Sigmund Freud1856-1938

Controversial

Complex

Complete

Irrational forces are stronger than rational forces…

Human mind is largely unconscious

Unconscious is full of conflict

How is the unconscious studied?

• Psychoanalysis• Dreams• Slip-of-the-tongue• Hypnosis• Case studies

Parts of Personality

• Id• Ego• Superego

Id

• Operates on the pleasure principle• Unconscious• Irrational/Impulsive• Aim is get rid of tension/stress/pain• Reducing tension …Wish fulfillment

(dreams)

Ego= Executive

• Operates on reality principle..(wishes don’t produce food)

• Takes into account reality (environment)• Controls the Id and the Superego• If working well= person is well adjusted• If gives in to Id= person is maladjusted • Defense Mechanisms help the Ego control

anxiety

Superego=Judge

• Represents the ideal not what is real• Develops in the ego from childhood• Enforced through feelings of Pride,

Guilt, Inferiority

You’re on a hike with a group of friends when…..

Defense Mechanismsused to deny or distort reality….They help

protect the Ego

• Denial= Refusing to admit something unpleasant is happening• Repression= Blocking a threatening idea, memory or emotion• Projection= Your “inner feelings” are pushed onto someone else• Regression= Returning to an earlier level of behavior• Rationalization= Justifying one’s behavior/failures by putting

socially acceptable reasons in place of real reasons• Reaction formation= Acting opposite of your true feelings

Freud’sStages of personality development

Oral Stage

Birth to 1.5 yearsPleasure comes from: mouth, sucking, biting, chewing

Adult “fixations”• Smoking• Over eating• Alcoholic• Nail biting

Anal Stage

• 18 Months to 3 years• Attention is on

elimination• “holding in” or “letting

go” leads to gratification

Adult “fixations”• Messy• Irresponsible• Wasteful• Extravagant• Neat freak• compulsive

Phallic Stage

• Ages 3 to 6• Pleasure from genitals

Oedipus Complex• Male children sexually

desire their mothers• Fear or jealous of same sex

parent= castration anxietyElectra Complex

• Female children sexually desire their fathers

• Anger at mother=penis envy• Not supported by Freud

Latency Stage

• Ages 6 to puberty• Sexuality is dormant• Children develop social skills

Genital Stage

• Puberty• Development of sexual feelings toward others

How well do Freud’s ideas hold up today?