Psychoanalytic Theory Flashcards
Explain Psychoanalysis in context and some challenges
1️⃣ Freud’s Background
Neurologist who developed psychoanalytic theory using physical medicine.
Seen as a spokesperson for psychoanalysis but not the sole contributor.
2️⃣ Criticism & Relevance
Considered outdated, but not entirely dismissed.
Clinical training often includes psychoanalysis (excluding NZ & Australia).
Still forms the foundation of many psychological theories.
Gender roles highly valued - women domestic.
3️⃣ Freud’s Theories
Contain unconventional ideas, yet reflect human nature.
Some psychoanalytic concepts have supporting evidence.
4️⃣ Lasting Influence
Psychoanalysis continues to shape modern psychology and ways of thinking about human behavior.
mind and identity split, conflciting.
What is a divided self
A person’s mind or identity is split into conflicting parts, often leading to inner tension or psychological distress.
Think models:
The topographical hypothesis model
The structural hypothesis model
State the 3 elements of The Topographical Model of the psyche with definitions
1️⃣ Conscious
Thoughts, feelings, and perceptions we are actively aware of. What we know.
Example: What did you have for breakfast this morning.
2️⃣ Preconscious
Thoughts and memories that are not currently in awareness but can be accessed. What we bring to mind
Example: What are you relationships with your parents.
3️⃣ Unconscious
Unacceptable deep, hidden mental processes, actively repressed desires, fears, and traumas into the unconscious.
Influences behavior without conscious awareness (e.g., slips of the tongue, dreams).
🔹 Key Idea: The unconscious plays a major role in shaping behavior and personality, even though we are not directly aware of it.
How does The Topographical Model work?
- Unconscious Impulses & Energy Flow
The unconscious contains powerful primitive drives (e.g., sexual and aggressive instincts).
These drives generate psychic energy that seeks release into consciousness.
Direct expression is often blocked because these impulses are socially unacceptable.
- The Role of the Preconscious
The preconscious acts as a barrier, preventing inappropriate thoughts from entering awareness.
It filters and censors unconscious material, allowing only acceptable thoughts into consciousness.
This “precision exercise” ensures that not all raw impulses emerge freely.
- Energy Leaks into Consciousness
When blocked, psychic energy becomes attached to memories and symbols.
This energy leaks into consciousness in disguised forms, often through:
Dreams → The “royal road to the unconscious,” where impulses appear in symbolic form.
Freudian slips → Unintentional speech errors revealing hidden thoughts.
Mental scripts
The influence on unconscious patterns
Modern psychoanalysts use the term “phantasy” (with a “ph”) to describe deep, unconscious scripts that shape how we experience and respond to life. These are not just daydreams but core mental structures influencing emotions, relationships, and identity.
- What is Phantasy?
Unconscious mental scripts that develop early in life.
Influence how we interpret reality, often outside of conscious awareness.
Shape our desires, fears, and expectations about relationships and the world.
- How Phantasies Work
They act as internal narratives that guide behavior and emotions.
Often rooted in early childhood experiences and internalized relationships (e.g., parent-child dynamics).
They influence how we form attachments, handle conflicts, and perceive ourselves.
State the 3 elements of The Structural Model of the psyche with definitions
1️⃣ Id → Primitive drives (sexual & aggressive).
Operates on the Pleasure Principle (seeks immediate satisfaction).
Dominates in childhood but is later repressed.
Always in conflict with the Superego.
2️⃣ Superego → Moral conscience (internalized societal rules).
Operates on the Morality Principle (sets high standards).
Can lead to self-criticism & guilt.
3️⃣ Ego → Mediator between the Id, Superego, and reality.
Operates on the Reality Principle (balances impulses & societal demands).
Ensures socially acceptable behavior.
🔹 Key Idea: The mind is in constant conflict, with the Ego managing the tension between desires (Id) and morality (Superego).
Ego Defences
- From Freuds daughter.
“Really Dumb People Do Irrational Responses Using Intelligent Strategies”
Main function is to stop unacceptable feelings or conflicts from rising to the surface- the Ego developed ways to negotiated with the conflicts and letting them come out in small ways.
