1. Psychodynamic Perspective

2. Psychodynamic theories → include all the diverse theories descended from the work of Sigmund Freud, which focus on unconscious mental forces Psychodynamic theories → include all the diverse theories descended from the work of Sigmund Freud, which focus on unconscious mental forces

3. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory Freud devoted himself to treating mental disorders with a procedure he developed called psychoanalysis, which required lengthy verbal interactions with patients during which Freud probed deeply into their lives using procedures such as dream analysis and free association. Freud devoted himself to treating mental disorders with a procedure he developed called psychoanalysis, which required lengthy verbal interactions with patients during which Freud probed deeply into their lives using procedures such as dream analysis and free association. Psychoanalysis → theory of personality that attributes our thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the technique used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions Psychoanalysis → theory of personality that attributes our thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the technique used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

4. Free association → a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing Free association → a method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing –Freud believed it would reveal the person’s unconscious Dream analysis → Freud believed that by analyzing a person’s dreams he could reveal the nature of their inner conflicts and release their inner tensions Dream analysis → Freud believed that by analyzing a person’s dreams he could reveal the nature of their inner conflicts and release their inner tensions

5. Structure of Personality Freud divided personality structure into three components: the id, the ego and the superego. He saw personality as an interaction between these components. Freud divided personality structure into three components: the id, the ego and the superego. He saw personality as an interaction between these components. Id → the primitive, instinctual component of personality that operates according to the pleasure principle Id → the primitive, instinctual component of personality that operates according to the pleasure principle –Freud believed the id housed the raw biological urges (to eat, sleep, defecate, copulate and so on) that energize human behavior –Pleasure principle → demands immediate gratification of its urges –Engages in primary-process thinking which is primitive, illogical, irrational and fantasy oriented –Exists entirely in the unconscious

6. Superego → the moral component of personality that incorporates social standards about what represents right and wrong Superego → the moral component of personality that incorporates social standards about what represents right and wrong –Forces the ego to consider not only the real but the ideal, and that focuses solely on how one ought to behave –Strives for perfection, judging actions and producing positive feelings of pride or negative feelings of guilt –Roughly synonymous with the conscience –In some the superego can become irrationally demanding in its striving for moral perfection. Such people are plagued by excessive feelings of guilt.

7. Ego → the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle Ego → the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle –Ego mediates between the id, with its forceful desires for immediate satisfaction, and the external social world and the superego. –Considers social realities- society’s norms, etiquette, rules, and customs- in deciding how to behave –Reality principle → seeks to delay gratification of the id’s urges until appropriate outlets and situations can be found –The ego wants to maximize gratification just as the id does. However, the ego engages in secondary- process thinking.  Secondary-process thinking → is relatively rational, realistic and oriented toward problem solving

8. Freud believes that people’s lives are dominated by conflict between the id and the superego. Freud believes that people’s lives are dominated by conflict between the id and the superego. Freud believed that conflicts centering on sexual and aggressive impulses are especially likely to have far reaching consequences. Freud believed that conflicts centering on sexual and aggressive impulses are especially likely to have far reaching consequences. –Freud thought that sex and aggression are subject to more complex and ambiguous social controls than other basic motives. –He also noted that the sexual and aggressive drives are thwarted more regularly than other basic biological urges.

9. Levels of Awareness Freud theorized that people have three levels of awareness: the conscious, the preconscious and the unconscious. Freud theorized that people have three levels of awareness: the conscious, the preconscious and the unconscious. –Conscious → consists of whatever one is aware of at a particular point in time –Preconscious → contains material just beneath the surface of awareness that can be easily retrieved –Unconscious → contains thoughts, memories, and desires that are well below the surface of conscious awareness but that nonetheless exert great influence on behavior

11. Anxiety and Defense Mechanisms According to Freud, unconscious conflicts between the id, ego and superego sometimes lead to anxiety. This anxiety can be attributed to: According to Freud, unconscious conflicts between the id, ego and superego sometimes lead to anxiety. This anxiety can be attributed to: –The id getting out of control and doing something terrible that leads to severe negative consequences, or –The superego getting out of control and making you feel guilty about a real or imagined transgression This discomfort may lead to the use of defense mechanisms, which may temporarily relieve anxiety. This discomfort may lead to the use of defense mechanisms, which may temporarily relieve anxiety.

12. Defense mechanisms → largely unconscious reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions such as anxiety and guilt Defense mechanisms → largely unconscious reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions such as anxiety and guilt –Typically they are mental maneuvers that work through self- deception –Repression –Projection –Rationalization –Displacement –Reaction Formation –Regression –Identification

13. Defense Mechanisms

14. Repression Keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious Keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious Example- A traumatized soldier has no recollection of the details of a close brush with death. Example- A traumatized soldier has no recollection of the details of a close brush with death.

15. Projection Attributing one's own thoughts, feelings or motives to another; people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others Attributing one's own thoughts, feelings or motives to another; people disguise their own threatening impulses by attributing them to others Example- A woman who dislikes her boss thinks she likes her boss but feels that the boss doesn't like her. Example- A woman who dislikes her boss thinks she likes her boss but feels that the boss doesn't like her.

16. Displacement Diverting emotional feelings (usually anger) from their original source to a substitute target; shifts sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or a less threatening object or person Diverting emotional feelings (usually anger) from their original source to a substitute target; shifts sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or a less threatening object or person Example- After a parental scolding, a young girl takes her anger out on her little brother. Example- After a parental scolding, a young girl takes her anger out on her little brother.

17. Reaction Formation Behaving in a way that is exactly the opposite of one's true feelings Behaving in a way that is exactly the opposite of one's true feelings Example- A parent who unconsciously resents a child spoils the child with outlandish gifts. Example- A parent who unconsciously resents a child spoils the child with outlandish gifts.

18. Regression A reversion to immature patterns of behavior; an individual faced with anxiety retreats to an earlier, more infantile stage of development A reversion to immature patterns of behavior; an individual faced with anxiety retreats to an earlier, more infantile stage of development Example- An adult has a temper tantrum when he doesn't get his way. Example- An adult has a temper tantrum when he doesn't get his way.

19. Rationalization Creating false but plausible excuses to justify unacceptable behavior Creating false but plausible excuses to justify unacceptable behavior Example- A student watches TV instead of studying, saying that "additional study wouldn't do any good anyway." Example- A student watches TV instead of studying, saying that "additional study wouldn't do any good anyway."

20. Identification Bolstering self-esteem by forming an imaginary or real alliance with some person or group Bolstering self-esteem by forming an imaginary or real alliance with some person or group Example- An insecure young man joins a fraternity to boost his self- esteem. Example- An insecure young man joins a fraternity to boost his self- esteem.