psychodynamics Flashcards
What are Freud’s three levels of consciousness, and how do they differ?
Answer:
Conscious – Thoughts and perceptions we are aware of.
Preconscious – Memories and information that can be easily accessed.
Unconscious – Deeply buried desires, fears, and memories that influence behavior but are difficult to access.
Which part of personality operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification?
✅ Answer:
The Id operates on the pleasure principle, demanding instant fulfillment of desires like hunger, aggression, and sex.
What is the function of the superego, and how does it develop?
The superego represents moral values, societal norms, and conscience. It develops through parental guidance, cultural rules, and social learning.
Give an example of repression, a defense mechanism.
A person who was in a traumatic car accident has no recollection of the event but experiences anxiety when driving.
What is the difference between sublimation and projection as defense mechanisms?
Sublimation: Redirecting unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities (e.g., aggression into sports).
Projection: Attributing one’s own unwanted feelings to others (e.g., a dishonest person believing everyone else is lying).
What happens if a person becomes fixated at the anal stage of psychosexual development?
Anal-retentive: Excessively neat, controlling, perfectionistic.
Anal-expulsive: Messy, careless, disorganized.
In which psychosexual stage does the Oedipus complex occur, and what is it?
The Phallic Stage (3-6 years old). The Oedipus Complex describes a boy’s unconscious attraction to his mother and rivalry with his father.
Which defense mechanism involves justifying inappropriate behavior with seemingly logical but false reasons?
Rationalization – Creating logical explanations for behavior to avoid true, often unacceptable, motives.
How did Freud’s case study of Anna O. contribute to psychoanalysis?
Anna O. experienced hysterical symptoms (e.g., paralysis, speech issues). She improved through catharsis—the release of repressed emotions—leading Freud to develop talk therapy.
How do the life instincts (Eros) and death instincts (Thanatos) differ?
Eros (Life Instincts): Drive survival, pleasure, reproduction (e.g., love, eating, creativity).
Thanatos (Death Instincts): Drive aggression, destruction, and self-harm (e.g., violent tendencies, risky behavior).
How does the ego mediate between the id and superego?
The ego operates on the reality principle, balancing the id’s desires and the superego’s morals while considering real-world consequences.
Which psychosexual stage is associated with thumb-sucking, eating, and dependency?
The Oral Stage (0-1 year). Fixation in this stage can lead to overeating, smoking, or excessive dependency in adulthood.
What is catharsis, and why is it important in psychoanalysis?
Catharsis is the release of pent-up emotions through talking or reliving traumatic experiences. Freud believed it was essential for treating repressed emotions and psychological distress.
What is the main difference between Freud’s Psychoanalytic unconscious and the Cognitive unconscious?
Psychoanalytic unconscious: Driven by irrational desires, instincts, and repressed emotions (e.g., hidden sexual/aggressive urges).
Cognitive unconscious: Automatic mental processes that are logical and rational (e.g., habits, memory, perception).
What is the self in personality psychology?
The self refers to how individuals observe, interpret, and define themselves based on their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. It includes physical, emotional, cognitive, and functional aspects.
What are the three levels of the Topographical Model of the mind?
Conscious – Thoughts and perceptions we are aware of.
Preconscious – Memories that can be recalled with effort.
Unconscious – Deeply buried thoughts, fears, and desires that influence behavior.
What are the three components of Freud’s Structural Model of Personality?
Id (“I want it now!”) – Instinctual desires, operates on the pleasure principle.
Ego (“Maybe we can compromise.”) – Rational mediator, operates on the reality principle.
Superego (“It’s not right to do that.”) – Moral conscience, enforces societal rules.
What is the purpose of defense mechanisms?
Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used by the ego to reduce anxiety caused by conflicts between the id and superego by distorting reality.
What is repression, and why is it considered a major defense mechanism?
Repression is the process of pushing distressing thoughts into the unconscious to avoid anxiety.
It is the most fundamental defense mechanism because many other defenses stem from it.
🔹 Example: A person who was abused as a child has no memory of the event but experiences relationship anxiety.
How does regression manifest in stressful situations?
Regression involves reverting to childlike behaviors to cope with stress.
