Theories and Pioneers in Developmental Psychology Flashcards
Anna Freud Contributions
Set the foundation for what we know about children today
Founder of child psychoanalysis
Was the first to apply observational techniques to systematically study children
Believed that parents are not just caretakers but also supply critical psychological needs
Her work influenced laws about adoption/custody
Became a prominent advocate for children’s rights
Sigmund Freud Perspective and Theories
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Personality Theory
Believed that there are 3 parts to our psyche
1) ID
2) EGO
3) SUPEREGO
ID
Devil,
present at birth, innate
operates on its own until ego emerges at age 1
driven by the Pleasure Principle: part of our mind interested in instant gratification
Selfish, impulsive, primal urges
Ex. babies crying, addiction, substance use
EGO
Balance between devil and angel
Emerges at age 1
Driven by Reality Principle: grounded in what is present in the moment
Most stable/anchor of the psyche
Individuals with strong EGO are more likely to not have mental illnesses
Superego
Angel
Internalization of parental and societal values (regulates morality)
Underdeveloped: narcissism, impulsiveness, psychopathy, lack of guilt
Overdeveloped Superego
anxious, type A, overly apologetic
Instinct Theory
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Death Instinct
there is an equally strong drive towards destruction and death/prelife that causes more tensions. This is expressed when individuals engage in self-destructive behavior
When you see aggression/violence directed towards someone else, that is your life instinct redirecting the death instinct outward. According to Freud, we destroy others to stop ourselves from destroying ourselves.
Theory of Consciousness
There are 3 levels of awareness
1) Preconscious
2) Conscious
3) Unconscious
Preconscious
thoughts/memories/feelings that are accessible but are not explicitly being thought about in the moment
Conscious
what is happening in the here and now. (there is a lot of fluidity between preconscious and conscious)
Unconscious
It is inaccessible and is a hidden reservoir of thought/memories that are not directly accessible
Freud believed that the unconscious influences our behavior more than the preconscious and conscious
Forms the foundation for the psychoanalysis model
Formed by childhood experiences
Psychosexual stages of development
1) Oral Stage
2) Anal Stage
3) Phallic Stage
4) Latency Stage
5) Genital Stage
Oral Stage
the oral cavity (mouth, lips, tongue, gums) is the primary pleasure center. Its function is to obtain an appropriate amount of sucking, eating, biting, and talking
Fixation of Oral Stage
dependency, oral fixations (smoking), depression, gullibility
Anal Stage
the anus is the pleasure center. The function here is successful toilet training (delayed gratification)
Fixation of Anal Stage
Neglect -> sloppiness; Overly militant (harshly disciplined)-> shame, the root of anxiety
Phallic Stage
the glands of the penis and the clitoris are the pleasure centers in this stage and in the 2 remaining stages. The major function of this stage is the healthy development of sexual interest, which is achieved through masturbation and unconscious sexual desire for the parent of the opposite sex. Resolution of the conflicts caused by this desire (oedipal in males and Electra conflict in females) is the goal
Girls Develop Penis Envy
Penis Envy
Fixation of Phallic Stage
sibling rivalrys, inability to let go of the mother as the primary love object, lack of independence, difficulty developing relationships, vanity
Latency Stage
during this stage, sexual desire becomes dormant, which is especially true for boys who may refuse to hug or kiss their mothers and treat female age mates with disdain. Because society is more tolerant of a daughter’s attraction to her father, the Electra complex is less resolved and girls’ sexual feelings may be less repressed during this stage
Fixation of Latency Stage
Genital Stage
at this stage, a surge of sexual hormones occurs in both genders, which brings about an unconscious recurrence of the phallic stage. Normally, however, youths have learned that desire for one’s parents is taboo, and so they set about establishing relationships with members of the opposite sex who are their own age. It fixation occurs at any stage, anxiety results, and defense mechanisms will be used to deal with it.