Unit 4.5A: Psychodynamic & Humanistic Theories of Personality: Psychoanalytic & Psychodynamic Theories

Conscious

Thoughts & feelings we are aware of right now

Preconscious

Memories & info that can be easily brought to mind

Unconscious

Hidden desires, fears, & impulses that influence behavior without our awareness

The ID

The part of personality that seeks immediate pleasure and satisfaction of basic instincts

Superego

the part of personality that represents moral standards and a sense of right and wrong

The Ego

the part of personality that balances the id and superego and deals with reality

Defense Mechanisms

unconscious strategies the ego uses to reduce anxiety and protect itself from distressing thoughts or feelings

Repression

Pushing distressing thoughts out of awareness; forgetting

Denial

Refusing to accept reality

Projection

Blaming others for your feelings

Rationalization

Making excuses for behavior

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer target

Regression

Reverting to earlier behavior

Sublimation

Turning impulses into positive action

Reaction Formation

Acting opposite to your true feelings

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages

the five stages of childhood development where pleasure focuses on different areas of the body

Oral stage

the first psychosexual stage where pleasure centers on the mouth (sucking, biting)

Fixation

a persistent focus on an earlier psychosexual stage due to unresolved conflict.

Anal Stage

the psychosexual stage where pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder control

Phallic Stage

the psychosexual stage where pleasure focuses on the genitals and children begin identifying with the same-sex parent

Latency Stage

the psychosexual stage where sexual impulses are dormant and children focus on social and intellectual skills

Genital stage

the psychosexual stage where sexual urges re-emerge, and mature sexual interests develop