Freud as an alternative explanation of aggression

Question 1

What is the id?

Answer 1

First part of the personality which we are born with.
Based in the pleasure principle, which is only concerned with things that give us pleasure.
It is irrational, selfish and not in touch with the real world

Question 2

What is the Ego?

Answer 2

Second part of the personality to appear, it is based on the reality principle consists of all we know, memories, problem solving.
It is the rational and logical part and tries to statisfy the demands of the id within the real world.
Maintains balance between the id and superego

Question 3

What is the superego?

Answer 3

Third part of the personality, based on the morality principle.
It helps us know what is right and wrong and we can and cannot do.
Consists of two parts conscience and ego ideal

Question 4

What is the Oedipus Complex?

Answer 4

A boy around five begins to develop an unconsious sexual desire for his mother.
The desire for his mother causes the boy to reject his father.
An internal conflict arises in the boy, he loves his father, but he wants him to disappear.
A boy will develop feelings of guilt over this conflict and causes fear in pursuing his mothers affection, as his father with castrate him
Boy learns to reject his mother and will become like his father

Question 5

What is the Electra Complex?

Answer 5

A girl, around five develops penis envy in attempt to relate to her father and rejects her mother.
An internal conflict arises in the young girl which is resolved after regarding her father as an object and will become like her mother

Question 6

What does a Freudian psychoanalyst argue?

Answer 6

That an individual can only lead a stable life if the id, ego and superego are balanced.
If the id is strong and the superego weak, the individual with seek pleasure and gratification regardless of the needs of others.
Aware of possible punishment, they are not deterred by it

Question 7

What can a harsh superego lead to?

Answer 7

Lead to strong feelings of guilt and obsession whenever the id attempts to get any satisfaction at all.

Question 8

What can a strong superego lead to?

Answer 8

Will be law abiding, but a few people will engage in aggressive acts such as property crime.
The unconscious desire for sex has led to such feelings of guilt that an individual unconsciously desires and so commits a crime

Question 9

What does aggression arise from?

Answer 9

Weak, underdeveloped superego.
The individual is selfish and uncaring, full of controlled aggression.

Question 10

What happens if you fail to develop a well functioning superego?

Answer 10

Believed to be the result of poor or absent parenting.

Question 11

Defence mechanisms can usually allow urges of the id to be channelled…

Answer 11

in a socially acceptable way

Question 12

An example of defence mechanisms

Answer 12

A boy who feels very aggressive towards his violent father but cannot express directly may use a defence mechanism of displacement and take violent urges out on weaker children

Question 13

What is eros?

Answer 13

An instinctive need for self preservation and sexual energy.
Urges and wishes from the life instinct

Question 14

What is Thantos?

Answer 14

Drive towards death, aggression can be considered a link to this.
Energy of Thantos will be redirected away from person and onto others, resulting in aggression

Question 15

What is catharsis?

Answer 15

Can be seen as a way of venting aggression which could be through watching aggressive television or by watching others being aggressive.

Question 16

Feshbach and Singer (1971)

Answer 16

• Studied 652 boys, aged 8 - 18, living in residential institutions.
• Boys were divided into two groups : 1st group watched only violent TV for six weeks and 2nd group watched non violent TV.
• The boys who watched non - aggressive TV showed more aggression than the other group

Question 17

Results for Feshbach and Singer (1971)

Answer 17

Was evidence for catharsis view of aggression those who had watched violent TV shows could “let off steam” safely by watching violence.

Those who had watched non - violent TV shows did not have this chance, leading them to express their feelings in physical aggression

Question 18

Strengths of Freuds explanation

Answer 18

+ Theory was generated from in depth case studies in which he looked at many aspects of a persons background and mental state. His methods involved gathering and analysing qualitative data from various methods which gathered in depth data

+ This explanation of aggression can explain why criminal acts whereby there is not obvious gain and can also explain why aggression may run in families

+ Ideas about treating mental health provided solutions that at the time were unavaliable

Question 19

Weaknesses of Freuds explanation of aggression?

Answer 19

• His methods are not scientific, data are qualitative and personal so an overall theory should not be generated from the data gathered. His theory lacks generalisability due to unique nature of patients.
• The concept of Freuds theory is not measurable so cannot be tested. The unconscious is unreachable by normal means and the concepts studied lack scientific credibility as they are immeasurable