freud Flashcards
unconscious mind
- part of the mind containing thoughts, memories and desires of which we are unaware
what is the unconscious mind described as
an iceberg - the unconscious part is the largest part hidden from view
- even if we’re not thinking aggressive thoughts our behavior still may be, influenced by aggressive urges that are hidden in the unconscious
what 3 components is aggression made up of
- ID and pleasure principle
- ego and reality principle
- superego
ID and pleasure principle
- origin of energy that motivates all of our behavior, including aggression
- contains instincts, impulses and drives which are socially unacceptable
- most primitive element contained entirely in unconscious mind
- exists from birth
the ID obeys the pleasure principle - what is this
- it demands the immediate gratification it desires with no consideration to other factors
ego and reality principle
- logical rational and mostly conscious part of personality
- follows reality principle
reality principle
- expectations that other people have of us
- doesn’t fulfill IDs desires aggressive urges aggressively but indirectly and symbolically
superego
- fulfills the moral role
- represents moral sense of right and wrong
- represents our moral sense of right and wrong and the ideal image we have of ourselves and would like to live up to
- emerges later in development spring 5-6 yrs
what does the superego oppose
the IDs drive and
how does the superego oppose the ids drive
- guilt
- shame
- if we feel to meet our highest moral standard
what can aggression be satisfied by
catharsis
how does catharsis express aggression
- by releasing psychic energy
- reduced aggressive drive
- makes further aggression less likely
example of satisfying aggression by catharsis
venting anger to a friend
what happens when we try to prevent catharsis
- a build up of energy
- aggressive outburst caused either inwards or outwards
- undesirable outcome
example of inwards aggressive outbursts
suicide
example of an outwards aggressive outburst
- violent assault
how is catharsis most beneficial
- a direct expression of the impulse in aggressive behavior
how can catharsis also be achieved
- displacement
displacement
- aggression towards 1 person can be redirected against a less powerful and more available substitute
example of displacement
- observing others behaving aggressively
what 2 drives is the unconscious kind controlled by
eros
thanatos
eros
life instinct
- sex drive
- pleasure
- excitement
thanatos
death instinct
- aggression
- cruelty
- drive to destruction
what freud tests are used to access the unconscious mind
- dream analysis
- psychodynamic therapies
- projective tests
- freudian slips
dream analysis
- freud believe dreams are about past days, events, wish fulfillments, fleeting, full of sex symbols
psychodynamic therapies
e.g, word association
- helps us see into our unconscious
- e.g therapist reads words of list
- client will say what comes to mind as soon as they can
freudian slips
- thoughts of our unconscious can slip through when we do other things
- e.g talking
strengths -
- explains different types of aggression
- applications
explains different types of aggression -
- hot and cold blooded aggression
hot blooded aggression
- being impulsive
- no purpose
- domain of ID
hot blooded aggression cause
- failure of egos normal function of redirecting IDs impulses
cold blooded aggression
- deliberate
- rational
- has purpose
cold blooded aggression cause
- outcome of the egos successful control of IDs impulses
applications - reducing aggression
- catharsis can be used to prevent build up of destructive aggressive energy
- people can build harmless ways of expressing anger through displacement
- useful for therapies
- emotional control
weaknesses
aggression isn’t cathartic
aggression isn’t cathartic
- catharsis could lead to more aggression
evidence - catharsis leading to more aggression - brad bushman
- made students angry by getting a confederate to criticize and essay they’d written
- 1 random group of student could vent their anger by hitting a punch bag whilst thinking about confederate
- these students blasted the confederate with the loudest and longest noises in a subsequent task compared to other groups