🔹 Example: A stressed adult sleeps with a teddy bear or throws a tantrum like a child.
What is the difference between denial and suppression?
Denial: The unconscious refusal to accept reality.
🔹 Example: A smoker insists cigarettes are not harmful despite medical warnings.
Suppression: Consciously ignoring distressing thoughts to focus on more important matters.
🔹 Example: A grieving person delays thinking about their loss to focus on work.
What is projection, and how does it affect behavior?
Projection occurs when a person attributes their own negative traits or emotions to others.
🔹 Example: A dishonest person accuses others of lying or a jealous person believes others are envious of them.
How does the ego use defense mechanisms to protect itself from anxiety?
The ego balances the id’s desires and the superego’s morality by using unconscious strategies (defense mechanisms) to distort reality and reduce stress.
Which defense mechanism allows someone to temporarily delay dealing with an issue to focus on more pressing matters?
Suppression – The conscious decision to ignore distressing thoughts temporarily.
🔹 Example: A student stressed about family issues focuses on exam preparation first.
How can overuse of defense mechanisms be harmful?
Excessive use of defense mechanisms can lead to emotional repression, distorted reality, and unresolved psychological conflicts.
🔹 Example: A person who denies their addiction may never seek treatment, worsening their condition.
What is the purpose of projective tests in personality assessment?
Projective tests aim to access unconscious thoughts, emotions, and conflicts by presenting ambiguous stimuli that allow individuals to project their inner feelings onto them.
🔹 Example: Someone who sees a threatening image in an inkblot may have underlying fears or anxieties.
According to Freud’s Structural Model of the Mind, what are the three levels of consciousness?
✅ Answer:
Conscious Mind – Thoughts and feelings we are actively aware of.
Preconscious Mind – Memories and thoughts that can be retrieved with effort.
Unconscious Mind – Hidden emotions, desires, and traumas that influence behavior.
What is the Rorschach Inkblot Test, and how does it work?
A projective test where individuals describe what they see in a series of inkblots.
Their interpretations reveal underlying thoughts, emotions, and personality traits.
🔹 Example Response & Interpretation:
“I see two people fighting.” → Possible aggression or interpersonal conflict.
What is the Word Association Test, and what does it measure?
A test where the person responds with the first word that comes to mind when given a stimulus word.
Helps uncover automatic, unconscious associations and emotional conflicts.
🔹 Example:
Word given: “Father”
Response: “Strict” → May suggest a rigid or fear-based relationship with the father.
What is the Sentence Completion Test, and how does it reveal personality?
The test-taker finishes incomplete sentences, revealing hidden emotions, values, and thought patterns.
🔹 Example:
Sentence: “I feel happiest when…”
Response: “…I’m alone.” → Might indicate introversion or social withdrawal.
What is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), and how does it work?
A test where individuals create stories about ambiguous images.
Their narratives reveal hidden motives, fears, and personality traits.
🔹 Example:
Picture: A person sitting alone in a dark room.
Story Response: “They feel abandoned by their family.” → Might suggest fear of isolation or past rejection.
What is the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test, and what does it assess?
A test where individuals interpret cartoon-like frustrating scenarios.
Measures how people handle frustration and conflict.
🔹 Example:
Scene: A student gets a bad grade on a test.
Response: “They argue with the teacher.” → Might indicate difficulty accepting failure.
What are Draw Tests, and how can they reveal unconscious thoughts?
The test-taker draws a person, family, or object, and psychologists analyze details for symbolic meaning.
🔹 Example:
A child draws a family with themselves missing → Could suggest feelings of neglect or low self-worth.
What are the main advantages of projective tests?
✅ Access to unconscious emotions and thoughts.
✅ Encourages self-expression without self-censorship.
✅ Provides deep qualitative insights into personality.
✅ Stimulates creativity and imagination.
What are the major criticisms of projective tests?
❌ Subjectivity in interpretation – Different psychologists may interpret responses differently.
❌ Lack of standardization – No universal scoring system.
❌ Time-consuming – Requires extensive analysis.
❌ Limited empirical support – Scientific studies question their reliability and accuracy.
