Personality 1

Overview of Psychodynamic Approaches to Personality

  • The lecture covers the history of psychology, starting from Freud and psychodynamic approaches to modern theories including behaviorism and trait theories.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the principles of psychodynamic approaches to personality, focusing mainly on Sigmund Freud's contributions.

Introduction to Freud's Psychoanalysis

  • Sigmund Freud is the founding figure of psychodynamic theory and psychoanalysis.
  • Common associations with Freud include the therapy setting, repressed childhood memories, and concepts like the Oedipus complex.
  • Key terms to remember:
    • Psychoanalysis: A therapeutic approach developed by Freud that emphasizes unconscious processes and childhood experiences.
    • Oedipus complex: A central idea in Freudian theory referring to a child's feelings of desire for their opposite-sex parent and jealousy toward their same-sex parent.
    • Conscious vs. Unconscious: Important dichotomy in Freud's work where the conscious mind is the aware state while the unconscious mind houses repressed desires.

Key Concepts in Freudian Theory

1. The Unconscious Mind

  • Freud highlighted the role of the unconscious as a storehouse for repressed desires, fears, and emotions.
  • Techniques like dream analysis and hypnosis were used to access unconscious material.
  • Dreams: Include both manifest content (the literal storyline) and latent content (the hidden symbolic meaning).
  • Freudian slips: Errors in speech that reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings.

2. Structural Model of Personality

  • Freud proposed three components of personality:
    • Id: The primal part that seeks immediate gratification based on the pleasure principle; driven by basic instincts (eros and thanatos).
    • Ego: The reality-based self that mediates between the id and the superego, operating according to the reality principle.
    • Superego: Represents moral standards and ideals acquired from parents and society; it imposes guilt and prohibits certain desires.
  • The ego navigates conflicts between the id and superego, often using defense mechanisms (e.g., repression).

3. Freudian Stages of Development

  • Freud outlined a series of psychosexual stages, each marked by a specific conflict:
    • Oral Stage (0-2 years): Pleasure centers on the mouth; fixation can result in oral behaviors (e.g., smoking, overeating).
    • Anal Stage (2-4 years): Focus on toilet training; conflicts can lead to anal-retentive or anal-expulsive personalities.
    • Phallic Stage (4-6 years): Children become aware of their own sex and develop the Oedipus/Electra complex.
    • Latency Stage (6-puberty): Sexual urges are repressed; focus on developing skills and friendships.
    • Genital Stage (puberty onward): Sexual maturation leads to the development of healthy romantic relationships.

Critiques of Freudian Theory

  • Freud's theories have been critiqued for their lack of empirical support and for being overly deterministic.
  • Many modern psychologists view his concepts as lacking scientific rigor.
  • The theories often reflect the cultural and historical context of Freud's time, specifically the Victorian era’s beliefs about sexuality and morality.

Closing Thoughts

  • Freud’s ideas, while foundational, have limitations that necessitate caution in application today.
  • His emphasis on the unconscious and the importance of early development remains influential,
    but modern psychology incorporates a broader range of motivations and factors affecting behavior and personality.