Lesson 1: Psychoanalysis

• In 1895, Sigmund Freud, together with his colleague Josef Breuer, published Studies on Hysteria
• Hysteria


  A mental condition characterized by excessive or ungovernable emotional expressions
• Symptoms of hysteria were supposed to be symbolic representations of traumatic, and often sexual, memories
• Sigmund Freud developed a new psychological treatment for hysteric patients called the talking cure
• Talking cure


  A treatment where the patient talks about memories, dreams, thoughts, and emotions to relieve symptoms
• Psychoanalysis


  A comprehensive theory where the therapist helps the patient better understand themselves through the examination of deep personal feelings, relationships, and events that have shaped motivations and behaviors
• Psychoanalysts see the mind as an iceberg with three parts: conscious, preconscious (subconscious), and unconscious
• Levels of the mind

  • Conscious
  • Preconscious (subconscious)
  • Unconscious
• Conscious mind


  Things we immediately know about (current thoughts, feelings, perceptual focus)
• Preconscious (subconscious) mind


  Things we could be aware of if we wanted or tried (recent memories, knowledge)
• Unconscious mind


  Things we are not aware of like memories or experiences stored since birth
• Memories or experiences in the unconscious mind can manifest through slips in words (Freudian slips) and dreams
• Id


  Part of the unconscious that responds to basic urges, desires, impulses seeking immediate gratification
• Ego


  Rational, reality-oriented, keeps the id in check, ensures socially acceptable responses to id's needs
• Superego


  Serves as a conscience, where morality, higher principles reside, encourages socially and morally acceptable actions
• Id


  Keeps the id in check, ensures that we respond to the need of the id in a socially acceptable manner
• Ego


  Mediates between the id and superego, balancing the desires of the id with the moral constraints of the superego
• Superego


  • Serves as a conscience, where morality and higher principles reside
  • Encourages us to act in socially and morally acceptable ways
• How do the personalities of individuals arise according to psychoanalytic theory?
• What are the three components of the personality structure?
• Personality structure component


  • Id - An individual drinks water inside the train despite the warning of a security guard
  • Ego - An individual does not drink water inside the train despite being thirsty because the sign says so
  • Superego - Despite the urge, an individual does not pour the water from the flask to the person who accidentally pushed them
• Psychosexual development shows the different stages of the personality based on the developing pleasure-seeking areas known as the erogenous zone
• Libido is the energy created by survival and sexual instincts that shape human behavior
• There are five psychosexual stages according to Freud
• Oral stage


  1. Birth to approximately 18 months

  2. Erogenous zone: mouth

  3. Pleasure derived from activities such as sucking, chewing, and biting

  4. Personality being developed: independence

  5. Fixation consequences: seeks oral stimulation; gullible, smoking, drinking, nail-biting
• Anal stage


  1. 18 months to 3 years of age

  2. Erogenous zone: bowel and bladder control

  3. Pleasure derived from bowel movement

  4. Personalities being developed: independence, self-control, and a sense of accomplishment

  5. Fixation consequences: stringent, orderly, obsessive
• Phallic stage


  1. 3-6 years of age

  2. Erogenous zone: genitals

  3. Development of penis envy in females

  4. Attraction to parents of the opposite sex

  5. Jealousy towards the parent of the same sex

  6. Personalities being developed: self-awareness of physical differences, social roles

  7. Fixation consequences: Oedipus complex, Electra complex
• Latency stage


  1. 6-12 years of age

  2. Erogenous zone: diverted into intellectual pursuits and social interactions

  3. Personalities being developed: social skills

  4. Fixation consequences: immaturity and inability to form fulfilling relationships as an adult
• Genital stage


  1. 12 years of age onward

  2. Erogenous zone: maturing sexual interests

  3. Development of sexual urges and interests

  4. Personality being developed: sexual maturity

  5. Fixation consequences: sexual perversion, difficulty in forming a healthy sexual relationship