Sigmund Freud: Psychoanalysis “Turn your eyes inward, look into your own depths, learn to first know yourself.” Sigmund Freud ( )

Psychoanalysis Earliest approach to the study of personality Profound influence Many theories are derivatives of psychoanalysis Many theories are in opposition to psychoanalysis

The Life of Freud Born in Moravia (Czech Republic) Vienna at 4yrs old Father was a strict authoritarian Mother adored Freud and spoiled him Use of cocaine Worked as a clinical neurologist Focused on emotional disturbances – Explored sexual basis of neurosis – Nature of childhood sexual abuse

Struggled with his own sexuality – Blamed his wife for his impotence Freud psychoanalyzed himself – Detailed dream analysis – Explored his own sexual feelings Freud’s initial theory drawn from his own experiences and memories The Life of Freud

Formalized his theory through his work with patients Private psychoanalytic practice Developed a group of disciples Freud is Jewish Nazi occupation, moved to London Died in 1939 The Life of Freud

Instincts Driving forces and basic elements of the personality Form of energy Physiological excitation (a need) – Transformed into a wish – Causes humans to behave

Instincts Types Life Instincts – Oriented toward survival (food, water, air, sex) – Libido-psychic energy – Sexual instinct is most important – Broadly defined as all pleasurable behaviors/ thoughts Death Instincts – Unconscious wish to die – Aggressive Drive – Developed late in life

Levels of Personality Conscious – Sensations and experiences in awareness – Limited aspect of personality Unconscious – Home of the instincts – Major driving power behind all behaviors Preconscious – Storehouse of memories, perceptions and thoughts – You can call information into consciousness

Structure of Personality Id, Ego & Superego Id – Resides in the unconscious – Reservoir of instincts and libido – Works on the pleasure principle (increase pleasure, avoid pain) – Satisfies needs through primary-process thought: childlike thinking Ego – Resides in the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious – Rational master of the personality

Structure of Personality Id, Ego & Superego Ego – Works on the reality principle – Satisfies needs through secondary process thought: mature thought Superego – Largely unconscious – Moral side of personality learned by age 5-6 – Conscience: behaviors for which the child has been punished – Ego Ideal: moral or ideal behaviors that have been rewarded

Anxiety Reality Anxiety: Fear of tangible dangers in the world Neurotic Anxiety: Id vs Ego Moral Anxiety: Id vs Superego

Defenses Mechanisms Ego must defend against anxiety and does so with defense mechanisms Common characteristics – Unconscious distortions of reality Repression: Unconscious denial of something that causes anxiety Denial: Denial of the existence of something which causes anxiety Reaction Formation: Expression of the opposite Id impulse

Anxiety Defenses, cont’d. Projection: Attribute a disturbing impulse to someone else Regression: Retreat to an earlier period of life Rationalization: Reinterpreting behavior Displacement: Shifting id impulses to a suitable object Sublimation: Displacing id impulses into socially acceptable behaviors

Psychosexual Stages of Personality Development Each stage defined by an erogenous zone Child must resolve the conflict in each stage to move on to the next Lack of resolution may lead to fixation – A portion of libido is invested in the stage – Frustration or gratification

Oral Stage Birth to 1 year old Mouth is the primary erogenous zone Pleasure derived from sucking Id is dominant Oral incorporative: Excessive concern with oral activities like eating drinking Oral aggressive: Excessive pessimism hostility and aggressiveness

Anal Stage 1-3 years old Anus is the primary erogenous zone Toilet training difficulty Defecate when and where parents disapprove: Results in hostile behaviors Retain Feces: Results in stinginess Stage concludes with toilet training

Phallic Stage 4-5 years old Genitals are the primary erogenous zone Oedipus Complex: Castration anxiety Electra Complex: Penis Envy Super ego development Phallic personality type: Strong narcissism males vs females

Latency Period Period of rest lasting 5-6 years Not a true stage Sex instinct is dormant Sexual expression sublimated into school activities hobbies and sports Same sex friendships.

Genital Stage Adolescence to adulthood Final stage Adolescents conform to societal sanctions about sexual expression Genital personality finds satisfaction in love and work

Questions about Human Nature Pessimism- condemned to struggle with inner forces Ultimate goal is to reduce tension Ego and superego formed through personal experience Deterministic – life and death instincts drive what we do personality set by age five Psychoanalysis increases free will

Assessment in Freud’s Theory Free Association: Daydreaming out loud – Catharsis: Expression of emotion – Resistances: Blockage Dream Analysis (pp. 73) – Manifest content: Actual dream events – Latent content: Symbolic meaning

Research on Freud’s Theory Case study Messy Notes Small and unrepresentative samples Hard to test Freud’s concepts Inaccurate Concepts -Catharsis does not reduce negative emotions -personality development continues as we age

Research, cont'd. Some empirical support – Subliminal perception (unconscious) – Ego: control, resiliency, strength – Repression: Repressors vs. non- repressors – Displacement – Dreams reflect emotional concerns – Oedipus complex: Importance of the father – Freudian slip

Research, cont'd. Oral and Anal personality type Aggression Age and personality development The Freudian slip Repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse: Mixed results

Reflections on Freud’s Theory Contributions Pioneer in personality theory Great contributions Provided a starting place

Reflections on Freud’s Theory Criticisms Too deterministic Too much emphasis on sex and not enough on social forces Sexist views-penis envy Psychoanalysis too long and costly