Repression: Blocks/supress internal memories, emotions, conflicts from the conscious.
Denial: Refusal to acknowledge reality
Projection: Pretend that your feelings belong to somebody else rather than yourself.
Displacement: Directs feelings and thoughts towards a more appropriate target.
Isolation: Disconnects the emotion from the reason of the emotion
Reaction formation: Acts in exact opposite way he/she is feeling.
Undoing: Attempt to repair, reverse past harm.
Intellectualisation: Overanalysing emotions to avoid emotions.
Sublimation: expresses unacceptable wishes in socially acceptable ways e.g. art, music
Sometimes the defences don’t work and create other problems for the person.
Freud’s Developmental Stages
Oral 0-18 months: Pleasure centers on the mouth - sucking, biting, chewing
Anal 18-36 month/3 years: Pleasure focusses on bowl and bladded elimination; coping with demands for control
Phallic 3-6 years: Please coze is the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelings
Latency: 6 to puberty: Formant sexual feelings identification process - gender identity
Genital puberty on: Maturation of sexual interest
Explain fixation and regression
Fixation and regression as the basis of personality- due to unresolved issues at different stages people can get ‘stuck’ in personality patterns defined by different stages.
Oral: demanding, needy, mistrustful
Anal: Need for control and fear of loss of control
Phallic: (Male) exhibitionist, competitive, emphasis on success.
(Female) Exhibitionist, seductive, flirtatious)
Erikson Development Stages
- Infancy (Birth - 1 year)
Crisis: Trust vs. Mistrust
Challenge: Physical and emotional needs must be met to build trust in the world.
- Early Childhood (1 - 3 years)
Crisis: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Challenge: Develop independence by exploring, making mistakes, and testing limits.
- School Age (3 - 6 years)
Crisis: Industry vs. Inferiority
Challenge: Learn gender roles, succeed in school, set personal goals, and understand the world.
- Adolescence (12 - 18 years)
Crisis: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Challenge: Develop a strong sense of identity, goals, life meaning, and test limits.
- Young Adulthood (18 - 35 years)
Crisis: Intimacy vs. Isolation
Challenge: Form intimate, meaningful relationships.
- Middle Adulthood (35 - 60 years)
Crisis: Generativity vs. Stagnation
Challenge: Contribute to the next generation, resolve differences between dreams and accomplishments.
- Later Life (60+ years)
Crisis: Integrity vs. Despair
Challenge: Look back on life with a sense of fulfillment or regret.
Physical changes, focus, conflict. Marked by: over…, exclusion….roma
Identity vs role confusion
romantic, idealistic views
- Physical Changes: Rapid growth and sexual maturity (physical revolution).
- Focus: Concern with how they appear to others.
- Integration: Builds on previous developmental stages.
- Conflict: Establishing a coherent identity vs. role confusion.
The conflict between establishing a clear sense of identity and the confusion that arises when one is unsure of their role in the world.
Marked by:
- Over-identification with cliques and crowds.
- Exclusion of those who are different.
- Romantic love as a way of seeing oneself reflected in another.
- Idealistic views: Adolescents often have idealized views of themselves, their future, and society.
- Challenging adult authority.
State strengths and weaknesses of psychoanalysis
Strengths of Psychoanalysis
Deeper Understanding: Provides a richer understanding of personality and behavior.
Intuitive Fit: Matches our intuitive understanding of ourselves, especially regarding unconscious processes.
Research Support: Some research evidence backs psychoanalytic ideas, especially around defense mechanisms and unconscious influence.
Influence on Other Theories: Serves as a starting point for many other personality theories and psychological frameworks.
Weaknesses of Psychoanalysis
Case Study Reliance: Early reliance on case studies raises questions of generalizability to broader populations.
Untestable Theory: Concepts are too abstract to be properly tested.
Unfalsifiable: Something that cannot be proven false.The theory is unfalsifiable—explanations can always be adapted (e.g., “If you don’t remember, it’s because you don’t want to”).
Complexity: Psychoanalysis is complex and difficult to understand for both practitioners and clients.
CREN
Research methods in psychoanalysis
Case studies, randomized control trials, experimental studies, neurological observation’s an studies
