Ego Id

Parapraxis Humor

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

Ever forget Anything? Birthday? Name? Forgetting what you were talking about at a party? Forgetting a dentist appointment or showing up on the wrong day ? Due dates for papers? Why? There are no accidents!

Forgetting You forget to try to avoid thinking about something that may produce anxiety Every time you forget something there is a reason! –You forget to do something because it reminds you of something else

Possible explanations Birthday? Name? Forgot about a date? Due dates for papers?

Possible explanations Birthday? –Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage Name? Forgot about a date? Due dates for tests or papers?

Possible explanations Birthday? –Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage Name? –Perhaps you have sexual impulses about this person Forgot about a date? Due dates for tests or papers?

Possible explanations Birthday? –Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage Name? –Perhaps you have sexual impulses about this person Forgot about a date? –Anxiety about the date / person is too similar to a parent Due dates for papers?

Possible explanations Birthday? –Reminds you of age, death. If parent, maybe an issue from the phallic stage Name? –Perhaps you have sexual impulses about this person Forgot about a date? –Anxiety about the date / person is too similar to a parent Due dates for papers? –Fear about rejection from parents

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 –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!

Ego Id

Defense Mechanisms

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

Id Sexual Desire

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

“Why were you looking at her?!?!”

“The teacher was not very good at getting me ready for this test”

“All people are idiots”

“Its your fault”

Projection A person attributes unacceptable internal thoughts or feelings to other people or to the environment Giveaway – do you see almost everyone the same way?

“They were probably sour anyway”

“She is not that great anyway!”

“Its for his own good”

“It doesn’t really matter – My wife doesn’t even wash the dishes” “His wife is awful to him”

Rationalization Ego misrepresents irrational behavior in order to make it appear rational and thus justifiable to others Rationalizations are obvious Person doing them really believes them

“During the conflict we sustained minor causalities, while inflicting major causalities on the enemy”

“We attempted to remove the blockage which likely caused discomfort. Unfortunately, the patient expired”

Intellectualization Turn emotional issues into cold, intellectual, and analytical issues Intellectual issues vs. emotional issues Grandfather example

“During the conflict we sustained minor causalities, while inflicting major causalities on the enemy”

“During the bloody war, where many men were seriously wounded – 46 men were killed – they will not be coming home. We killed 204 of the men on the other side – they will not be going home to their families either.”

“We attempted to remove the blockage which likely caused discomfort. Unfortunately, the patient expired”

““We attempted to remove the blockage which likely caused Frank to feel great pain. Unfortunately, the Frank died during this operation.”

You get an F in this class! You are mad at me! You go home and....

Hit a pillow

You get an F in this class! You are mad at me! You go home and....

Kick the dog!

You get an F in this class! You are mad at me! You go home and....

Yell at your mate!

Why?

Displacement The expression of an impulse is redirected from a more threatening person or object to a less threatening one. Can be turn against self

“I’m giving you the silent treatment”

“Be de bo bo do ba ba”

Death row inmate

Regression Reverting to immature and childlike patterns of behavior. Alleviates anxiety by retreating to an earlier period in life

ID Aggression

ID Aggression Ego

ID Aggression Ego

Sublimation “Good defense mechanism” Person diverts impulses so that they may be expressed via socially approved thoughts and actions

Sublimation Examples: Artists Childhood sports Who are you attracted too?

Defense Mechanisms Denial Repression Reaction Formation Projection Rationalization Intellectualization Regression Sublimation

Lucy was upset when Alice, the new girl in school, started to hang around with her friends. Lucy was afraid that her friends were being stolen from her. She did not talk to Alice, and tried to insult her whenever possible. One of Lucy’s friends asked her why she did not like Alice. She responded, that Alice did not like her, she was stuck up, and not very friendly.

John was late for practice because he overslept. When asked by his coach the reason for his tardiness, he responded that he was exhausted and simply could not wake up.

MARY WOULD NOT BELIEVE THAT JIM WAS SEEING OTHER GIRLS. EVEN WHEN HER FRIEND SUE CALLD TO SAY SHE HAD BEEN OUT WITH HIM.

REGGIE WAS UPSET WHEN HE HEARD THE NAME THE PLAYER FROM THE OTHER TEAM CALLED HIM. HE CHANNELED HIS ANGER AND ON THE NEXT PLAY SACKED THE QUARTERBACK.

JANE WAS IN A HURRY TO GET TO WORK. SHE WAS GOING 90 M.P.H. WHEN THE HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOPPED HER. AS HE APPROACHED THE CAR TO WRITE HER A TICKET, SHE STARTED TO CRY.

CLANCY WAS SO UPSET UPON HEARING THE NEWS OF HIS GIRLFRIEND’S BETRAYAL HE PUNCHED THE KITCHEN WALL AND BROKE HIS HAND.

Lou was out to make the football team and had an excellent chance of starting. Unfortunately, when the coach checked his grades, it was discovered that he had 4 F’s, and was ineligible. The coach asked him why he had wasted his time trying out for the team when his grades were so bad. He said that he wasn’t aware that he had done so poorly.