PDF PSYCH

• Psychology is the field of the social sciences that deals with the description, explanation, prediction and control of behaviour
• Psychology believes that the world of material things including people exists independently of the perceiving human mind
• Mind-body problem


  One issue in the field of knowledge for psychology
• Nature-Nurture Controversy


  Another issue specifically for psychology, regarding the causes of human behaviour
• Both nature and nurture influence behaviour, each one to a greater or lesser degree
• Freud's ideas


  Probable factors that determine human behaviour, paving the way for science to look into the workings of the unconscious mind
• Repressed thoughts and memories

  Have enough psychic energy to impose its control on the person's consciousness
• Freud's therapy techniques


  1. Free association

  2. Dream analysis
• Freud's psychodynamic theory


  • The workings of the mind or one's mental life impacts strongly on the body resulting in either emotional stability or psychological dysfunctions
• Conscious awareness


  The tip of the iceberg, representing the person's observable behaviour
• Unconscious/subconscious mind


  The larger part of the iceberg, controlling the person's observable behaviour
• Id


  The structure that is primarily based on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate satisfaction
• Ego


  The structure that is based on the reality principle, mediating between the impulses of the id and the restraints of the superego
• Superego


  The last structure to develop, primarily dependent on learning the difference between right and wrong
• Eros (life instinct)


  The energy that includes urges necessary for individual and species survival like thirst, hunger and sex
• Thanatos (death instinct)


  The energy that drives behaviour towards destruction in the form of aggression and violence
• Freud's psychoanalysis sees man as a product of his past lodged within his subconscious
• Man's behaviour is said to be born with his ego already in conflict, balancing the forces of life and death
• William James


  • An American Philosopher and Psychologist, known for his Theory of the Self
• Thoughts


  All human thoughts are owned by some personal self, constantly changing, with continuity as focus shifts, dealing with objects different from and independent of consciousness itself, and able to focus on particular objects and not others
• Self


  Consists of the 'ME self' (the empirical self or "me") and the 'I self' (the pure ego or "I")
• Pure Ego


  Similar to the soul or the mind, the totality of the person's identity arising from a continuous stream of human consciousness
• Empirical self ("me")


  Includes the material self, social self, and spiritual self
• Material self


  Consists of the things or objects that belong to the person or entities that a person belongs to, including the body and its extensions
• Social self


  Refers to who the person is in a particular social situation, with different social selves for different groups of people
• Spiritual self


  The most subjective and intimate part of the self, including the individual's personality, values, and morals
• Global self


  The overall value that a person places upon himself, influenced by the groups of people he interacts with
• Murray Bowen


  • An American Psychiatrist and Professor, developed the concept of differentiated self based on his observation of the family
• Differentiated self


  Balances the forces of togetherness and individuality, where too much togetherness creates friction and conflict, and too much individuality results in distant and estranged feelings
• Differentiated self


  Though still affected by the presence of others, has the ability to separate feelings and thoughts. The person recognizes that they have their own personality and are endowed with unique characteristics not dependent on the opinion of other people.
• Differentiated self


  Enables the person to develop and sustain their unique personality, make their own choices and accept responsibility for their behaviour without interrupting the emotional connection with their family and friends.
• Real self-concept


  All information and perception the person has about themselves. The first question that can be answered is "Who am I?"
• Ideal self-concept


  The idealized view carried by experiences, standards, and demands of society. The ideal self is what a person aims for themselves to be. The first question that can be answered is "What do I want to be?"
• There should be congruence between the real self and the ideal self in order for the person to be happy and satisfied in life.
• If the ideal self is different from the real self this would lead a person to experience dissatisfaction and may see themselves as a failure.
• Self-discrepancy


  Arises when the self is found to be deviating from self-guides (internalized standards) and may lead to emotional discomfort, manifested as guilt or indifference.
• Multiple Selves Theory


  Suggests that there exists in the individual different aspects of the self, which may manifest themselves when situations call for it. The psychologically healthy individual can make sense of the sometimes confusing and conflicting aspects of themselves to be integrated into a single or unified self.
• True self


  The self that is seen as creative, spontaneously experiencing each day, appreciating being alive, real, integrated and connected to the whole existence. It is characterized by a high level of awareness in the person of who they are, what they are capable of and not afraid to let others know their weaknesses and imperfections.
• False self


  A form of defense, a mask that hides the true person for fear of rejection and failure. It arises when the person is forced to comply with existing social norms and standards. At times false selves enable the person to form superficial but productive social relationships.
• Proactive and agentic self

  The person has the capacity to exercise control over their life. They are affected by the interaction among environmental events, behavior and personal factors.