4B: Personality

What is personality?

An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

What does Psychoanalytic Theory (Freud) focus on?

Unconscious motives and childhood experiences.

What is personality according to Freud?

The result of conflict between id, ego, and superego.

What are the components of the personality structure?

Id - primitive urges (pleasure principle); Ego - reality-based mediator (reality principle); Superego - moral conscience.

What is Locus of Control and how does it influence behavior?

Locus of Control refers to the extent to which individuals believe they have control over the outcomes of events in their lives. An internal locus of control suggests that one believes they can influence outcomes through their own efforts, while an external locus of control attributes outcomes to external factors or luck.

What is the Id in Freud's structure of personality?

The Id is one of the three components of Freud's personality structure, representing the primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and hidden memories. It operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of needs and desires.

How does understanding Locus of Control contribute to personal development?

Understanding Locus of Control can lead to greater self-awareness and personal empowerment, encouraging individuals to adopt an internal locus of control which may enhance motivation, improve resilience, and foster a proactive approach to challenges.

What role does the Id play in mental health, according to Psychoanalytic Theory?

The Id is crucial in Psychoanalytic Theory as it drives instinctual impulses; however, if it dominates one's behavior, it can lead to issues such as impulsivity and a disregard for social norms, resulting in potential conflicts with the Ego and Superego which may manifest in mental health challenges.