Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
Id
Most primitive; unconscious, infantile; pleasure principle (instant gratification).
Freud’s Theory
Personality differences arise from unconscious conflicts and desires.
Ego
Rational, logical; upholds the reality principle (functions within reality).
Superego
Conscience; internalized social rules; punishes ego with guilt.
Anxiety
An unpleasant emotional state. Several defense mechanisms protect the ego from anxiety.
Repression
Pushing of thoughts, impulses, and memories out of consciousness.
Displacement
Redirection of an impulse from one channel to another.
Reaction formation
Transformation of a forbidden impulse into its opposite.
Projection
Attribution of unacceptable thoughts and impulses to another person rather than oneself.
Criticisms of Freud
Critics contend that Freud’s theories are not testable, do not predict behavior, and are not based on wide samples.
