Assumption 2- The unconscious mind Flashcards
How did Freud explain his iceberg theory?
The tip of the iceberg sits above the water represents our conscious mind
The bottom of the iceberg which you can’t see is the unconscious mind, which contains our deepest thoughts, desires and feelings of which we are unaware of
What are the characteristics of the unconscious mind?
Our mind is unaware of thoughts and emotions our unconscious mind is producing. These can have feelings and effects on our conscious mind. It is ruled through pleasure and expresses itself through dreams.
What were some things that Freud believed about the unconscious mind?
-The unconscious mind manifests itself through our
dreams or ‘slips of the tongue’ (Freudian slip) that
unconsciously reveal what we really think
-The unconscious mind contains repressed thoughts and
emotions from our childhood where if they became
conscious would be painful and would disrupt our
normal day-to-day functioning
-Repressed memories and early traumatic events in our
lives could appear later in adulthood as depression,
phobias and obsessions.
What are the three levels of the conscious mind?
- Conscious
- Preconscious
- Unconscious
What is an ego defence mechanism and what are the three called?
An ego defence mechanism is the ego using defences to deal with the stress caused by the conflicting demands of the id and the superego
The three defences are;
- Repression
- Displacement
- Projection
What is repression? (ego defence)
Pushing bad experiences or negative emotions into the unconscious so you no longer think about them. For example, you were humiliated in the dining room at lunch, but can no longer remember the event
What is displacement? (ego defence)
Transferring undesirable impulses from one person to an object or another person. For example, someone who is angry at their boss may go home and kick their cat.
What is projection? (ego defence)
Undesirable thoughts or emotions are attributed to someone else. For example, someone who has a bad temper may complain that someone they know gets angry easily.
