Consciousness - PSYCH TEST 2

Consciousness

NOT DONE YET

Define attention

Brings an idea or thought into consciousness; otherwise we would be unaware of it

What is Sigmund Freud’s background?

Austrian physician, psychiatrist, 1856-1939

• Developed theory through observation as he treated people:

• from the middle and upper classes

• with emotional problems

• who were mostly married, ‘proper’ women, with relatively few

freedoms or outlets

What are Freud’s most important contributions to psychology?

Huge number of famous terms and theories, and probably is most important contribution is the focus on the unconscious mind

What are the three components of personality?

Id, Ego, Superego

Define the Id

• Instinctual s*xual or aggressive energy

• Works according to the pleasure principle (immediate

gratification of desires)

• Irrational, selfish

Define the Superego

Superego

• Ideals, morals, conscience; concern with what is right

• Often in conflict with id

Define the Ego

Acts as a manager, trying to satisfy needs of id in accordance

with what’s realistic, and moral (superego)

• Works according to the reality principle

  • control id, keep it in check

  • denies, or delays, gratification

Define Sublimation

A socially unacceptable want or activity is replaced by an acceptable one

What are the three systems involved in consciousness?

Conscious, preconscious and unconscious

Define preconsciousness

• processes not presently conscious, but could be

quickly

• like if you’re asked a question, or playing a quiz game like

Jeopardy

Define Unconsciousness

processes inaccessible to consciousness because they have been repressed (kept from consciousness thought because it brings too much anxiety)

What is the optimistic view of dream analysis?

Dreams have meaning and analysis of them was very important in psychoanalytic therapy.

What is the skeptical view of dream analysis?

Dreams may be interesting but are not diagnostically useful in therapy.

What is the optimistic view of responses to Rorschach tests?

Knowing a persons response to ambiguous images uncovers unconscious thoughts. People with the same disorder, like schizophrenia, may give the same response so it can be useful for diagnosis.

What is the skeptical view of responses to Rorschach tests?

There are better and multifaceted ways of diagnosing physiological disorders today.

What is the optimistic view of Freudian Slips?

They could reveal repressed feelings or things we try to avoid. They can indicate what we truly want or perhaps fear.

What is the skeptical view of Freudian Slips?

We simply make verbal mistakes a lot, and the mistakes are not meaningful.

What was the majority of the mind according to Freud? (Iceberg model)

The unconscious. The Id is also entirely in the unconscious.