psychosexual stages Flashcards
What is the psychodynamic approach?
A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience.
This approach emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior.
What is the unconscious?
The part of the mind that we are unaware of but which directs much of our behaviour.
The unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and desires that are not accessible to conscious awareness.
What is the Id?
Entirely unconscious, the Id is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification.
The Id operates on the pleasure principle, seeking instant pleasure and avoiding pain.
What is the Ego?
The ‘reality check’ that balances the conflicting demands of the Id and the Superego.
The Ego operates on the reality principle, negotiating between the desires of the Id and the constraints of the Superego.
What is the Superego?
The moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self - how we ought to be.
The Superego develops through socialization and represents internalized ideals and standards.
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies that the Ego uses to manage the conflict between the Id and the Superego.
Common defence mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection.
How many psychosexual stages are there?
Five developmental stages that all children pass through.
Each stage is characterized by a different conflict that influences personality development.
Fill in the blank: The Id is made up of _______ aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification.
selfish
This reflects the basic desires and drives of the Id.
True or False: The Superego is entirely unconscious.
False
The Superego is conscious and represents the moral standards of an individual.
What does the Ego operate on?
The reality principle.
This means the Ego seeks to satisfy the Id’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways.
What is the purpose of defence mechanisms?
To manage the conflict between the Id and the Superego.
They help reduce anxiety and maintain psychological balance.
What did Sigmund Freud suggest about the conscious mind?
The conscious mind is merely the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and most of the mind is made up of the unconscious.
What is the unconscious according to Freud?
A vast storehouse of biological drives and instincts that significantly influences behavior and personality.
What types of memories does the unconscious contain?
Threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed or forgotten.
How can repressed memories be accessed?
During dreams or through slips of the tongue, known as parapraxes.
What is an example of a parapraxis?
Calling a female teacher ‘mum’ instead of ‘miss’.
What is the preconscious?
A layer just below the conscious mind containing thoughts and memories that can be accessed if desired.
What are the three parts of Freud’s tripartite personality structure?
- The Id
- The Ego
- The Superego
What is the Id?
The primitive part of personality that operates on the pleasure principle and demands instant gratification.
What principle does the Ego operate on?
The reality principle.
What is the role of the Ego?
To mediate between the demands of the Id and the Superego.
When does the Ego develop?
Around the age of two years.
What is the Superego?
The part of personality that represents our internalised sense of right and wrong based on moral standards.
At what stage is the Superego formed?
At the end of the phallic stage, around the age of five.
What happens if a psychosexual conflict is unresolved?
The child becomes ‘stuck’ and carries certain behaviors and conflicts into adult life.
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies used by the Ego to prevent being overwhelmed by threats or traumas.
True or False: Defence mechanisms are regarded as healthy long-term solutions.
False.
What is the focus of pleasure in the Oral stage?
The mouth, with the mother’s breast as the object of desire
Oral fixation can manifest as smoking, biting nails, or being sarcastic and critical.
What age range does the Anal stage cover?
1-3 years
In this stage, the child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces.
What are the characteristics of an Anal retentive personality?
Perfectionist, obsessive
This personality type often results from strict toilet training.
What defines an Anal expulsive personality?
Thoughtless, messy
This personality type often results from lenient toilet training.
What is the primary focus of pleasure in the Phallic stage?
The genital area
A phallic personality is often characterized as narcissistic and reckless.
What happens during the Latency stage?
Earlier conflicts are repressed
This stage is characterized by a period of calm in psychosexual development.
At what stage do sexual desires become conscious?
Genital stage
This stage coincides with the onset of puberty and can lead to difficulties in forming heterosexual relationships.
Fill in the blank: Oral fixation can lead to behaviors such as _______.
smoking, biting nails, being sarcastic, and critical
True or False: The Phallic stage occurs between the ages of 3-6 years.
True
Fill in the blank: In the Anal stage, children find pleasure in _______ and expelling faeces.
withholding
What is repression?
Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind.
Repression is a defense mechanism that helps individuals cope with anxiety and stress by pushing unwanted thoughts and memories out of conscious awareness.
What does denial mean in psychological terms?
Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality.
Denial is a defense mechanism that involves rejecting the reality of a situation to protect oneself from uncomfortable feelings.
What is displacement?
Transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target.
Displacement allows individuals to express feelings towards a less threatening object or person, rather than the original source of distress.
What is one strength of the psychodynamic approach?
It introduced the idea of psychotherapy as opposed to physical treatments.
This includes techniques like dream analysis to access the unconscious mind.
What therapy did Freud bring to the world?
Psychoanalysis.
This was the first attempt to treat mental disorders psychologically rather than physically.
What does psychoanalysis aim to achieve for clients?
It aims to bring repressed emotions into the conscious mind so they can be dealt with.
This process is thought to help clients understand their emotions better.
What is a modern-day application of psychoanalysis?
It is the forerunner to many modern-day talking therapies, such as counselling.
These therapies have been established since Freud’s time.
What is a counterpoint to the effectiveness of Freudian therapy?
It is regarded as inappropriate or harmful for serious mental disorders like schizophrenia.
Symptoms of schizophrenia, such as paranoia, complicate the therapeutic process.
What does Freud’s theory claim about human behaviour?
It has the ability to explain human behaviour.
This includes personality development, origins of psychological disorders, and moral development.
What influence did the psychodynamic approach have beyond psychology?
It has had a positive impact on literature, art, and other human endeavours.
This suggests its relevance extends into cultural and creative fields.
What is a limitation of the psychodynamic approach according to Karl Popper?
Much of it is untestable.
This includes concepts like the Id and the Oedipus complex.
Why are Freud’s concepts considered difficult to test?
They occur at an unconscious level, making them difficult to empirically test.
Additionally, his ideas were based on subjective studies of individuals.
What does the term ‘pseudoscientific’ imply about Freud’s theory?
It suggests that Freud’s theory was not a real science rather than established fact.
This is due to its lack of falsifiability.
Fill in the blank: Psychoanalysis employs a range of techniques designed to access the _______.
unconscious
