Psychoanalytical theory Flashcards
main idea
Analyzing the author’s experiences, childhood and trauma - how it shows in the character’s actions/behaviors/beliefs
importance of lens
Dilemmas and conflict in writing which is a reflection of the author’s own childhood trauma and experiences reflected within the characters.
Unconscious
repressed part of the mind which contains feelings and desires (75-80%)
Conscious
awareness in the present moment (10%)
Id
our pleasures should be satisfied immediately regardless of the consequence
Ego
decision making component of the personality and will attempt to compromise
Superego
pushing the individual to strive for perfection - incorporates values and morals of society
Anxiety
unpleasant emotional state when a part of the mind goes unchecked (reality, moral. neurotic)
Reality Anxiety
based on real world events
Neurotic anxiety
(id) rooted in an unconscious fear and experiencing negative consequences
Moral anxiety
(superego) stems from society and for disobeying laws or own morals
Defense mechanisms
mind’s response to anxiety - appear unconsciously and distort sense of reality
Denial
when we claim or believe that which is true is false - refusal
Displacement
when we redirect negative emotions to a substitute target
Intellectualization
taking an overly rational pov (avoid emotions)
Rationalization
creating false but credible justifications for others actions
Projection
identifying traits we dislike in ourselves and attributing them to others
Regression
revert back to childish behaviour due to an inability to cope
Repression
subconsciously keeping negative thoughts from becoming conscious
Sublimation
transforming socially unacceptable behaviour into acceptable behavior or rechannel our energy - punching a punching bag instead of a person
Condensation
the grouping of our feelings into content for a dream
Manifest
the plot of dreams
Latent
true meaning behind the symbols in our dreams
Pleasure principle:
inclines us towards easy physical or emo. awards; seeking pleasure
Reality principle
assesing reality and acting upon that
Oral phase
dealing with feelings around ingestion and eating (refusing food, turning to food when sad, etc)
The Anal Phase:
learning about testing the limits of authority (parents)
Phallic phase
children direct sexual impulses towards parents
Oediupus complex
loving one parent and hating the other
Psychoanalysis
people could better adjust to the difficulties of reality
