Psychological Criticism

Assumptions 1. Creative writing –like dreaming – represents the disguised fulfillment of a repressed wish or fear. 2. Everyone’s formative history is different in particulars, but there are basic recurrent patterns of development for most people. These patterns and particulars have lasting effects. 3. In reading literature, you can make educated guesses about what has been repressed and transformed.

What is Psychological Criticism? Psychological critics view works through the lense of psychology. They look either at the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselves. Psychological critics view works through the lense of psychology. They look either at the psychological motivations of the characters or of the authors themselves.

Most frequently, psychological critics apply Freudian psychology to literary works, but may also implement other approaches. Most frequently, psychological critics apply Freudian psychology to literary works, but may also implement other approaches.

Freudian Approach The mental processes have three psychic zones: The mental processes have three psychic zones: 1. Id: is the instinctual, pleasure seeking part of the mind. The id knows no values, no good and evil, no morality. Id is the source of all our aggressions and desires. 2. Ego: the ego is governed by the reality principle. Ego is the part of the mind that controls but does not repress the id. A large portion of the ego is unconscious. 3. Superego: the part of the mind that represses the id’s impulses. It acts as the “moral censor agency”. The development of superego is determined by what society considers to be bad or good behaviour. Thus, it is dominated by the morality principle.

A Freudian approach often includes pinpointing the influences of a character's id (the instinctual, pleasure seeking part of the mind), his superego (the part of the mind that represses the id's impulses) and his ego (the part of the mind that controls but does not repress the id's impulses, releasing them in a healthy way). A Freudian approach often includes pinpointing the influences of a character's id (the instinctual, pleasure seeking part of the mind), his superego (the part of the mind that represses the id's impulses) and his ego (the part of the mind that controls but does not repress the id's impulses, releasing them in a healthy way).

Freudian critics like to emphasise the sexual implications of symbols and imagery, since Freud's believed that all human behavior is motivated by sexuality. Freudian critics like to emphasise the sexual implications of symbols and imagery, since Freud's believed that all human behavior is motivated by sexuality.

They tend to see concave images, such as ponds, flowers, cups, and caves as female symbols; whereas objects that are longer than they are wide are usually seen as phallic symbols. Dancing, riding, and flying are associated with sexual pleasure. Water is usually associated with birth, the female principle, the maternal, the womb, and the death wish. They tend to see concave images, such as ponds, flowers, cups, and caves as female symbols; whereas objects that are longer than they are wide are usually seen as phallic symbols. Dancing, riding, and flying are associated with sexual pleasure. Water is usually associated with birth, the female principle, the maternal, the womb, and the death wish.

Freudian critics occasionally discern the presence of an Oedipus complex (a boy's unconscious rivalry with his father for the love of his mother) in the male characters of certain works, such as Hamlet. They may also refer to Freud's psychology of child development, which includes the oral stage, the anal stage, and the genital stage. Freudian critics occasionally discern the presence of an Oedipus complex (a boy's unconscious rivalry with his father for the love of his mother) in the male characters of certain works, such as Hamlet. They may also refer to Freud's psychology of child development, which includes the oral stage, the anal stage, and the genital stage.

The abuse of psychological criticism Psychological criticism, however, has suffered from more abuse than other approaches. These abuses are the result of what we may call as an excess of enthusiasm, which has been manifested in several ways. Psychological criticism, however, has suffered from more abuse than other approaches. These abuses are the result of what we may call as an excess of enthusiasm, which has been manifested in several ways.

Firstly, some practitioners of Freudian theories go to the extreme. They tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature, even in simplest and most innocent texts, thus, shocking conservative scholars and teachers of literature. Firstly, some practitioners of Freudian theories go to the extreme. They tend to see sex in everything, exaggerating this aspect of literature, even in simplest and most innocent texts, thus, shocking conservative scholars and teachers of literature.

Secondly, some psychoanalysts use too many jargons that are only understood by a limited group of people who later become the ‘in’ group, thus, neglecting, indirectly, others who are not so well versed in those jargons. Secondly, some psychoanalysts use too many jargons that are only understood by a limited group of people who later become the ‘in’ group, thus, neglecting, indirectly, others who are not so well versed in those jargons.

Finally, we now have some literary scholars who do not seem to have the necessary background knowledge of psychology and psychologists who do not have a clue what literature is all about. This led to criticisms that are neither here nor there which are often confusing and may be dangerous in some cases. Finally, we now have some literary scholars who do not seem to have the necessary background knowledge of psychology and psychologists who do not have a clue what literature is all about. This led to criticisms that are neither here nor there which are often confusing and may be dangerous in some cases.

These abuses have given rise to a mistrust of the psychological approach as a critical analysis. These abuses have given rise to a mistrust of the psychological approach as a critical analysis.

Building a Response When doing psychological criticism, the writer needs to apply a developmental concept to the work, for instance, the Oedipal complex, anal retentiveness, castration anxiety, or gender confusion. When doing psychological criticism, the writer needs to apply a developmental concept to the work, for instance, the Oedipal complex, anal retentiveness, castration anxiety, or gender confusion. The writer can also relate the work to psychologically significant events in the author’s life. The writer can also relate the work to psychologically significant events in the author’s life. The writer may then consider how repressed material may be expressed in the work’s pattern of imagery or symbols. The writer may then consider how repressed material may be expressed in the work’s pattern of imagery or symbols.