Structural Theory

Question 1

Describe the Id (5)

Answer 1

Driven by the pleasure principle and avoids pain

Strives for immediate gratification of all desires, wants, and needs - if needs aren’t satisfied - result is anxiety or tension

Present from birth

Includes instinctive and primitive behaviors

Exists in the unconscious

Question 2

What are the 4 qualities of an instinct

Answer 2

source
aim
object
impetus

Question 3

What are the 2 types of instincts?

Answer 3

Life instinct: procreation, social cooperation, and survival

Death instinct: aggression, risky behavior, reliving trauma

Question 4

Describe Freud’s dual-instinct theory

Answer 4

There are 2 instincts: Eros (instinct for life) and Thanatos (instinct for death)

Eros includes the instincts for sex, nurturance, and affiliation

Thanatos includes the instincts for aggression towards self and aggression towards others

Question 5

How is aggression towards self manifested?

Answer 5

through self criticism and depression

Question 6

How is aggression towards others reflected?

Answer 6

Anger and prejudice

Question 7

What are 3 socially acceptable ways of satisfying libido?

Answer 7

Steady relationships and marriage
Art
Cinema and TV

Question 8

What are limitations of the id? (4)

Answer 8

No logic or reason
Not moral
No sense of time and space
No concept of danger or consequences

Question 9

How does the Id achieve satisfaction? (2)

Answer 9

Reflex Action
Primary Process (Catechting)

Question 10

What is a reflex action?

Answer 10

a spontaneous, uninhibited response - acting without thinking

includes acting out and the withdrawal reflex

Question 11

How do we “act out”? (4)

Answer 11

losing control
getting sexually aroused
kicking
making a fist

Question 12

What is catcheting/primary processing?

Answer 12

the process of choosing an object in the environment and investing emotional energy into that object

the object could be a real object, a person, or a fantasy as the Id doesn’t discriminate between real and fantasy

Question 13

Describe positive and negative cathexis

Answer 13

Positive: investing emotional energy in a way that’s pleasurable/desirable
e.g., falling in love

Negative: investing emotional energy into something that is threatening, anxiety inducing, and un-pleasurable
e.g., developing a fear of snakes

Question 14

Explain the 5 components of catcheting

Answer 14

1. Investing of psychic energy (libido)
2. Positive or negative cathexis
3. Influence on behavior
4. Unconscious motivations
5. Conflict and resolution

Question 15

How does libido influence our behavior? (both positive or negative)

Answer 15

Positively: a person in love may engage in actions to be closer to their loved one

Negatively: a person’s behaviors are aimed at avoiding or defending against perceived threats

Question 16

How does conflict and resolution play a role in cathexis?

Answer 16

emotions and desires can sometimes lead to internal conflicts when there are competing cathexes

e.g., a person may desire a fulfilling career - positive cathexis BUT also a fear of failure - negative cathexis

Question 17

What are the key features of the Id and the primary process? (5)

Answer 17

1. Unconscious and primitive
2. Pleasure principle
3. Primary process thinking
4. Symbolic and illogical
5. Lack of time and reality constraints

Question 18

What is primary process thinking?

Answer 18

the id’s way of thinking and problem solving

characterized by irrationality, wish fulfillment, and the ability to temporarily resolve conflicts

Question 19

Why is the id in constant tension with the ego and superego? (2)

Answer 19

the ego tries to mediate between the id’s impulsive desires and constraints of reality

the superego represents moral and societal values, imposing restrictions on the id’s behavior

Question 20

Describe the Ego (7)

Answer 20

Led by the reality principle and engages in reality testing

Strives to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and socially appropriate ways

Applies defense mechanisms to reduce anxiety

Protects the self from being punished by a sense of guilt brought about the superego

Involves secondary process thinking

Mediates between the id and superego

Develops at around age 2

Question 21

Describe the difference between a strong ego and a weak ego (3)

Answer 21

A weak ego is usually found in adolescents while a strong ego is usually found in mature adults

e.g., a 16 year old’s ego focuses on hiding “wrong” behavior rather than not doing it

e.g., a 40 year old’s ego focuses on not doing the “wrong” behavior

Question 22

Describe the secondary process (4)

Answer 22

1. Drive leads to tension (same as the primary process)
2. Cathexis occurs (same as the primary process)
3. Reality testing weakens the cathexis bond through identification
4. Identification leads to gratification, postponement, or partial gratification

Question 23

What is identification? (2)

Answer 23

a complex defense mechanism used considerably more by adolescents

drive -> wish fulfilment -> identification

Question 24

Give an example of identification (5)

Answer 24

Drive: you feel hungry during a lecture

Wish fulfillment: you imagine something delicious

Identification: ego intervenes and you think about where you can buy the food

Satisfying the id: you buy the food after the lecture

Satisfying the ego: id passes energy to ego

Question 25

Describe the superego (4)

Answer 25

Led by the morality principle

Provides guidelines for making judgements - what is right and wrong

Forms around age 4-7, first through identification with a parent, later by our own rules and ideals

Uses guilt and punishment to gain power and control over the personality

Question 26

What are the 3 functions of the superego?

Answer 26

Inhibiting the id

Forces the ego to act morally not rationally

Forces the person towards absolute perfection

Question 27

What are the 2 aspects of the superego?

Answer 27

Internal policeman - prohibitions
Ego ideal - parental ideals

Question 28

What are characteristics of a harsh superego? (6)

Answer 28

Guilt standing up to parents

Deep sense of duty towards parents - even if abusive

Inability to say no

Excessive anxiety, depression or heart palpitations

Workaholics

False sense of self

Question 29

What results from a very weak superego?

Answer 29

Psychopathic personality and no sense of remorse

Question 30

What creates a weak ego and what is the result?

Answer 30

Parenting which cuts down and erodes faith in self

The person becomes gullible and therefore open to abuse

Question 31

What creates a strong id?

Answer 31

Very lax and undisciplined parenting

Question 32

What creates a strong superego and what is the result?

Answer 32

Very strict parenting - may lead to parentified children

e.g., worrying about their parents wellbeing, relationship, etc. instead of worrying about things teens usually do

Question 33

Give an example of how the superego uses guilt and punishment on the self

Answer 33

abuse survivors feel guilty as though it was their fault so they punish themselves through self harm (e.g., cutting, reckless living, drugs, or promiscuity)

Question 34

In what ways is the superego NOT negative? (4)

Answer 34

When mediated by the ego:

Helps you to study and achieve
Helps you to have meaningful, lasting relationships
Helps you be a good parent
Helps you be a contributing member of society

Question 35

Why is having a healthy ego important for psychological health? (3)

Answer 35

Needs to be strong enough to get energy from the id

Has to exert energy successfully against the excesses of the superego

Has to be strong enough to engage in social life and not be afraid to try new and more challenging things