Chapter 7: Psychosocial Perspective (Ego Psychology) Flashcards
Psychosocial Perspective (Neoanalytic)
- based on psychoanalytic theory
- conflict between id and superego must be resolved by the ego: ego strength
NeoFreudians Disagreement with Traditional Theory
- emphasis on sexuality and death
- emphasis on the unconscious
- neglect of the ego
Neoanalytic Emphasis
- ego functioning: ego processes (erikson theory of development)
- ego relationships: interaction between the ego and others (attachments, self psychology)
Principles of Ego Psychology
- shift emphasis from id to ego
- ego exists at birth
- ego acts autonomously
- cognitive processes of ego can be satisfying in themselves
Ego Emphasis
- freud: focus of ego as mediator
- NA: ego is responsible for adaptation (conscious processes)
Motivation and Ego Processes
- effectance motivation
- competence motivation
Effectance Motivation
motive to have an effect on one’s surroundings: outlet for ego energy, evolves into competence motivation
Competence Motivation
motive to be effective when dealing with the environment (growth, curiosity, learning)
Adler: Inferiority and Competence Striving
- feelings of inferiority motivate striving for competency
- compensate for inferiority by striving superiority
Adler: Adaptive Compensation Striving
meaningful goal attainment
Adler: Maladaptive Compensation Striving
desire to dominate, taking without earning
Adler: Birth Order Psychology
- different treatment depending on birth order
- influences personality
- determines inferiority, competence, striving
Adler: The Firstborn
- receives attention
- high expectations
- want to maintain center of attention
- born leaders, achievers
Adler: The Secondborn
- never had the power in the family
- always had a rival
- less sensitive to power issues
- always have to catch up with the firstborn
- leads to constant striving for superiority
- diplomatic, flexible, sociable
- best position in which to start life
Adler: The Youngest Child
- always had a rival
- spoiled, indulged
- perceived value of striving is diminished
- rebellious, creative, entertaining, attention-seekers
- worst position in which to start life
Scientific Evidence of Birthorder
- firstborns have higher IQs
- lastborns have lower academic achievement
- little scientific support on effect on personality
Ego Control
ability to inhibit expression of impulses
Ego Resiliency
modify ego control to adapt to demands of a situation
- high ego resiliency: adaptive, resourceful
- low ego resiliency: ego brittleness
Karen Horney’s View of Inferiority
- feminist psychology
- reject concept of freud: penis envy
- men envy women’s role in childbirth: led to inferiority
- men compensate for inferiority: strong need to achieve
- women feel inferior because of cultural or social oppression: not penis envy
Karen Horney’s View of Personality
- people are born with basic anxiety
- neurotic needs: distorted basic needs
- children combat anxiety by: being the perfect child, narcissism, bullying
- vicious cycle: basic anxiety - insecurity - heightened awareness - need of love - unmet need - deeper need - more basic anxiety and insecurity
- cycle can only be broken with affection needs being met
Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
individuals pass through stages of development: at each stage ego must resolve a conflict - ego maturation
Erikson’s Theory
- ego identity: consciously experienced sense of self
- competence: need to feel competent and adequate
- during each stage a person experiences crisis
- period for high potential of growth and vulnerability
- crisis resolution = determinant for personality
Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
- trust vs mistrust (infancy)
- autonomy vs shame and doubt (early childhood)
- initiative vs guilt (preschool)
- industry vs inferiority (school)
- identity vs role confusion (adolescence)
- intimacy vs isolation (young adulthood)
- generativity vs stagnation (adulthood)
- ego integrity vs despair (old age)
Trust vs Mistrust
- basic conflict: learning to trust the world
- resolve conflict: security and trust
- ego strength: hope, optimism
Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt
- basic conflict: sense of autonomy in actions
- resolved conflict: sense of control
- unresolved: feeling unable to act independently
- ego strength: will determination
Initiative vs Guilt
- basic conflict: power struggle, desire to impose own will
- resolve conflict: curiosity and exploration
- too powerful: leads to disapproval and guilt
- ego strength: purpose, pursue goals
Industry vs Inferiority
- basic conflict: desire to accomplish things that other perceive as valuable
- resolve conflict: feelings of mastery
- unresolved: inferiority, regression
- ego strength: competence
Identity vs Role Confusion
- basic conflict: desire to figure out who you are
- resolve conflict: sense of identity
- ego strength: fidelity to oneself, truthfulness, loyalty
Intimacy vs Isolation
- basic conflict: desire to form social relationships
- resolve conflict: ability to form consistent, intimate, stable relationship
- ego strength: love
Generativity vs. Stagnation
- basic conflict: desire to create things in the world, leave your mark
- resolve conflict: creativity, contribute to society through work and career
- unresolved: lack of growth (depression)
- ego strength: care or caring
Ego Integrity vs Despair
- basic conflict: reflect on life
- resolve conflict: believe that life had meaning, sense of satisfaction, integrity in face of impending death
- unresolved: despair and fear of death
- ego strength: wisdom
The Epigenetic Principle
- issues that need to be resolved in each stage are present throughout the whole lifespan
- each crisis is especially important during the corresponding stage, but will need to be addressed throughout life
- crises are actually never completely resolved
- as dealing with one crisis you are preparing for the next
