Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud

Psychoanalysis  Theory developed by Sigmund Freud to explain human mind and behaviour.  Main methods: –Case studies –Free association –Dream analysis

Assumptions  Assumes the existence of the unconscious mind.

Assumptions  Assumes that personality develops through psychosexual stages: –Oral –Anal –Phallic –Latent –Genital  Adverse experience during a stage may lead to fixation and the development of symptoms as an adult.

Psychosexual Stages Oral Anal Phallic Latent Genital The mouth – sucking, swallowing etc. The anus – withholding or expelling faeces The penis or clitoris - masturbation Little or no sexual motivation present The penis or vagina – sexual intercourse EGO develops SUPEREGO develops

Fixation Oral Anal Phallic Forceful feeding Deprivation Early weaning Toilet training: Too harsh Too lax Abnormal family set-up leading to unusual relationship with mother/father Oral activities (e.g. smoking), dependency, aggression. Obsessiveness, tidiness, mean- ness; untidiness, generosity Vanity, self- obsession, sexual anxiety, inadequacy, inferiority, envy

Assumptions  Assumes that the structure of personality (psyche)includes the following: –Id: contains basic instincts (life/death) –Ego: compromise/deals with reality –Superego: conscience

Healthy Psyche IdSuperego Ego OK Guys – I’m in charge. Anything you want has to go through me. OK.

Unconscious Conflict  The id, ego & superego are in conflict as each tries to achieve its desires.  In a healthy personality, these are balanced and compromise is reached.  Often, conflict in early childhood is so disturbing and overwhelming that fixation occurs, and symptoms develop.

Neurotic Id Superego Ego Listen up! I’m in charge, and you are not here to enjoy yourselves. Get ready for a double-size portion of anxiety with a side order of guilt! No fun. >whimper<

Assumptions  Assumes that the unconscious mind uses defence mechanisms to protect itself: –Repression –Denial –Displacement –Sublimation

Freud’s Evidence  Psychoanalysis: –specific method for resolving difficulties (neurosis) –uncovering and resolving unconscious conflict  Case Studies: –Little Hans; patients  Self analysis

Contributions of Freudian Theory  Introduced the concept of ‘talking cure’, basis of most psychotherapies today.  Introduced the idea of psychological causes for a wide range of disorders.  Introduced the concept of the unconscious to a wider audience.  Very influential in many areas of psychology: clinical, child development, and forensic.

Criticisms of Psychoanalysis  Unfalsifiable: cannot be proved wrong.  Biased: –Ethnocentric: based on one culture –Androcentric: based on males –Phallocentric: based around male genitals as being most important.

Libido  Innate energy that drives survival  How it is used depends upon personality

Psychotic Id SuperegoEgo Sex! Food! Drink! Drugs! NOW! Who turned out the lights?

Psychopathic OK. First, gimme food. Then I want sex – lots of it and I don’t particularly care whether it’s with a willing partner. Then I want to hurt people. Badly. Probably be hungry again after that so… OK then. Let’s go.