Freud Part 1

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Sigmund Freud and his theories in psychoanalysis.

Sigmund Freud

Austrian neurologist known as the founder of psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysis

A method of treating mental disorders by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind.

Unconscious mind

The part of the mind that contains thoughts, desires, and memories that are not accessible to conscious awareness.

Id

The primitive and instinctual part of our personality that operates on the Pleasure Principle.

Ego

The rational part of our personality that operates on the Reality Principle and mediates between the Id and the Superego.

Superego

The moral component of the personality, representing ideals and values imposed by society.

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and maintain self-image.

Repression

The defense mechanism in which painful thoughts and memories are unconsciously blocked from awareness.

Oedipus Complex

A child's feelings of desire for the parent of the opposite sex and jealousy toward the same-sex parent.

Psychosexual development

Freud's theory that personality develops through stages during childhood, each characterized by different conflicts.

Freudian slip

An unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings.

Parapraxis

A minor error or slip in speech or action that may reveal unconscious thoughts or feelings.

Behaviorism

A psychological perspective that focuses on observable behaviors and dismisses internal mental states.

Humanistic psychology

A psychological perspective that emphasizes human potential and stresses the importance of growth and self-actualization.

Anxiety

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome, experienced by the ego.

Free association

A therapeutic technique in psychoanalysis where the patient speaks freely to reveal associations and unconscious material.