DISCUSSION 3- FREUD'S PSYCHE
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PsychodynamicTheoriesFreudJung.pptxPsychodynamic Theories and Freud
Objectives
Make some sense of Freud
Learn about Jung and some of his ideas
Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
What did you know or hear about Freud before reading this section?
Basic to his theory was that the mind is mostly hidden (unconscious)
a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories
A psychodynamic theory is one that focuses on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experience
“dynamic” because of the permanent, dynamic struggle the ego is in to manage the id and superego
Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Freud’s theory of personality is called psychoanalysis
attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts
Freud used free association in his therapy
method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing
Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Personality Structure
“human personality…arises from a conflict between impulse and restraint—between our aggressive, pleasure-seeking biological urges and our internalized social controls over these urges.” Myers (2015) p.493
personality arises from our efforts to resolve this basic conflict
Id
Pleasure principle
Ego
Reality principle
Superego
conscience
id – unconscious energy that strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives
ego – largely conscious, “executive” part that mediates among the demands of the id, superego, and reality
superego – represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment and future aspirations
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Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Personality Development
Psychosexual Stages
| Stage | Focus |
| Oral (0-18 months) | Pleasure centers on the mouth—sucking, biting, chewing |
| Anal (18-36 months) | Pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control |
| Phallic (3-6 years) | Pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with incestuous sexual feelings |
| Latency (6 - puberty) | A phase of dormant sexual feelings |
| Genital (puberty on) | Maturation of sexual interests |
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Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Unresolved conflicts during one of the stages could surface as maladaptive behavior in adulthood.
fixation – lingering focus of pleasure-seeking energies at one of the psychosexual stages, in which conflicts were unresolved
Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Defense Mechanisms
Sometimes the ego fears losing control of the inner war between the id and superego. The result is anxiety.
The ego protects itself with defense mechanisms
tactics that reduce or redirect anxiety by distorting reality
All defense mechanisms function unconsciously, just like the body unconsciously defends itself against disease.
Repression is the basic defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness
Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Cure to disorders
Bring the conflict between id and ego/superego to awareness/attention and redirect wish to something else
Insight – awareness of desires you already have
Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
Criticisms of Freud
Development is lifelong, not fixed in childhood
Freud’s questioning might have created false memories of abuse
His theory rests on few objective observations and there were few testable hypotheses
Most serious problem: after-the-fact explanations of any characteristic yet fails to predict such behaviors and traits
“a good theory makes testable predictions”
Ignored important indiv differences in emotional adjustment, as well as other major personality traits
Phenomena he was trying to explain are unrepresentative of human behavior (even the ones claimed to be universal)
“The overall findings…seriously challenge the classical psychoanalytic notion of repression.” Yacov Rofe, “Does Repression Exist?” 2008
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Psychodynamic Theories - Freud
So why do we still teach about Freud if lots of what he thought is now disproven or seen as bogus?
repression, defense mechanisms, unconscious, importance of human sexuality, tension between biological impulses and social well-being, reminds us of our potential for evil.
Individuals can have conflicting feelings which often lead to compromise solutions
Personalities start to form in childhood and early experiences play a significant role in development
Personality development requires moving from immature, social dependence to mature independence
Psychodynamic Theories – Neo-Freudian
Carl Jung
The Self
| Personal | Collective | |
| Conscious | Ego; subjective awareness | Persona (mask) |
| Unconscious | Shadow; repressed | Heritage/group legacy; archetypes |
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