Psychodynamic Approach to Personality Mr. Koch AP Psychology Forest Lake High School

Psychodynamic Approach Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) Austrian physician - treated patients with “neurotic” disorders (no physical cause) Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) theory Personality is determined by interaction of various unconscious psychological processes (Freud believed could access unconscious through various means – free association, dream analysis, “Freudian slips,” etc.)

“Freudian Slips”

“Freudian Slips”

Personality Structure Id Unconscious portion of personality Life instincts (Eros) Positive, constructive behavior (esp. sex) and reflects energy called “libido” Death instincts (Thanatos) Responsible for aggression, destruction Seeks immediate satisfaction (“pleasure principle”) Ego develops from id as parents, teachers, etc. place restrictions on id behavior Mediates conflicts b/w demands of id, superego, real world Operates on “reality principle” Superego Tells us what we should and should not do Internalized rules and values of parents and society As relentless, unreasonable in demands as id

Defense Mechanisms Unconscious tactics used by the ego to protect against anxiety & guilt (from id & superego) by preventing material from surfacing or disguising it when it does Examples: repression, rationalization, projection, reaction formation, sublimination, displacement, denial, compensation, regression, etc.

Psychosexual Stages of Development Personality develops during childhood in series of stages, where we attempt to resolve certain conflicts Failure to resolve conflict at a stage results in fixation – unconscious preoccupation with area of pleasure associated with stage Affects adult personality characteristics

Psychosexual Stages of Development Oral Stage (1st year) Mouth is center of pleasure at this stage Fixation can come from weaning too early or late Can result in adult characteristics like overeating, childlike dependence (late weaning), “biting” sarcasm (early weaning)

Psychosexual Stages of Development Anal Stage (2nd year) Child’s ego develops to cope with parental/societal demands (toilet training clashes with freedom to “go” at will) Fixation from toilet training too early or harsh → “anal retentiveness” or stinginess/excessive neatness (symbolically withholding feces) Fixation from training too late/lax → disorganized, impulsive behavior (symbolically expelling feces)

Psychosexual Stages of Development Phallic Stage (ages 3-5 years) Focus shifts to genital area “Oedipus Complex” Boy has sexual desire for mother and wants to eliminate father’s competition for her attention Fear of castration from father leads ego to repress desires and “identify” with father – superego begins to develop

Oedipus Complex?...

Psychosexual Stages of Development Phallic Stage (ages 3-5 years) Focus shifts to genital area “Oedipus Complex” Boy has sexual desire for mother and wants to eliminate father’s competition for her attention Fear of castration from father leads ego to repress desires and “identify” with father – superego begins to develop “Electra Complex” Girl develops attachment to father (due to “penis envy”) and competes with mother for attention Girl identifies with and imitates mother to avoid disapproval – basis of superego Fixation leads to difficulty dealing with authority figures, inability to maintain stable love relationships

Psychosexual Stages of Development Latency Period (childhood to puberty) Peaceful interval where sexual impulses remain in background Focus on education, same-sex peer play, develop social skills Genital Stage (adolescence on) Sexual impulses reappear at conscious level with genitals as focus