Conscience Flashcards
what does freud split the mind into?
the unconscious mind
the preconscious mind
what are the characteristics of the unconscious mind?
repressed throughts
primitive desires
what are the characteristics of the preconscious mind?
memories not readily available
exists just below the accessible level of consciousness
what are the three aspects of the human personality?
id
ego
super ego
what are the characteristics of the id?
entirely unconscious
present from birth
instinctive and primitive
what is the id driven by?
the pleasure principle
what does the id seek?
immediate gratification
what happens if the desires and needs of the id cannot be immediately gratified?
anxiety and tension result
give an example of the id
a child’s desire for food is so strong it will cry for food
how does freud describe the id?
‘a dark inaccessible part of our personality’
what is the function of the ego?
it is not socially acceptable to act on the desires of the id
children learn to keep these desires in check
what is mediates social norms and the id?
the ego
what is the ego driven by?
the reality principle
what analogy does freud use to describe the id and the ego?
horse and rider
explain the horse and rider analogy
the rider (ego) guides and manages the horse (id)
what is the last part of the psyche to develop?
the super ego
when does the super ego develop?
around 5 years of age
what is the super ego?
stores a combination of the internalised moral standards of right and wrong that children learn fro both their parents and society
the greater extent the super ego dominates…..
the greater extent to which a person avoids actions which might result in breaking the rules
what are religious and moral feelings related to according to freud?
the super ego
what are the three components that make up our capacity for moral decision making according to aquinas?
ratio
synderesis
and conscientia
what is meant by the term ratio?
reason
what has ratio got to do with god and creation?
it is a gift from god and was given to us at creation
why is ratio much more than simply following cultural or social norms?
it has the potential to reach something higher and can therefore go against social norms
what is meant by synderesis?
a principle that directs people away from evil and towards good
innate
what is it that tempts us towards evil?
misdirected desire - sensuality
what is conscientia?
the action that follows synderesis
applying ratio to synderesis
what is conscientia not?
the voice of god
should the conscience be obeyed for aquinas?
yes
what is vincible ignorance?
if someone has access to knowledge of a better way but does not reason then they are still responsible
what is invincible ignorance?
a lack of knowledge for which a person is not responsible
what has freud’s understanding of a guilty conscience got to do with oedipus complex?
men have an unconscious desire to possess their mothers and kill their fathers, they learn this is morally wrong and therefore have a guilty conscience
explain the relationship between the id, ego and super ego using the example of sex
id- biological desire
ego- knows it is not acceptable to be promiscuous
super ego- don’t have sex
result- no sex or a guilty conscience
how is the breaking of rules linked in the conscience to the super ego?
if you break rules you feel guilty
explain the idea of god given conscience
the belief that god gave conscience as a gift
either understood as the direct word of god or a sense of reason within us
give evidence against the idea of god given conscience
religious people have different views on practicing religion - crusaders and emergency relief charity workers
explain the idea that conscience is innate with us
doesn’t depend on any social conditioning or learning
both secular and religious concept
give evidence against the idea that conscience is innate within us
children do not feel guilty for stealing until they are told it is wrong
explain the idea that conscience is instilled by society
the culture in which we are raised plays a large part in the development of our moral reasoning
give evidence against the idea that conscience is instilled within us by society
suffragettes fought for the vote in a society that questioned women’s intelligence
explain the idea that conscience is instilled by our parents
strong connection between our early years of upbringing and our sense of morality
give evidence against the idea that conscience is instilled by our parents
school shooters/ terrorists- parents are shocked and disgusted- they have been radicalised elsewhere
explain the idea that conscience is instilled by authority figures
can be from the perspective of positive or negative role models
give evidence against the idea that conscience is instilled by authority figures
revolutions against dictators
anti- police riots
