Ch 14 - Psychological Theories

Sigmund Freud - Psychoanlytical Theory A. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) General background to Freud’s theory: 1. Freud’s theory dominated psychology from the early 1900’s through the late 1940’s. 2. Freud believed that the core of one’s personality appeared within the first five or six years of life and was more or less fixed by that age 3. Individual development had its source in the family and the conflicts that every family has. Our feelings about ourselves come from anxieties, jealousies, and guilt regarding how we relate to other family member and how they view us. 4. Freud’s family life a. father was 20 years older than mother b. father had children by a previous marriage c. father had a mistress d. 8 children between Freud’s father and mother e. physician

Levels of Consciousness 1. Conscious - awareness of what is going on inside or outside the person 2. Subconscious - consciousness just below our present awareness 3. Unconscious - according to psychoanalytic belief, the psychological part of us that contains childhood conflicts we are unaware of but that continue to control our behavior. (True feelings sometimes appear in dreams or in mistakes we make when speaking) a. free association - Freudian process in which the person says everything that appears in the mind, even if the ideas or images seem unconnected. b. repression - the process of pushing the needs and desires that cause guilt into the unconscious. Freud believed that once our repressed conflicts surface and we face them, whatever physical or psychological symptoms we have will eventually disappear.

Levels of Consciousness 4. Libido - real (biological, not symbolic) energy inside humans which controls behavior. Freud thought that this internal energy continuously seeks discharge and creates tension. This energy is largely expressed through two means - sex and aggression

Freud’s Map of the Mind 1. Id - contains our basic needs and drives. Contains our major energy force (libido) which is constantly seeking expression. “Pleasure Principle” 2. Superego - hold the id in check roughly synonymous with the conscience. Causes guilt for being bad, and pride for doing the right things. Develops from punishments and rewards from our parents. 3. Ego - the “self” that allows controlled id expression within the boundaries of the superego. The ego helps one to balance or compromise between the id and superego “Reality Principle”

Freud’s Stages of Personality Development 1. personality formed by age 5 or 6 2. adult psychological problems have their roots in early childhood and can be traced to unresolved conflicts that are generated during that time 1. when conflict is not resolved some libidinal energy gets stuck (fixated)

Stage 1 - Oral Stage (0-18 months) a. infants totally reliant on caregivers for survival b. feeding is the main source of infant pleasure c. the mouth is the body structure most frequently associated with biological drives (hunger) and pleasurable sensations d. infants obtain nourishment from sucking at breast or bottle e. erogenous zone - mouth f. central task of the infant during this “oral dependent” period is to establish general attitudes of dependence, independence, trust and reliance in regard to other people g. in time the breast / bottle may be replaced by infant’s thumb h. the oral stage ends when the infant is “weaned” i. personality problems develop when one is weaned too early or too late j. - behaviors - depending too much on other people rejecting others very sarcastic self-starvation (oral behaviors - gum chewing, nail biting, smoking, overeating)

Oral Stage Oral Passive Personality Type - Given excessive oral stimulation in infancy. This type is cheerful, optimistic, expects the world to “mother” him/her, continually seeking approval. His/her psychological adjustment is characterized by gullibility, passivity, immaturity, and excessive dependency. Oral Aggressive Personality Type - Caused by mother’s delay of gratification or absence. Reflected in adults who are argumentative, pessimistic, “bitingly” sarcastic, and often cynical about everything around them. Persons of this character type also tend to exploit and dominate others as long as their own needs exist.

Stage 2 - Anal Stage (11/2 to 3 years) a. during this time parents of young children are concerned with “potty training” Freud was convinced that the way in which toilet training is approached by parents and caregivers has specific effects of later personality development b. with the onset of toilet training, the child must learn to distinguish between the demands of the id (pleasure from immediate defecation) and the social constraints imposed by parent (self- control over excretory needs). c. Freud claimed that all later forms of self-control and mastery have their origin in the anal stage d. Freud identified two general patterns used by parents in toilet training: Rigid, demanding parents - “Go Potty NOW!!!” OR Encouraging, praising, more “permissive” e. behaviors - being excessively stingy overly generous sticking rigidly to rules and regulations being irresponsible and rebellious

Anal Stage Anal Retentive Personality Type - If child develops patterns of “holding back” and refusing to “perform” for Mommy and Daddy, the may develop the “Anal Retentive Personality Type. This “type” of adult is obstinate, stingy, orderly, and punctual. This person lacks a the ability to make fine distinctions or to tolerate confusion and ambiguity. Anal Expulsive Personality Type - A second possible outcome to parental strictness about toilet training. Traits include: destructiveness, disorderliness, impulsiveness, and even sadistically cruel. With respect to adult love relationships, this type views others as objects to be possessed.

Stage 3 - Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years) a. child’s libidinal interests shift to a new erogenous zone of the body, the genitals b. during this stage, children can be observed examining their sex organs, and expressing interest in matters pertaining to birth & sex c. Oedipus Complex - male desire to marry his mother and have jealous, hostile feelings toward his father Electra Complex - female desire to marry her father and have jealous, hostile feelings toward her mother. d. these complexes normally are resolved as the child “identifies” with his father or mother. This provides the child with a set of values, morals, attitudes, and gender-related behaviors. e. Freud believed that failure to resolve this conflict through identification can result in anxiety, extreme guilt, phobias, and depression

Phallic Stage Phallic Personality Type (male) - Strive to be successful, and attempt to at all times to assert their masculinity and virility. Have to convince others that they are “real men” Phallic Personality Type (female) - Results in flirtatiousness, seductiveness, and promiscuity, although the individual may appear naïve and innocent in relationships. Some women try to prove that they are superior to men.

Stage 4 - Latency Stage ( 6 to 12 years) a. conflicts and problems from earlier stages remain subdued b. child’s energies are channeled into non sexual activities, such as intellectual pursuits, athletics and peer relations c. latency can be viewed as a period of preparation for the important growth that will take place in the final psycho sexual stage d. the decline in the sexual drive was regarded by Freud as partly due to the physiological changes in the child’s personality

Stage 5 - Genital Stage ( puberty onward) a. with the onset of puberty comes sexual and aggressive drives combined with an increased awareness of and interest in the opposite sex b. this stage begins due to biochemical and physiological changes c. in early adolescence, people prefer their same sex peers d. gradually, interest shifts more to the opposite sex e. the “crushes” of early adolescence normally lead to the selection of a marriage partner and the raising of a family f. old conflicts resurface

Genital Stage The “Genital Character” is the ideal personality type according to Freud. This “type” has learned to work, postpone gratification, share with others in a warm and caring way, and above all, assume a more active role in dealing with life’s problem. If there were severe, traumatic experiences in early childhood, with fixations at particular stages, adequate adjustments during the “genital stage” will be difficult, if not impossible. The old conflicts and experiences reappear or resurface. Although the ways in which they are expressed may have a changed, their content is left over from the first 5 years of life.