Freudian Psychoanalysis

Question 1

Define “conscious thought”.

Answer 1

The thoughts we can readily access.

Question 2

Define the “preconscious mind”.

Answer 2

Conscious thoughts that are temporarily in hiding.

Question 3

Define the “unconscious mind”.

Answer 3

Only with great difficulty can these thoughts be accessed. Hold the darkest and most unacceptable content.

Question 4

What is the function of dreams, according to Freud?

Answer 4

To protect sleep.

Question 5

What is the manifest content of dreams?

Answer 5

The actual storyline of the dream that you can think of.

Question 6

What is the latent content of dreams?

Answer 6

Hidden meaning to dreams that is protected by devices such as symbolisation.

Question 7

What two concepts defined previously represent primary process thinking?

Answer 7

The unconscious mind and the dream narrative.

Question 8

What are the characteristics of primary process thinking and what is it driven by?

Answer 8

Illogical and disorganised. Pleasure principle aka the id.

Question 9

What concept defined previously represents secondary process thinking?

Answer 9

Conscious mind.

Question 10

What are the characteristics of secondary process thinking and what is it driven by?

Answer 10

Logical and organised. Reality principle aka the ego.

Question 11

What is the key motivational construct in psychoanalytic thinking?

Answer 11

Libido aka sexual energy.

Question 12

When is libido active?

Answer 12

All life stages.

Question 13

What does libido exist alongside?

Answer 13

Life-preserving drives e.g. hunger and pain.

Question 14

What are the names for the three aspects of personality within psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 14

The id, the ego, the superego.

Question 15

Name the pleasure principle and identify the gratification of the pleasure principle, the location of the pleasure principle and the presence of libido.

Answer 15

The id, instant gratification, unconscious mind, all libido is here.

Question 16

Name the reality principle and identify the gratification of the reality principle, the location of the reality principle and the presence of libido.

Answer 16

The ego, delayed gratification, partially conscious and some preconscious, libido flows to the ego as we grow.

Question 17

Name the morality principle and explain what its purpose and location is.

Answer 17

The superego. It internalises what our parents say we should be doing and assists the ego. Partially unconscious, mostly conscious.

Question 18

What two problems can result from conflict between the three parts of the mind?

Answer 18

Anxiety and mental disturbance.

Question 19

Briefly explain how libido works in the context of the theory of psychosexual development.

Answer 19

Infants are polymorphously perverse, they receive pleasure from any stimulated body part due to libido being diffuse. Over time, libido cathetcs to different parts of the body.

Question 20

Identify the first stage of psychosexual development and explain what it is.

Answer 20

Oral stage.

• Baby receives stimulation through the mouth (breast or bottlefeeding).

Question 21

What are the two outcomes in the first stage of psychosexual development if libido gets stuck?

Answer 21

• Oral receptiveness - more likely to seek compensation i.e by taking up smoking.
• Oral aggressiveness - deals with their overcompensation by giving out i.e via sadism.

Question 22

What is it called when libido gets stuck?

Answer 22

Fixation.

Question 23

Identify the second stage of psychosexual development and explain what it is.

Answer 23

Anal stage.

• The child decides when it is appropriate to do a poo.