Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory IDEGOSUPEREGO

Freud believed: Freud believed: Human personality arises from conflicts between the pleasure-seeking biological impulses and social restraints against them Human personality arises from conflicts between the pleasure-seeking biological impulses and social restraints against them Conflict centered on three interacting systems – id, ego and superego Conflict centered on three interacting systems – id, ego and superego Goal is to bring satisfaction without bringing punishment or guilt Goal is to bring satisfaction without bringing punishment or guilt

The Id pleasure seeking element of the subconscious mind pleasure seeking element of the subconscious mind contains primitive parts of our personality including aggression and sex drive contains primitive parts of our personality including aggression and sex drive if unrestrained by reality it will seek immediate gratification if unrestrained by reality it will seek immediate gratification can lead us to be self-destructive can lead us to be self-destructive

Ego part of the personality that mediates the demands of the id, superego and reality part of the personality that mediates the demands of the id, superego and reality Reality principle: Ego ensures that gratification/action will not lead to punishment, regardless of morality Reality principle: Ego ensures that gratification/action will not lead to punishment, regardless of morality Ego protects itself against anxiety with defense mechanisms Ego protects itself against anxiety with defense mechanisms

Superego Represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment Represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment Acts as our moral conscience Acts as our moral conscience Acts to control id and ego, to make sure that what we do is safe, moral and ethical Acts to control id and ego, to make sure that what we do is safe, moral and ethical Influenced by family and culture Influenced by family and culture

Defence Mechanisms

Are ways of dealing with daily events of your life in an ineffective way. Are ways of dealing with daily events of your life in an ineffective way. If they are used too often it could be unhealthy. If they are used too often it could be unhealthy. They are ways of coping with certain issues and may temporarily relieve anxiety but do not offer a true escape from the problem. They are ways of coping with certain issues and may temporarily relieve anxiety but do not offer a true escape from the problem.

Fantasy Everyone daydreams (you probably are right now) Everyone daydreams (you probably are right now) They may help us plan for the future, but if used excessively they will lead to disappointment and unachieved goals. They may help us plan for the future, but if used excessively they will lead to disappointment and unachieved goals.

Repression Unpleasant thoughts that are pushed out of our conscious down into the unconscious. Unpleasant thoughts that are pushed out of our conscious down into the unconscious. They can no longer be recalled or remembered but may resurface in different means. They can no longer be recalled or remembered but may resurface in different means.

Rationalisation If we cannot face the real reasons for our behaviour, we convince ourselves that we have other reasons. If we cannot face the real reasons for our behaviour, we convince ourselves that we have other reasons. Often we use excuses in order to explain a failure, error, loss or behaviour. Often we use excuses in order to explain a failure, error, loss or behaviour. Sour Grapes – tell ourselves that a goal we did not attain was not worth it anyway. Sour Grapes – tell ourselves that a goal we did not attain was not worth it anyway.

Regression When problems seem too big for us to handle in a mature way, we may look back to behaviour patterns from an earlier period of our lives. When problems seem too big for us to handle in a mature way, we may look back to behaviour patterns from an earlier period of our lives. Crying, or throwing a tantrum Crying, or throwing a tantrum

Denial When reality is too unpleasant we may deny its existence. When reality is too unpleasant we may deny its existence. You may ignore criticism or pretend certain things never happened. You may ignore criticism or pretend certain things never happened.

Displacement Direct aggression against the actual cause of our frustration may not be socially acceptable. Direct aggression against the actual cause of our frustration may not be socially acceptable. So we take out our aggression on some innocent person or thing. So we take out our aggression on some innocent person or thing.

Sublimation Type of displacement in which we redirect the feeling into a socially productive activity. Type of displacement in which we redirect the feeling into a socially productive activity. Writing a song or story about your anger or frustration. Writing a song or story about your anger or frustration.

Projection We see traits and feelings in other people that we sense in ourselves but cannot admit openly. We see traits and feelings in other people that we sense in ourselves but cannot admit openly. We project our inner feelings onto other people. We project our inner feelings onto other people.

Withdrawal We respond to situations around us by disconnecting to the effects of what is going on around us. We respond to situations around us by disconnecting to the effects of what is going on around us.

Compartmentalization is a process of separating parts of the self from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had separate sets of values. is a process of separating parts of the self from awareness of other parts and behaving as if one had separate sets of values. An example might be an honest person who cheats on their income tax return and keeps their two value systems distinct and unintegrated while remaining unconscious of the cognitive dissonance. An example might be an honest person who cheats on their income tax return and keeps their two value systems distinct and unintegrated while remaining unconscious of the cognitive dissonance.

Compensation is a process of psychologically counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other arenas. The "I'm not a fighter, I'm a lover" philosophy can be an example of compensation as can the Napoleonic complex. is a process of psychologically counterbalancing perceived weaknesses by emphasizing strength in other arenas. The "I'm not a fighter, I'm a lover" philosophy can be an example of compensation as can the Napoleonic complex.

Reaction Formation This is one of the most difficult defenses for some people to understand. When we have a reaction that is too painful or threatening to feel (such as intense hate for someone with power over us), we turn it into the opposite (intense liking for that person). That way, we aren't threatened by the feeling, or even the awareness of the feeling. Like denial and repression, you can begin to do this automatically and as a result never know what your true feelings are. This is one of the most difficult defenses for some people to understand. When we have a reaction that is too painful or threatening to feel (such as intense hate for someone with power over us), we turn it into the opposite (intense liking for that person). That way, we aren't threatened by the feeling, or even the awareness of the feeling. Like denial and repression, you can begin to do this automatically and as a result never know what your true feelings are. You turn the feeling into its opposite. You turn the feeling into its opposite. "I think he's really great!" "I think he's really great!"

Review “I don’t mind failing this test. It builds character” “I don’t mind failing this test. It builds character” Rationalization Rationalization

Review A man who is disturbed about his attraction to another man, starts a rumor that the other guy is a homosexual. A man who is disturbed about his attraction to another man, starts a rumor that the other guy is a homosexual. Projection Projection

Review A young man who was sexually abused as a child has no recollection of it. A young man who was sexually abused as a child has no recollection of it. Repression Repression

Review After watching a war movie a man thinks about one day being a war hero. After watching a war movie a man thinks about one day being a war hero. Fantasy Fantasy

Review To avoid being scared at night this adult pulls the sheets of his bed over his head and curls into a ball. To avoid being scared at night this adult pulls the sheets of his bed over his head and curls into a ball. Regression Regression

Review Angry at her boyfriend, a girl punches her locker. Angry at her boyfriend, a girl punches her locker. Displacement Displacement

Review After being cut from the hockey team, a boy says that he never really liked hockey anyway. After being cut from the hockey team, a boy says that he never really liked hockey anyway. Rationalization – sour grapes Rationalization – sour grapes

Review After losing his mother in a car accident a boy writes a poem about his feelings. After losing his mother in a car accident a boy writes a poem about his feelings. Sublimation Sublimation

Activity In groups of two you will develop a 2 minute skit depicting a person using your chosen Defence Mechanism. In groups of two you will develop a 2 minute skit depicting a person using your chosen Defence Mechanism. You will have 10 minutes to develop your skit. You will have 10 minutes to develop your skit. The class must be able to identify the presented mechanism by the end of your skit. The class must be able to identify the presented mechanism by the end of your skit.