Psychodynamic explanations of gender Flashcards
what is the driving force behind our behaviour
the unconscious mind
what motivates our behaviour
instincts and drive
which key events influence who we are as people
early childhood experiences (before 6)
what are examples of the conscious mind
thoughts and perceptions
what are examples of the preconscious mind
memories, stored knowledge
what are examples of the unconscious mind
fears, immoral urges, traumatic experiences
describe the ID : age for it, principle, influence on behaviour
- birth - 18 months
- pleasure principle
- seeks gratification (selfish)
describe the ego : age for it, principle, influence on behaviour
- 18 months - 3 years
- reality principle
- mediates ID and superego
describe the superego : age for it, principle, influence on behaviour
- 3 - 6years
- morality principle
- forms a moral code, acting how society deems acceptable
describe the oral stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation
- 0-18 months
- mouth
- sarcastic and critical as an adult
describe the anal stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation
- 18 months - 3yrs
- anus
- either perfectionist/obessive or thoughtless/messy as adult
describe the phallic stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation
- 3-6 years
- gentials
- narcissitic and reckless - potentially homosexual
describe the latent stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation
- 6-12 yrs
- dormant sexual desires
- no impacts
describe the genital stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation
- 12+
- maturing adult sexuality
- difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
when did freud say gender identity begins
phallic stage (3-6 years)
why did freud say gender identity begins in the phallic stage
children become aware of their own and other’s gentials - developing an awareness of physical differences between men and women
who does the oedipus complex apply to
boys
what is the oedipus complex
claims boys develop sexual interests for his mother - resulting in intense hatred for his father and castration anxeity
how does the oedipus complex lead to castration anxiety
boy fears his father will discover his feelings towards his mother and punish him through castration
who does the electra complex apply to
girls
what is the electra complex
claims that girls desire a penis to be like their father (penis envy) and her mother is the reason she doesn’t have a penis
why does the electra complex say a girls mother is the reason she doesn’t have a penis
her mother wants her daughters attention so castrates her
how is penis envy resolved
a girls desire for a penis is substituted by a desire to have a baby
what is internalisation
when an individual adopts the attitudes/behaviours of another
what is identification
a desire to be associated with a particular person/group because they possess desirable characteristics
what conflict did freud say boys have
their desire for their mother and fear of their father
what conflict did freud say girls have
competition for possession of her father and fear of losing her mother’s love
how do boys resolve the oedipus complex
- give up desire for mother and identify with father
- identification leads to internalisation = growing sense of masculinity
what effect does Freud believe not resolving the oedipus complex have
would make a boy confused about his sexual identity - could become homosexual
how does a girl resolve the electra complex
- identifies with mother leading her to internalise female identity
what effect does Freud believe not resolving the electra complex have
- would make a girl confused about her sexual identity
does freud think female or male identification is strongest
male identification
why does freud believe male identification is stronger than female
because a girl has less fear than boys because she has already been castrated
