personality - the psychoanalytical theories of personality

    Cards (38)

    • What is psychoanalysis primarily concerned with?
      Measuring personality change or difference
    • What were the key developments in Freud's theory in the 1890s?
      • Meeting women with physical problems
      • Concluded physical issues can stem from emotional problems
      • Initially thought hysteria only affected women
      • Breuer's treatment of a woman with hysteria
      • Catharsis leading to therapy development
    • What does Freud's theory attempt to explain about personality?
      Influence of childhood, unconscious motives, coping mechanisms
    • What are the three forces that Freud states determine behaviors?
      Childhood experiences, unconscious motives, urges
    • What are the three levels of awareness according to Freud?
      Conscious, preconscious, unconscious
    • What does the top level of awareness represent?
      Awareness and conscious
    • What is the preconscious level?
      Experiences not currently thought of but retrievable
    • What is found at the unconscious level?
      Aggressive and sexual drives, not immediately aware
    • How does the iceberg metaphor relate to Freud's theory?
      Outward behavior results from the unconscious mind
    • What is a Freudian slip?
      Accidental expression of true desires
    • How do dreams influence behavior according to Freud?
      They reveal true desires and meanings
    • What is manifest content in dreams?
      What we remember and report from dreams
    • What is latent content in dreams?
      The hidden meaning of the dream
    • What do dream symbols represent in Freud's theory?
      Manifest content interpreted into latent desires
    • What happens in nightmares according to Freud?
      Repressed wishes break through into dreams
    • What is a criticism of Freud's theories?
      They are hard to test scientifically
    • Why is Freud's theory considered deterministic?
      Behavior is determined by the unconscious mind
    • What does dynamic mean in Freud's theory?
      Behavior is fueled by psychic energy
    • What is cathexis?
      Investment of psychic energy in focus
    • What happens if psychic energy is not directed?
      Tension builds up, impacting psychological function
    • What are the three structures of personality in Freud's theory?
      1. The id - pleasure principle
      2. The ego - reality principle
      3. The superego - moral principle
    • What does the id represent in Freud's theory?
      Immediate gratification and psychological drives
    • What is the role of the ego?
      To mediate between id and reality
    • What does the superego represent?
      Moral guardian and conscience
    • How do the id and ego interact?
      Ego organizes behavior between id and superego
    • What results from conflicts between personality parts?
      Frustration, tension, and anxiety
    • What can cause anxiety according to Freud?
      Ego fearing id's control or superego's guilt
    • What are defense mechanisms in Freud's theory?
      • Unconscious reactions protecting from unpleasant emotions
      • Acceptable in moderation, harmful if excessive
    • What is repression as a defense mechanism?
      Forgetting things that cause anxiety
    • What is regression as a defense mechanism?
      Returning to immature behavior patterns
    • What is denial as a defense mechanism?
      Refusing to accept unpleasant reality
    • What is displacement as a defense mechanism?
      Transferring thoughts to a less threatening object
    • What is sublimation as a defense mechanism?
      Channeling feelings into socially beneficial activities
    • What is reaction formation as a defense mechanism?
      Behaving opposite to true feelings
    • What is rationalization as a defense mechanism?
      Justifying unacceptable behavior
    • What is projection as a defense mechanism?
      Attributing feelings to innocent others
    • What is fixation as a defense mechanism?
      Getting stuck in an immature phase
    • What is identification as a defense mechanism?
      Identifying with powerful people for self-esteem