Structure of personality Lesson 2
Aims To recap Freud’s the structure of personality To understand and apply the id-ego- superego to real life situations. To identify and discuss Freudian Defence Mechanisms.
Define and explain the following key terms. Libido Id Ego Superego Defence Mechanism Struggle within Word Association
Separate the following statements into Id, Ego or Superego impulses. Libido. Killing is wrong. Choosing to call the police rather than carry out your own justice. Saving up for a new watch. Aggression. Aggression Suppression. Denying you are terminally ill.
Defence Mechanisms Denial – Reducing anxiety by refusing to see the unpleasant aspects of reality. Displacement - The mind redirects emotions from a dangerous object to a safe object, that is redirecting emotions to a safer outlet. Sublimation – The refocusing of impulses to socially acceptable behaviours. Rationalisation – Constructing a logical justification for a decision that was originally arrived at through a different mental process.
Task Come up with real life examples of the previous defence mechanisms. You may only ask 1 question per pair, I will come round and help when needed.
Feedback Denial Projection Sublimation Rationalisation
Exam Question 1.Name and briefly describe one defence mechanism. Suggest how this defence mechanism might help a person to cope with the breakdown of a close relationship. (3 marks)
Mark scheme [3 marks: AO1 = 2, AO2 = 1] AO1 One mark for naming a correct defence mechanism eg denial; repression; displacement, etc. One further mark for brief description of the defence mechanism. AO2 One mark for an appropriate suggestion in relation to the breakdown of a close relationship. Possible answer: Displacement (AO1, 1) is where the mind redirects emotions from a dangerous object to a safer outlet (AO1, 1). A person joins a kickboxing class which relieves his stress by redirecting his anger about his failed relationship (AO2, 1). If a candidate describes and provides an appropriate example of a defence mechanism but gives an incorrect name award a maximum 2 marks.