The psychoanalytic perspective (freud)

Assumption: Unconscious mind

believes the driving force behind behaviour is the unconscious mind

Instincts/drives

argues that its instincts & drives that motivate behaviour. means we're driven by instinct to go through a series of stages in development of our behaviour & personality

Early childhood experiences

believed to be pivotal in making us who we are. Most of our psychological development is argued by the approach to be formed before age 6

Definition

Freud's theory of the unconscious mind can be explained using the iceberg theory. Tip of iceberg = conscious mind. Below surface = unconscious mind

(1)

unconscious' influence > conscious' influence

Psychoanalytic approach argues that there's 3 parts to personality

1) conscious mind

2) pre conscious mind

3) unconscious mind

3) id (1)

forming from birth to roughly 18 months, the id is also referred to as the 'pleasure principle'

(2)

part of the personality that focuses on the self

(3)

called the pleasure principle as the primary force is to seek pleasure

(4)

the hedonistic, selfish aspect of personality

(5)

it's primitive - wants instant/immediate gratification eg food, water, sex

(6)

two primal drives of the id are Eros (life instinct) & Thanatos (death (destructive) instinct)

(7)

libido: drives the id - fuels desires & drives

2) ego (1)

develops from the age of 18 months - 3 yrs & is referred to as the reality principle

(2)

can delay the id's drive for pleasure & keeps the balance between the id & the superego as they are opposing forces

(3)

neither the id or the superego should become the dominant aspect of personality as they could negatively affect the behaviour & mental well-being of the individual

(4)

delayed gratification

(5)

ego will ensure the id's needs are met

(6)

ego can employ defence mechanisms (repression, denial & displacement) to counteract demands of the id

1) superego (1)

last element to develop between 3 & 6 years approx.

(2)

known as the morality principle. helps individuals to form a moral code

(3)

role is to act as an individual's conscience

(4)

opposite of the id as it experiences guilt & prevents an individual from behaving in certain ways that may be perceived as wrong

(5)

formed by internalised voices of authority figures eg parents, teachers, people who judge us

(6)

the perfect person who you want to be (ideal self) - could spiral into shame & guilt that you can't be that person

Defence Mechanisms

methods we unconsciously use to reduce anxiety eg repression, denial & displacement

repression

unpleasant memory pushed into the unconscious mind where it's not accessible to the conscious mind and so can't cause anxiety. can still affect behaviour in the unconscious mind

effect on behaviour

no recall of the event or situation

denial

refusal to accept the reality of an unpleasant situation. reduces anxiety caused by that situation

effect on behaviour

someone may believe the situation isn't negative and so shouldn't cause anxiety. not positive thinking - resistant to accept reality

displacement

when the focus of a strong emotion is expressed onto a neutral person/object. reduces anxiety by allowing expression of that emotion

effect on behaviour

someone may exhibit very strong emotion but focus it onto an uninvolved person/object

Libido (1)

one of the two competing instinctive drives, present from birth

(2)

a positive energy which opposes the negative instinct of the death wish & includes the sex and survival instincts

(3)

concentrates its energy on different body parts as erogenous zones as the child develops

erogenous zones (1)

parts of the body that become particularly sensitive as the child develops from birth onwards

(2)

libido focuses energy on these different body parts in particular order & in each case the outcome influences the adult personality

(3)

hence the oral, anal & phallic stages of development of the young child up to the age of 6 years

fixation (1)

refers to how some of the energy of the libido is left behind in one of the stages of development due to the stage not being fully resolved in childhood

(2)

shows up in the personality characteristics of the adult who is 'stuck' in the stage of development

example

an aggressive, pessimistic adult is believed to be fixated at the oral stage of development due to under stimulation of the mouth as the erogenous zone in the oral stage of development

stage

oral (mouth)

age

0-18 months

divisions within the stage

passive (sucking) aggressive (biting)

effect on adults behaviour

smoking, dependent, overeating, drinking & aggressive behaviour, biting nails, chewing pencils

stage

anal (anus)

age

18 months - 3 years

divisions within stage

expulsive & retentive

effect on adults behaviour

generous, open with emotions & organised, neat, less likely to spend money

stage

phallic (genitals)

age

3-6 years

divisions within stage

oedipus & electra complex

oedipus complex

boys experience castration anxiety - to combat this he feels he needs to befriend/imitate his father - doesn't want to come across as a threat to the mother's affection (identification)

electra complex

girls think mother has removed their penis so develops penis envy of other males, desire not filled - changes to wanting a baby. Fearful of mother - threat to father's affection so tries to befriend/imitate mother

effect on adult's behaviour

homosexuality (little evidence), anxious/jealous adult

stage

latent (relevant calm)

age

6-11 years

divisions within stage

no divisions

effect on adult behaviour

no fixation occurs, no effect on adult personality

stage

genital

age

12 years (remains for rest of life)

divisions within stage

no divisions

effect on adult behaviour

no fixation occurs, no effect on adult personality