Freud and Jung's Theories and Psychological Concepts

A series of flashcards covering key psychological concepts and theories from Freud, Jung, Adler, Sullivan, and Maté, including developmental stages, defense mechanisms, and personal insights into personality.

What was Dr. Breuer’s treatment style for Anna O.?

The 'talking cure' (cathartic method)—under hypnosis she freely talked about traumatic memories, leading to emotional release and symptom relief.

How did Freud’s Jewish background influence his personality?

Raised Jewish in a Catholic culture; experienced anti-Semitism → skeptical toward religion, saw it as psychological illusion to cope with human needs.

Where did Freud get his data for his personality theory?

From case studies of patients, self-analysis (his own dreams), and clinical observations during therapy.

How did Freud view personality in terms of consciousness?

Most of personality is unconscious; conscious mind is a small part. Unconscious forces shape behavior.

Why do people use repression according to Freud?

To keep threatening or anxiety-provoking thoughts out of consciousness and protect the ego.

What do slips of the tongue represent for Freud?

Unconscious thoughts or desires unintentionally revealed in speech.

What is the primary purpose of sexuality in Freud’s theory?

Source of libido (psychic energy) that drives personality and behavior—not just sexual acts but pleasure seeking and survival.

What is the Oral Stage (age, focus, outcome)?

Age: 0–1 year; Focus: Mouth (sucking, biting, feeding); Key task: Weaning; Possible fixation: Dependency, passivity, oral habits (e.g., smoking, overeating).

What is the Anal Stage (age, focus, outcome)?

Age: 1–3 years; Focus: Anus (toilet training); Key task: Control of bodily functions; Possible fixation: Anal-retentive (orderly, stubborn) or anal-expulsive (messy, disorganized).

What is the Phallic Stage (age, focus, outcome)?

Age: 3–6 years; Focus: Genitals; Key conflict: Oedipus/Electra complex → identification with same-sex parent; Possible fixation: Guilt, sexual confusion, problems with authority.

What is the Latency Stage (age, focus, outcome)?

Age: 6 years – puberty; Focus: Dormant sexual feelings; Key development: Social skills, learning, same-sex peer relationships; Fixation: Rare at this stage.

What is the Genital Stage (age, focus, outcome)?

Age: Puberty – adulthood; Focus: Mature sexual interests and intimate relationships; Key development: Balance between various life areas; ability to form healthy adult relationships.

What principle does the ID work on, and what is its function?

Pleasure principle — seeks immediate gratification of instincts, unconscious, impulsive.

What principle does the EGO work on, and what is its function?

Reality principle — mediates between id and reality, plans, problem-solves.

What principle does the SUPEREGO work on, and what is its function?

Morality principle — internalized parental and societal rules, guilt, conscience.

What metaphor did Freud use to imagine the ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO?

Freud used the horse and rider (or chariot) metaphor to describe the dynamic between the id and ego: Id = Horse → instinctual drives, Ego = Rider → directs the horse, Superego = internalized moral authority guiding the rider.

How do parental attitudes affect the ID, EGO, and SUPEREGO development?

Supportive parenting → balanced ego/superego; harsh/indulgent parenting → overdeveloped or weak superego, poor ego control, fixation at stages.

Name and describe Freud’s main defense mechanisms.

Repression: banishing anxiety; Denial: refusing reality; Projection: attributing impulses to others; Displacement: redirecting impulses to safer target; Reaction formation: opposite behavior; Regression: reverting to earlier stage; Sublimation: channeling impulses productively.

What is transference and how did Freud treat it?

Patient unconsciously transfers feelings for important people onto therapist; Freud analyzed and interpreted it as part of therapy.

How did Freud understand women’s psychology?

Emphasized concepts like penis envy and saw women as developing differently during the phallic stage; his views were criticized as patriarchal.

How did Jung define the Ego?

The center of consciousness, responsible for personal identity, thoughts, feelings, memories.

What is a ‘complex’ in Jung’s theory?

A cluster of emotionally charged ideas or memories in the personal unconscious influencing behavior.

Freud vs. Jung — similarities?

