Freud’s psycho dynamic explanation of aggression (3)

Question 1

What is the id?

Answer 1

The id is the brains “desires” and wants. It doesn’t take into account the consequences. It is present from birth

Question 2

What is the ego?

Answer 2

The ego is the part of the brain that regulates between the id and superego to create the most realistic outcome.

Question 3

What is the superego?

Answer 3

The superego creates the most ideal/nice outcome but can be unrealistic. It develops at around 6 years old.

Question 4

What is catharsis?

Answer 4

Freud believed anger was energy that built up and catharsis allowed it to be released by activity such as watching violent films.

Question 5

What is displacement?

Answer 5

Displacement is the idea instead of taking anger out on a person or group to vent it in a less damaging way such as videogames.

Question 6

Weaknesses of Freud’s theory?

Answer 6

-Catharsis isn’t real and can lead to increased anger and violent behaviour

Question 7

Strengths of Freud’s theory?

Answer 7

• Explains traditional cold vs hot-blooded and is applicable

- catharsis can be positive wit certain methods

Question 8

What is the unconscious according to Freud?

Answer 8

The unconscious is a part of the brain that we are unaware of buy which continues to direct most out behaviour.

Question 9

What is Freuds explanation of aggression?

Answer 9

Freud believed everyone had aggressive thoughts and desires that were passive and they didn’t know they had them. He believed in the regulation of behaviour using the id ego and superego.

Question 10

How did Freud believe you could become less angry?

Answer 10

Freud believed you could become more clam through displacement and catharsis where instead of taking the anger out on a person you could do it in a game or through watching a movie. He believed this would relieve any desire.

Question 11

Evaluation of Freud: Explains different types of aggression

Answer 11

A strength of Freud is it explains hot-blooded vs cold-blooded aggression and can explain failure to control one’s aggression and aggression that is held back

Question 12

Evaluation of Freud: Aggression is not cathartic

Answer 12

Research such as Brad Bushman showed venting anger may actually further the anger rather than reduce it. In a study where he allowed students to hit a punch bah after criticism from a peer those who hit the bag became more aggressive than those who didn’t

Question 13

Evaluation of Freud: Application to reducing aggression

Answer 13

Catharsis does have some real life application from people who may do sports or boxing in order to reduce chance of a real altercation.

Question 14

What is the Unconscious mind?

Answer 14

The hidden part of our psyche (mind).

It contains thoughts, feelings and memories we are not aware of and we find hard to access/ can’t access. (e.g. someone may have repressed being lost as a small child, and not be aware of it)

There may be material that can never be recalled to the consciousness, in particular instincts + deeply buried memories.

Question 15

What are our two instincts?

Answer 15

1. The Libido/Eros: the life instinct that manifests itself as sexuality
2. The Thanatos: the death instinct which manifests itself as aggression and destructiveness. These thoughts are inaccessible to us, to protect us from information that is unacceptable.

Question 16

What are the Different Parts of Personality (according to Freud)?

Answer 16

Id, Ego and Superego

Question 17

What is the Id?

Answer 17

The most primitive part of the personality that acts on instinctive drives + impulses with no thoughts of consequences.

It is driven by the Eros and Thanatos: Due to it being driven by the eros/libido (Pleasure Principle), it demands immediate gratification of its urges (food, sex, etc)

Humans are born with an id
(which explains why we crave food + comfort from an early age)

Question 18

What is the Ego?

Answer 18

Driven by the Reality Principle (rules in terms of what is socially acceptable), and tries to satisfy the id within realistic appropriate boundaries

Develops at 2 years old
(at this point, the child doesn’t know right from wrong, but starts to understand when certain behaviours are appropriate)

Question 19

What is the Superego?

Answer 19

Operates on the Morality Principle (understanding what is right and wrong)

Develops at 3-6 years old
(the child begins to feel guilt for wrongdoings, and pride for correct behaviour)

Question 20

What is Catharsis?

Answer 20

Catharsis takes place when negative energy/emotions are released in the mind through relatively harmless activities. It satisfies the thanatos and unconscious.

(e.g. watching a horror film, or playing a violent video game releases violent tendencies without the individual actually harming someone in real life)

Question 21

What research tested Catharsis?

Answer 21

Bushman (2002)

Student participants were told that another student had criticised an essay they had written, in order to annoy them.

They were then split into 3 groups; one sat quietly for a few minutes, one hit a punching bag, one hit a punching bag and were instructed to think about the student.

The third condition lead to angrier participants than the other groups.

Question 22

How is the psychodynamic approach typically tested?

Answer 22

The psychodynamic approach typically investigated human behaviour through clinical case studies; in-depth investigations of an individual who presented an abnormal condition that was systematically studied over a long period of time.