Chapter 14 - Personality Flashcards
personality
an individuals characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling and acting
sigmund freuds psychoanalytic theory
said that children sexuality and unconscious motivations influence personality
humanistic approach
focused on our inner capacities for growth and self fulfillment. focus on the healthy potential self growth
trait theories
examine characteristic patterns of behaviour
social cognitive theories
explore the interactions between peoples traits and their social context
psychodynamic theories
view personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences
psychoanalysis
frauds theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions
unconscious
according to freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories. according to contemporary psychologists, info processing of which we are unaware
free association
in psychoanalysis, a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says what ever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarassing
id
a recevoir of unconscious psychic energy that, according to freud, strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. the id operates on the pleasure principle demanding immediate gratification
ego
the largely conscious “executive” part of personality that, according to freud, mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality. the ego operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain
superego
around 4 or 5, a child is able to recognize it. the part of personality that, according to freud, represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgement (the conscience) and for future aspirations
psychosexual stages
the childhood stages of development (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital) during which, according to freud, the id’s pleasure seeking energies focus on distinct erogenous zones (pleasure sensitive areas)
Oral stage
0-18 months. pleasure centres on the mouth, sucking, biting, chewing.
anal stage
18-36 months. pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control.
phallic stage
3-6 years. pleasure zone in the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelings. boys hate for father, attraction to mother
latency
6-puberty. a phase of dormant sexual feelings.
genital
puberty on. maturation of sexual interests
oedipus complex
according to freud, a boys sexual desires towards his mother, and feelings of jealousy and hatred for the father. it was also believed that girls experienced a parallel electra complex
identification
according to freud, the process by which children incorporate their parents values into their developing superegos
fixation
according to freud, a lingering focus of pleasure seeking energies at an earlier psychosexual stage, in which conflicts were unresolved
defence mechanism
in psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality