9 - The Psychodynamic Approach ( The Mind and Personality ) Flashcards
What did Freud believe behaviour was determined by?
Psychological factors ( as opposed to biology or environmental reinforcement )
List the three levels of the mind
Conscious mind
Precocious mind
Unconscious mind
What does the conscious mind contain?
Thoughts and feelings a person is currently aware of
What does the preconscious mind contain?
Thoughts, feelings and memories that a person could access if they wanted to.
What is the unconscious mind?
The largest part of the mind which is inaccessible.
It reveals itself in slips of the tongue ( Freudian slips ), creativity and neurotic symptoms.
The mind actively prevents traumatic thoughts, feelings and memories in the unconscious from reaching the conscious because they would cause the person anxiety if they did.
What are the three parts of the personality?
Id
Ego
Superego
Describe the id. When does it form? Where does it operate?
Forms around 18 months of age
Operates in the unconscious
Contains sexual ( libido ) and aggressive drives.
Operates on the pleasure principle; it wants immediate gratification regardless of the circumstances because it is irrational.
Describe the ego. When does it form? Where does it operate?
Forms between 18 months and three years of age
Operates in the conscious mind
It is rational and mediates between impulsive demands of the id and the reality of the external world.
Operates on the reality principle. For example, it delays gratification and compromises between the impulsive minds of the id and moralistic demands of the superego.
Describe the superego. When does it form? Where does it operate?
Forms between three and six years of age
Operates in the unconscious mind
Divided into the conscience and the ego-ideal.
Conscience = internalisation of societal rules. Determines which behaviours are acceptable and causes guilt when rules are broken.
Ego-ideal = what a person strives to be. Probably determined by parental standards of food behaviour.
