freud’s psychodynamic theory of personality. sigmund freud born in 1856 often criticized first to...
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Freud’s Psychodynamic
Theory of Personality
Sigmund Freud
Born in 1856 Often criticized First to develop comprehensive
theory of– the mind– mental illness– treatment
Freud’s Own Life
Strict Father Young, attractive, protective, loving
Mother– Very attached to Mom– Apple of Mom’s eye– Jealous of siblings
Very intelligent– House revolved around Siggy’s studies
Love and Work
After Gymnasium Freud went to Med School in Vienna
Loved science and research Madly loved Martha Bernays (1861-
1951) Both from poor background Entered private practice
Freud’s Work with Patients
Neuropathologist: neurologist/psychiatrist
Patients were mostly:– Women– Hysteria (somatoform disorders)– Wealthy– Reported history of sexual
abuse/seduction
What’s wrong with this picture?
Freud used these case studies to form his theory.
Problems:– Not objective observations– Freud took poor notes (selective
recollection)– Didn’t test theory against reality– Others didn’t test theory
Components of Freud’s Theory
Instincts: basic element of personality
Mind Structure: unconscious, preconscious, conscious
Personality Structure: id, ego, superego
Anxiety & Defense mechanisms Psychosexual stages of development Assessment
Instincts: basic element of personality
Energy source: Driving forces behind behavior Instinct’s job is to satisfy needs and rid us of
tension To return to a state of equilibrium!!
– Needs – example: to eat– Instinct – to hunt or gather food
Life Instincts: drive to survive (food, water, air)
Death Instincts: drive for destruction/death (to kill, conquer, or destroy)
Personality Structure
Id: Ruled by the pleasure principle– “I want what I want, when I want it!”
Ego: Ruled by the reality principle– Mediator or negotiator
Superego: Ruled by the moral principle
Anxiety & Defense Mechanisms
Anxiety = a threat to the ego that results in discomfort and a sense of imbalance
Defense mechanisms work to:– protect the ego from threatening material– restore balance– achieve homeostasis
True credit for defense mechanisms goes to Anna Freud (Freud’s youngest daughter)
Defense Mechanisms
Repression – pushing it out of consciousness. “I forgot.”
Denial – denying the existence of the threat or of the resulting anxiety
Reaction Formation – turning an unacceptable desire or behavior into an acceptable desire or behavior. Express the impulse opposite of the true impulse
Projection – transferring of unacceptable traits in oneself onto others.
Regression – retreating to a less complicated/less frustrating period of life. “I just want life to be simple.”
Rationalization – giving a perfectly reasonable excuse for performing an unacceptable act; or reinterpreting some behavior to make it more acceptable
Displacement – shifting the id impulse from the threatening/unacceptable object or target onto a less threatening target.
Sublimation – (is a form of displacement) alter the unacceptable impulses by changing them into socially acceptable behaviors.
Development of Personality
Background information:– Personality is formed by age 5.– Child is seeking pleasure and homeostasis.– Society (parents) is seeking conformity;
trying to mold the child to the demands of reality and morality.
– Impulses are universal, but can be molded by experience.
– Fixations occur at any stage of development when part of the libido gets stuck.
Freud’s Psychosexual Stages
Oral Stage: birth to end of weaning (approx. age 18 mths)
Anal Stage: age 1 (approx. 18 mths) to age 3
Phallic Stage: age 4 to 5
Latency Period: age 5 to puberty
Genital Stage: puberty and throughout adulthood
The Oral Stage
Begins at birth; ends with weaning (approx. age 18 months)
Erogenous zone – mouth is the source of “sexual” pleasure
Actions that reduce tension – biting, sucking, swallowing
Fixations:– Oral incorporative personality– Oral aggressive/sadistic personality
The Anal Stage Begins at about age 18 months; ends at
about age 3 Erogenous zone becomes the anus; source
of “sexual” pleasure Demands are now being placed on the
child to conform!– Especially with toilet training.
Must delay gratification Opportunity for manipulation and power
struggles (You can’t control what goes in or what comes out.)
The Anal Stage (con’t)
Fixations:– Anal retentive or compulsive character
(holding on)
vs– Anal expulsive or aggressive character
(letting go)
The Phallic Stage
Begins around age 4; ends around age 5
Erogenous zone is the genitals – source of “sexual” pleasure
Curiosity about the other gender Conflict involves an unconscious
desire to possess the opposite sex parent (Oedipus and Electra Complex)
Oedipus and Electra Complex
Oedipus Rex Oedipus Complex:
– 1st love object is mom-source of food, love, security
– Dad is the obstacle to the desired object– Jealous of Dad/hostility toward Dad– Fear of retaliation from Dad– Resolve through “Defensive
Identification” – “If you can’t beat him, join him.”
Electra Complex 1st love object is mom - source of food, love,
security Attraction shifts to Dad during Phallic Stage Now Mom is the obstacle to the desired object Jealous of Mom/hostility toward Mom Anger at and blame toward Mom for “inferior
condition” Penis Envy Resolve through “Defensive Identification” Fixation – phallic personality. Characterized by a
need for attention from other sex; need to be unique, special; narcissistic!
Latency Period Begins at about age 5; ends with the onset of
puberty. Marks the end of the first five years of life
which were the most formative for personality. Not a psychosexual stage. No erogenous zone: sexual instinct is
dormant. Time for:
– Learning– developing same sex relationships– engaging in sports or other activities
Genital Stage
Begins with the onset of puberty; lasts throughout adulthood unless/until senility sets in.
Erogenous zone is again the genitals, but now the energy is directed at others.
Challenge is to find a socially acceptable means of reducing tension or of reaching equilibrium: a heterosexual relationship.
Sublimation is common if outlet is not found.
Assessment
Assessment = making the unconscious conscious– Free Association and– Dream Analysis
Free Association
Free Association – daydreaming; say whatever comes to mind.
Encountering resistance = you are on the right track.
Must experience emotion along with free association for it to be therapeutic (to get symptom relief).
Dream Analysis or Interpretation
Repressed material can only gain expression in disguised form.
Two types of dream content:– Manifest content – actual events in the dream– Latent content – symbolic meaning of the
events Universal symbols – often sexual in
nature Therapist interprets the dream.
Scientific Validation of Freudian Concepts
Evidence from research seems to support:– Anal and oral character types
Scientific Validation of Freudian Concepts
Concepts not supported by research:– Dreams as disguised expressions of
repressed wishes– Women have inadequately developed
superegos– Freud’s psychosexual stages
Cheers and Jeers
Cheers:– Incredible impact on theory and practice
of psychology and psychiatry– Gave us important concepts:
unconscious, importance of childhood, and defense mechanisms
– Stimulated the development of opposing views
Cheers and Jeers
Jeers:– Too much emphasis on
instincts/biological– Sex and aggression as motivators– Based theory on the emotionally
disturbed– View on women: poorly developed
superegos– Ambiguous definitions of concepts