love me.”).

Displacement

Rerouting feelings to less threatening people (e.g., Breakup→ Taking it out on little brother or hamster).

Sublimation

Transferring unacceptable impulses into socially valued motives (e.g., Breakup→ Publishing sad poems about breakup).

Fixation

An early conflict had not been resolved, causing a person to 'fixate' in one of the five psychosexual stages of development.

Oral Stage (ages 0-1)

Gains pleasure from sucking, biting, or chewing. Signs of Fixation: Gullibility, dependency, passivity.

Anal Stage (ages 1-3)

Gains pleasure from bathroom activities. Signs of Fixation: Cleanliness, messiness, destructive tendencies.

Phallic Stage (ages 3-6)

Develops sexual curiosity and awareness of gender; theorized Oedipal/Electra complex. Signs of Fixation: Flirtatiousness or promiscuity, vanity or pride.

Latency Stage (ages 6-puberty)

Sexual feelings are dormant as the id is repressed; focuses on further developing the ego. Sign of Fixation: Unfulfilled sexuality.

Genital Stage (puberty onward)

Gains pleasure from intimate (sexual) relationships. Sign of Fixation: Unsatisfactory relationships.

Alfred Adler

Driven by social, not sexual, tensions. Key Terms: Inferiority complex, fictional finalism.

Karen Horney

Driven by social anxiety; criticized Freud’s male bias. Key Terms: Basic anxiety, neurotic needs.

Carl Jung

Power of the unconscious. Key Terms: Collective unconscious, filled with archetypes from universal experiences.

Projective Tests

Seek to stir up the test-taker’s unconscious thoughts/feelings/motives.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Show the test-taker an ambiguous picture and ask him/her to make up a story about the picture.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Show the test-taker an inkblot and ask him/her what he/she sees.