Freuds psychodynamic explanation of aggression Flashcards
The unconscious and aggression
Contains thoughts, memories and desires of which we are unaware
Iceberg metaphor - the unconscious Is the largest part, below the surface and hidden from view
It is not a passive and static storage container where nothing happens, but instead an active processor of its contents, requiring a lot of psychic energy to keep these contents unconscious
A key influence of the unconscious is its role as the origin of powerful aggressive thoughts, our behaviour may still be influenced by aggressive urges that are ‘hidden’ in the unconscious
Personality and aggression
THE ID
In Freuds tripartite theory, personality is made up of the id, the ego and the superego
The id - (the pleasure principle):
-Exists from birth, most primitive, within the subconscious
-Origin of the energy that motivates all our behaviour (including aggression), unacceptable instincts, impulses and drives
-Obeys pleasure principle : immediate gratification of desires, no consideration of other factors such as social reality, making aggression unavoidable and inevitable
Personality and aggression
THE EGO
In Freuds tripartite theory, personality is made up of the id, the ego and the superego
The ego (the reality principle:)
-Logical, rational, mostly conscious part of personality
-Follows reality principle as the interface between the unrealistic desires of the id and social reality
-Satisfies the Id by fulfilling its urges indirectly and symbolically (fantasising about violence)
Personality and aggression
THE SUPEREGO
In Freuds tripartite theory, personality is made up of the id, the ego and the superego
The superego:
-Fulfils ‘moral’ role, represents sense of right and wrong, and the ideal image we have of ourselves and want to live up to
-Opposes the ids destructive aggression through guilt (just as rational in its demands as the id)
Catharsis and aggression
Expressing aggression satisfies an instinctive drive
For example, venting anger is cathartic because it releases psychic energy, reduces the aggressive drive and makes further aggression less likely (letting off steam)
Preventing catharsis builds up energy, producing destructive aggression directed inwards (self-harm) or outwards (assault)
Freud believed direct expression of the impulse in aggressive behaviour was most beneficial but catharsis can be achieved in a variety of indirect ways, for example:
-displacement is where aggression towards one person is redirected against a less powerful and more available substitute
-Observing others being aggressive (in violent films)
A strength of Freuds theory is it can explain different type of aggression
Hot-blooded aggression is impulsive, angry and has no purpose (domain of the id - failure of the egos function of redirecting the ids aggressive impulses)
Cold-blooded aggression is deliberate, ‘rational’ and instrumental (purposeful), the outcome of the egos successful control of id impulses
This matches the reality of aggressive behaviour and gives us confidence in the validity of the theory
A weakness is evidence showing that aggression is not cathartic
Bushman angered students by getting a confederate to criticise the students essays. One group (randomly allocated then vented their anger by hitting a punching bag while thinking about the confederate
These students blasted the confederate with the loudest and longest noises in a later task (compared with controls who did not vent anger)
This is the opposite of the finding predicted by Freuds theory. According to bushman, … venting to reduce anger is like using gasoline to put out a fire - it only needs the flame
Competing argument
However, this is evidence that expressing anger can be cathartic. Graham et al suggest ranting rather than venting .Ranting involves considering the reasons for anger. Venting is uncontrolled expression of anger, but ranting allows the individual to gain control over their feelings and avoid aggressive behaviour
Application
Catharsis can prevent a build-up of aggressive energy by people building into their lives harmless ways of expressing anger (based on Freudian ideas such as displacement, hitting an object rather than a person)
Catharis could also feature in therapy e.g. in psychoanalysis it can be achieved just by bringing unconscious and ‘forgotten’ memories into the conscious mind
This means that Freuds theory offers a practical solution to reduce aggressive behaviour with potential benefits for individuals and wider society
Issues and debates
Freuds theory and biological explanations can be compared
Both approaches share the view that aggression is instinctive and therefore innate.
For freud, it is an unconscious impulse originating in the id. In the biological approach, it is linked to brain structures and hormonal activities that are mostly genetic
Freud suggests that directing aggression away form the self towards others promotes survival/ self-preservation. The biological approach includes evolutionary principles highlighting the role of aggression in survival
This shows that two very different approached to explaining a behaviour can share some assumptions, increasing the validity of the view (in this case) that aggression has survival function
