Freud's psychodynamic explanation of aggression

Question 1

What does Freud say about our unconscious?

Answer 1

• It’s the part of the minding containing thoughts, memories and desires which we are un aware of
• It is still an active processor of its contents, requiring a lot of psychic energy to keep them unconscious

Question 2

How does Freud believe our unconscious links to aggression?

Answer 2

Even if we are not thinking aggressive thoughts (ones we’re conscious of) our behaviour can still be influenced by aggressive urges that are ‘hidden’ in the unconscious

Question 3

What is the id?

Answer 3

-existing from birth, the part of personality driven by the pleasure principle, which functions only in the unconscious and is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification

Question 4

How does the id explain aggression according to Freud?

Answer 4

• the id is the origin of the energy which motivates all our behaviour, including aggression and contains the instincts and impulses that are socially unacceptable
• because it obeys the pleasure principle it demands immediate gratification of its desires, making aggression unavoidable and inevitable
• as we can not eradicate it, our ego helps to control it

Question 5

What is our ego?

Answer 5

-the logical, rational, and mostly conscious part of our personality which begins developing shortly after birth, which helps balance the conflicting demands of the id and the superego

Question 6

How does our ego explain aggression according to Freud?

Answer 6

• it follows the reality principle, its the interface between the unrealistic desires of the id and social reality (expectations of others)
• therefore it doesn’t for fill the id’s aggressive urges directly, but instead does it indirectly and symbollically

Question 7

What is our superego?

Answer 7

-the moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self

Question 8

How does our superego explain aggression according to Freud?

Answer 8

• fulfils the moral role, and emerges later in development around age 5/6
• it represents our conscious and moral sense of right and wrong, and the ideal image of ourselves we want to live up to
• as aggression is destructive, the superego opposes the id’s aggressive drive through guilt and shame when we feel to meet the highest moral standards
• it is just as irrational and punishing in its demands as the id

Question 9

What is catharsis?

Answer 9

-the process of releasing pent-up psychic energy

Question 10

Explain how catharsis can help satisfy the instinctive drive of aggression

Answer 10

-expressing aggression, e.g by venting anger, releases psychic energy, reduces the aggressive drive and makes further aggression less likely (letting off steam)

Question 11

What will be the consequences if catharsis is prevented?

Answer 11

-a build up of energy is created which will eventually produce a destructive aggressive outburst which may be inwards (e.g self harm or suicide) or outwards (e.g a violent assault)

Question 12

Explain how the defence mechanism displacement achieves catharsis.

Answer 12

• Displacement is where you transfer your feelings onto something or someone else, still in an aggressive way but not directly to the cause of your aggression
• E.g anger might be directed at a door slamming, rather then at your mum

Question 13

Explain how the defence mechanism sublimination achieves catharsis.

Answer 13

• Sublimination is when people are able to transform unwanted impulses into something that is less harmful and often very helpful
• E.g When you are angry at your partner you clean the house to vent this emotion

Question 14

What is a defence mechanism?

Answer 14

Ways that we protect ourselves from distressing, painful, and unpleasant thoughts and feelings