Ego Id

Parapraxis Humor Id

Parapraxes When the ego does not do its job properly, elements of the id may slip out and be seen Forgetting Slips

Freudian Slip

Slips Unintended actions that are caused by the leakage of suppressed impulses Denial and slips People don’t do them on purpose The more they deny them the more truth there is to it!

Examples Me and “mother” / “girlfriend” story I don’t think we’ve been properly seduced, um, introduced” “What do you think of Fraudian theory?” “I hope you are well and unhappy” “Pleased to beat you” “He can eat and drink what I want” Using the name of an ex? Breaking something on accident “Accidentally” leave something at someone's house?

Slips More likely to occur when a person is tired or fatigued Note: Being tired dos not cause a slip to occur

Parapraxes vs. Humor Parapraxes Humor Impulse leaks out in an uncontrolled manner Humor Impulse is crafted to come out in a controlled manner Parapraxes are a failure of the ego; humor is a success!

Anxiety Ego tries to keep reality in check Ego tries to keep the id, superego, and reality “happy” The tools the ego uses to do this (and avoid anxiety) Defense Mechanisms Note: these are not “cures”, just Band-Aids

Defense Mechanisms Anna Freud Organized different types of defense mechanisms

Defense Mechanisms Tools used by the ego to “trick” other parts of the mind Primary vs. Secondary Thinking Tools used by the ego to distort reality to protect the self Reduces anxiety Used unconsciously by the ego once anxiety is sensed

Test Grade

F

“No!”

“No -- I just didn’t do that!”

“No!”

“Oh No!”

“No!”

Why do we say “no” in these types of situations?

Denial Denying that the source of anxiety exists (or failing to perceive it in the first place) Gives a psychological “breather” Just temporary After it is used we can deal with the issue or use another defense mechanism

Repression The process of excluding distressing thoughts and feelings from consciousness “Deeper” than denial “Motivated forgetting” Freud thought is was the primary ego defense Direct approach to avoid anxiety

Repression Forget a name? Forgot to call someone? Do you remember the Oedipal/Electra complex?

Evidence Extremely weak Why does this sometimes happen?

Reaction Formation Ego guards against id impulse by expressing its opposite extreme Two steps: 1) The unacceptable impulse is repressed 2) The exact opposite is expressed on a conscious level

Reaction Formation

Reaction Formation Id Sexual Desire

Reaction Formation Sexual desire causes neurotic and moral anxiety Sexual desire is repressed Id Sexual Desire

Reaction Formation Sexual desire causes neurotic and moral anxiety Sexual desire is repressed To further protect woman, the ego has her go to the opposite extreme Id Sexual Desire

Reaction Formation Sexual desire causes neurotic and moral anxiety Sexual desire is repressed To further protect woman, the ego has her go to the opposite extreme Id Sexual Desire

Reaction Formation “Of course I not a sexual deviate, I actually protest against pornography!” Id Sexual Desire

Reaction Formation Examples: In grade school – what do you do to the people you “liked” the most? Homosexual impulses

Reaction Formation “Giveaway – There is a lack of proportion between the provocation and the response”

Reaction Formation Do you love your younger brother / sister? Why?

Reaction Formation Evidence: Women were measured on “sex guilt” Exposed to erotic stimuli Women high on sex guilt reported lower levels of arousal, but. . . . had greater physiological arousal.

Reaction Formation Evidence: “Homophobic” men Exposed to homosexual erotic stimuli These men reported lower levels of arousal. . . . but, had greater physiological arousal.