Both emphasized the unconscious, dreams, early life influences, symbolic meaning.

Freud vs. Jung — differences?

Freud: libido = sexual, unconscious = mostly repressed. Jung: libido = general life energy, unconscious includes collective (archetypes), emphasized spiritual growth and future orientation.

Define Persona.

Social mask — how we present ourselves to the world.

Define Shadow.

Unconscious, repressed aspects of the personality (often negative).

Define Anima/Animus.

Inner opposite gender: anima (feminine in men), animus (masculine in women).

Define Archetype.

Universal symbolic patterns or images in the collective unconscious.

Define Androgyny.

Integration of masculine and feminine traits within an individual.

Define Mandala.

Symbol of the Self; represents wholeness and integration.

Define Teleological.

Future-oriented; behavior is guided by goals, not just past causes.

Define Transcendence (Jung).

Integrating different parts of the psyche into a harmonious whole.

Function of dreams according to Freud vs. Jung?

Freud: Wish fulfillment, disguised unconscious desires. Jung: Communication from unconscious; compensate for conscious attitudes and promote growth.

What personality test was based on Jung’s theory?

Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

How do Adler’s and Sullivan’s approaches differ from Freud and Jung?

Adler & Sullivan emphasize social relationships and environment more than unconscious sexual drives or archetypes.

Define Adler’s “Social Interest.”

Innate potential to cooperate with others and contribute to society.

Define Masculine Protest.

Striving to escape feelings of inferiority by overemphasizing masculinity or strength.

Inferiority vs. Superiority (Adler).

Inferiority: feelings of inadequacy from childhood. Superiority: striving to overcome and achieve mastery.

Define Compensation (Adler).

Overcoming weaknesses by developing other abilities or strengths.

Define Creative Self.

Active force that shapes personality, gives life meaning.

Define Style of Life (Adler).

Unique pattern of behaviors, traits, and habits developed to reach personal goals.

Define Family Constellation.

Birth order, family structure, and roles influence personality development.

Sullivan’s definition of personality?

Personality is the relatively enduring pattern of recurrent interpersonal situations that characterize a person’s life.

Anxiety according to Sullivan and its causes?

Tension from interpersonal insecurity, especially fear of disapproval or loss of love.

Similarities between Freud’s defense mechanisms and Sullivan’s security operations?

Both are unconscious strategies to reduce anxiety; Sullivan focused on interpersonal contexts.

Define Dynamism (Sullivan).

Pattern of energy transformations that characterize interpersonal relations (e.g., malevolent dynamism).

Define Prototaxic Experience.

Early, unorganized, prelogical way infants experience the world.

Define Personification.

Mental images of self and others formed through interpersonal experience.

Define Chum Relationships.

Close same-sex friendships in preadolescence crucial for intimacy development.

Similarities between Sullivan’s Parataxic Distortions and Freud’s Transference?

Both involve misperceiving others based on past relationships and projecting old patterns onto new people.

How does Maté define “normal”?

What’s common in society is often not healthy; 'normal' is socially constructed and may reflect collective dysfunction.

What is considered “normal” in modern society, and how is it distorted?

High stress, disconnection, suppression of emotion; society normalizes unhealthy patterns as if they are natural.

What is the role of stress in illness, according to Maté?

Chronic stress suppresses the immune system, contributes to disease, and mediates mind-body connections.

What is the key disconnection in modern life?

Disconnection from the self, others, and nature.

How does Maté describe trauma?

Not just bad events, but what happens inside you — the disconnection from self caused by overwhelming experiences.

What is the “myth” in The Myth of Normal?

The belief that modern society’s norms are healthy and natural, when they often are not.

How does Maté view physical illness?

As a mind-body process, not separate; illnesses are influenced by emotional life and social context.

Major cultural factor contributing to poor health outcomes?

Toxic culture — chronic stress, emotional suppression, lack of community.

According to Maté, how is healing possible?

By reconnecting with the self, processing trauma, fostering authentic relationships, and creating supportive environments.

Maté’s criticism of modern medicine?

Too focused on symptoms, disease as isolated physical problems; ignores emotional, social, and trauma roots of illness.