Freud's psychodynamic/psychosexual theory

Question 1

Born with

Answer 1

basic animal unconscious instincts that require immediate gratification

Question 2

Development depends on

Answer 2

transforming these instincts into socially acceptable, rational behavior; range of behavior is very broad at birth and becomes reduced in scope and shaped to conform to social norms during development.

Question 3

5 psychosexual stages

Answer 3

focus on different erogenous zones - oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Question 4

Conflicts in personality developments

Answer 4

happen when child is either deprived or overindulged during any of the 5 stages

Question 5

fixation

Answer 5

continued, persistent focus on that stage - stuck; happens if issue is not resolved at that stage

Question 6

id

Answer 6

pleasure seeking

Question 7

libido

Answer 7

psychosexual energy - driving force behind behavior

Question 8

Theory focuses

Answer 8

on mental disorders/abnormal development rather than normal functioning

Question 9

Oral stage

Answer 9

birth to age 1 - primary source of interaction is via mouth - rooting and sucking reflex; derives pleasure through oral satisfaction; dependent on caregiver - build trust & comfort via oral satisfaction

Question 10

Primary issue/conflict in oral stage

Answer 10

weaning from caregiver/less dependent; fixation - become dependent/aggressive - problems with drinking, eating, smoking or nail biting

Question 11

Anal stage

Answer 11

age 1 - 3 - primary focus - bladder & bowel movements; with positive encouragement of parents in this stage, children can become competent, productive and creative adults

Question 12

Primary issue/conflict in anal stage

Answer 12

control bodily needs via toilet training - leads to sense of accomplishment and independence; fixation - parents too lenient/not enough pressure - anal explosive - messy, wasteful or destructive personality; anal retentive - parents too strict, too much pressure, shaming, punishing, too early - stringent, orderly, rigid and obsessive personality

Question 13

Phallic stage

Answer 13

age 3-6 - primary focus on genitals - recognize gender differences with the goal of identifying with same-sex parent and adopting values and traits.

Question 14

Oedipus complex

Answer 14

boys want to possess mom and replace dad - rivalry for mom’s affection & fear of punishment by dad (castration anxiety) - successful resolution leads to development of superego

Question 15

Electra complex

Answer 15

girls theory - Freud just believed penis envy - no resolution for women. Later theorists disputed that - men have womb envy, cannot give birth (Karen Horney)

Question 16

Latent period

Answer 16

age 6 - puberty - sexual energy is present but not at forefront, directed into intellectual pursuits and social interactions; period of calm; develop social and communication skills and self-confidence

Question 17

Ego

Answer 17

mediates demands of id (basic urges), superego (moral, idealistic standards) and reality (reality principle), houses individual identity; satisfy urges in realistic and socially appropriate ways

Question 18

Superego

Answer 18

internalized ideals that we get from parents and society; suppress urges from id and make ego behave morally, rather than realistically; ego ideal (what is good) & conscience (what is bad)

Question 19

Genital Stage

Answer 19

puberty - death - strong sexual interest in opposite sex; interest in welfare of others increases; goal - establish balance between various life areas

Question 20

Criticism

Answer 20

focused on male development; cannot test scientifically (measure libido?); cause and effect too vague; too long of time between childhood experience and current behavior; case studies not empirical research; recollections of adult patients, not study or observation of children