Approaches in Psychology - The Id, Ego and Superego

Question 1

Freud’s belief about the structure of the personality

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What shapes the development of the 3 parts of the personality?

Answer 2

Experiences/conflicts in childhood

Question 3

The id

Answer 3

Unconscious focus on self
Intellectual and emotional
Deals with the self and focuses on needs
SEEKS PLEASURE

Question 4

When is the id formed?

Answer 4

Birth-18 months

Question 5

What is the id motivated by?

Answer 5

The pleasure principle

Question 6

What happens if someone has a dominant id later in life?

Answer 6

It can lead to developing addictions or unhealthy relationships as they will only focus on things that bring them pleasure

Question 7

The ego

Answer 7

Rational, conscious part of the mind

Question 8

When is the ego formed?

Answer 8

Between 1-3 years

Question 9

What is the ego motivated by?

Answer 9

The reality principle

Question 10

What does the ego try to balance out?

Answer 10

The id and superego

Question 11

What happens if you lack the ego in later life?

Answer 11

Self conscious
Lack self-esteem
Social phobias

Question 12

The superego

Answer 12

Acts as the conscience/moral guide
Based on parental and societal values

Question 13

What does the superego help you start doing?

Answer 13

Understanding the difference between right and wrong

Question 14

When is the superego formed?

Answer 14

Between 3-6 years

Question 15

What happens if your superego is dominant?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Freud’s stages of psychosexual development

Answer 16

1. Oral stage (0-1)
2. Anal stage (1-3)
3. Phallic stage (3-5)
4. Latent stage (6-12)
5. Genital stage (12/puberty - adulthood)

Question 17

How do you remember Freud’s stages of psychosexual development?

Answer 17

Old Age Pensioners Love Guinness

Question 18

What does Freud believe that children are born with?

Answer 18

A libido

Question 19

What is a libido?

Answer 19

A sexual desire

Question 20

How can we be psychologically healthy?

Answer 20

We must successfully complete each stage of psychosexual development

Question 21

When can mental abnormality occur?

Answer 21

When a person doesn’t complete a stage of psychosexual development successfully - the person becomes ‘fixated’

Question 22

What does being ‘fixated’ cause?

Answer 22

Psychological problems

Question 23

Where is the focus of pleasure during the oral stage?

Answer 23

The mouth - pleasure is received from chewing objects, breast feeding etc

Question 24

Where will a newborn seek instant pleasure from?

Answer 24

The mouth from feeding and from sucking theirs thumb

Question 25

What is in control during the oral stage?

Answer 25

The id

Question 26

What is successful completion of the oral stage demonstrated by?

Answer 26

Weaning

Question 27

Weaning

Answer 27

Breast feeding won’t be their only source of being fed, the baby will start eating food such as puréed meals

Question 28

How can a fixation occur during the oral stage?

Answer 28

If the baby is weaned too soon or not soon enough.

Question 29

What can a fixation during the oral stage result in?

Answer 29

It makes the adult gain pleasure from oral gratification which can lead to activities such as smoking, excessive drinking or eating

Question 30

When does the anal stage finish?

Answer 30

1-3 years or when potty training is completed

Question 31

Where is the focus of pleasure during the anal stage?

Answer 31

The anus

Question 32

What happens if the anal stage isn’t resolved?

Answer 32

It can lead to a person having an anal character

Question 33

Anal character

Answer 33

Someone who is very uptight, controlling and doing what they want when they want

Question 34

What can having an anal fixation be a result of?

Answer 34

Parents being too strict or too lenient regarding potty training

Question 35

Anally retentive

Answer 35

Very tidy, likes order and being in control

Question 36

Anally expulsive

Answer 36

Generous but disorganised and doesn’t like to follow rules

Question 37

When does the Oedipus complex occur?

Answer 37

During the phallic stage

Question 38

Oedipus complex

Answer 38

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

Question 39

What does the boy fear during the phallic stage?

Answer 39

Fears that his father knows about his obsession with the mother and will castrate him as a punishment

Question 40

Key features of Hans’ dreams

Answer 40

Wiping children bottoms, giraffes present, new born sister goes underwater

Question 41

What was Hans’ fear of horses showing?

Answer 41

Showing fear of his father as the blinkers over the horses eyes represented his fathers glasses and the buckle represented his beard

Question 42

What does Freud say that Hans’ phobia of the horses was?

Answer 42

A displacement for his fear of his father

Question 43

Why does Hans dream about drowning his sister?

Answer 43

Because he is jealous that she is getting attention from the mother

Question 44

How does Hans successfully complete the phallic stage?

Answer 44

Gender identity

Question 45

Age of Latent stage

Answer 45

6 - Puberty

Question 46

Focus of pleasure during latent stage

Answer 46

Developing new skills, knowledge and same-sex friendship

Question 47

What is libido sublimated with during the latent stage?

Answer 47

Sports and hobbies

Question 48

Sign of successful completion during latent stage

Answer 48

No particular sign

Question 49

Ages of genital stage

Answer 49

Puberty - adulthood

Question 50

Focus of pleasure during genital stage

Answer 50

Genital and sexual intercourse