Approaches in Psychology - The Id, Ego and Superego Flashcards
Freud’s belief about the structure of the personality
We all have three characters (tripartite) in our mind at the same time. If they are unbalanced, they can cause us a lot of anxiety and may eventually lead to mental abnormality
What shapes the development of the 3 parts of the personality?
Experiences/conflicts in childhood
The id
Unconscious focus on self
Intellectual and emotional
Deals with the self and focuses on needs
SEEKS PLEASURE
When is the id formed?
Birth-18 months
What is the id motivated by?
The pleasure principle
What happens if someone has a dominant id later in life?
It can lead to developing addictions or unhealthy relationships as they will only focus on things that bring them pleasure
The ego
Rational, conscious part of the mind
When is the ego formed?
Between 1-3 years
What is the ego motivated by?
The reality principle
What does the ego try to balance out?
The id and superego
What happens if you lack the ego in later life?
Self conscious
Lack self-esteem
Social phobias
The superego
Acts as the conscience/moral guide
Based on parental and societal values
What does the superego help you start doing?
Understanding the difference between right and wrong
When is the superego formed?
Between 3-6 years
What happens if your superego is dominant?
Can cause lots of problems for people as it will cause them to:
-Strive for perfection and not settle for anything less
-Have extremely high standards
Puts lots of pressure on the mind which can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders etc
Freud’s stages of psychosexual development
- Oral stage (0-1)
- Anal stage (1-3)
- Phallic stage (3-5)
- Latent stage (6-12)
- Genital stage (12/puberty - adulthood)
How do you remember Freud’s stages of psychosexual development?
Old Age Pensioners Love Guinness
What does Freud believe that children are born with?
A libido
What is a libido?
A sexual desire
How can we be psychologically healthy?
We must successfully complete each stage of psychosexual development
When can mental abnormality occur?
When a person doesn’t complete a stage of psychosexual development successfully - the person becomes ‘fixated’
What does being ‘fixated’ cause?
Psychological problems
Where is the focus of pleasure during the oral stage?
The mouth - pleasure is received from chewing objects, breast feeding etc
Where will a newborn seek instant pleasure from?
The mouth from feeding and from sucking theirs thumb
What is in control during the oral stage?
The id
What is successful completion of the oral stage demonstrated by?
Weaning
Weaning
Breast feeding won’t be their only source of being fed, the baby will start eating food such as puréed meals
How can a fixation occur during the oral stage?
If the baby is weaned too soon or not soon enough.
What can a fixation during the oral stage result in?
It makes the adult gain pleasure from oral gratification which can lead to activities such as smoking, excessive drinking or eating
When does the anal stage finish?
1-3 years or when potty training is completed
Where is the focus of pleasure during the anal stage?
The anus
What happens if the anal stage isn’t resolved?
It can lead to a person having an anal character
Anal character
Someone who is very uptight, controlling and doing what they want when they want
What can having an anal fixation be a result of?
Parents being too strict or too lenient regarding potty training
Anally retentive
Very tidy, likes order and being in control
Anally expulsive
Generous but disorganised and doesn’t like to follow rules
When does the Oedipus complex occur?
During the phallic stage
Oedipus complex
The attachment of the child to the parent of the opposite sex, accompanied by envious and aggressive feelings toward the parent of the same sex
What does the boy fear during the phallic stage?
Fears that his father knows about his obsession with the mother and will castrate him as a punishment
Key features of Hans’ dreams
Wiping children bottoms, giraffes present, new born sister goes underwater
What was Hans’ fear of horses showing?
Showing fear of his father as the blinkers over the horses eyes represented his fathers glasses and the buckle represented his beard
What does Freud say that Hans’ phobia of the horses was?
A displacement for his fear of his father
Why does Hans dream about drowning his sister?
Because he is jealous that she is getting attention from the mother
How does Hans successfully complete the phallic stage?
Gender identity
Age of Latent stage
6 - Puberty
Focus of pleasure during latent stage
Developing new skills, knowledge and same-sex friendship
What is libido sublimated with during the latent stage?
Sports and hobbies
Sign of successful completion during latent stage
No particular sign
Ages of genital stage
Puberty - adulthood
Focus of pleasure during genital stage
Genital and sexual intercourse
