Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory of Personality

Sigmund Freud Born in 1856 Often criticized First to develop comprehensive theory of the mind mental illness treatment

Freud’s Own Life Strict Father Young, attractive, protective, loving Mother Very attached to Mom Apple of Mom’s eye Jealous of siblings Very intelligent House revolved around Siggy’s studies

Love and Work After Gymnasium Freud went to Med School in Vienna Loved science and research Madly loved Martha Bernays (1861-1951) Both from poor background Entered private practice

Freud’s Work with Patients Neuropathologist: neurologist/psychiatrist Patients were mostly: Women Hysteria (somatoform disorders) Wealthy Reported history of sexual abuse/seduction

What’s wrong with this picture? Freud used these case studies to form his theory. Problems: Not objective observations Freud took poor notes (selective recollection) Didn’t test theory against reality Others didn’t test theory

Components of Freud’s Theory Instincts: basic element of personality Mind Structure: unconscious, preconscious, conscious Personality Structure: id, ego, superego Anxiety & Defense mechanisms Psychosexual stages of development Assessment

Instincts: basic element of personality Energy source: Driving forces behind behavior Instinct’s job is to satisfy needs and rid us of tension To return to a state of equilibrium!! Needs – example: to eat Instinct – to hunt or gather food Life Instincts: drive to survive (food, water, air) Death Instincts: drive for destruction/death (to kill, conquer, or destroy)

Personality Structure Id: Ruled by the pleasure principle “I want what I want, when I want it!” Ego: Ruled by the reality principle Mediator or negotiator Superego: Ruled by the moral principle

Anxiety & Defense Mechanisms Anxiety = a threat to the ego that results in discomfort and a sense of imbalance Defense mechanisms work to: protect the ego from threatening material restore balance achieve homeostasis True credit for defense mechanisms goes to Anna Freud (Freud’s youngest daughter)

Defense Mechanisms Repression – pushing it out of consciousness. “I forgot.” Denial – denying the existence of the threat or of the resulting anxiety Reaction Formation – turning an unacceptable desire or behavior into an acceptable desire or behavior. Express the impulse opposite of the true impulse

Projection – transferring of unacceptable traits in oneself onto others. Regression – retreating to a less complicated/less frustrating period of life. “I just want life to be simple.” Rationalization – giving a perfectly reasonable excuse for performing an unacceptable act; or reinterpreting some behavior to make it more acceptable

Displacement – shifting the id impulse from the threatening/unacceptable object or target onto a less threatening target. Sublimation – (is a form of displacement) alter the unacceptable impulses by changing them into socially acceptable behaviors.

Development of Personality Background information: Personality is formed by age 5. Child is seeking pleasure and homeostasis. Society (parents) is seeking conformity; trying to mold the child to the demands of reality and morality. Impulses are universal, but can be molded by experience. Fixations occur at any stage of development when part of the libido gets stuck.

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages Oral Stage: birth to end of weaning (approx. age 18 mths) Anal Stage: age 1 (approx. 18 mths) to age 3 Phallic Stage: age 4 to 5 Latency Period: age 5 to puberty Genital Stage: puberty and throughout adulthood

The Oral Stage Begins at birth; ends with weaning (approx. age 18 months) Erogenous zone – mouth is the source of “sexual” pleasure Actions that reduce tension – biting, sucking, swallowing Fixations: Oral incorporative personality Oral aggressive/sadistic personality

The Anal Stage Begins at about age 18 months; ends at about age 3 Erogenous zone becomes the anus; source of “sexual” pleasure Demands are now being placed on the child to conform! Especially with toilet training. Must delay gratification Opportunity for manipulation and power struggles (You can’t control what goes in or what comes out.)

The Anal Stage (con’t) Fixations: vs Anal retentive or compulsive character (holding on) vs Anal expulsive or aggressive character (letting go)

The Phallic Stage Begins around age 4; ends around age 5 Erogenous zone is the genitals – source of “sexual” pleasure Curiosity about the other gender Conflict involves an unconscious desire to possess the opposite sex parent (Oedipus and Electra Complex)

Oedipus and Electra Complex Oedipus Rex Oedipus Complex: 1st love object is mom-source of food, love, security Dad is the obstacle to the desired object Jealous of Dad/hostility toward Dad Fear of retaliation from Dad Resolve through “Defensive Identification” “If you can’t beat him, join him.”

Electra Complex 1st love object is mom - source of food, love, security Attraction shifts to Dad during Phallic Stage Now Mom is the obstacle to the desired object Jealous of Mom/hostility toward Mom Anger at and blame toward Mom for “inferior condition” Penis Envy Resolve through “Defensive Identification” Fixation – phallic personality. Characterized by a need for attention from other sex; need to be unique, special; narcissistic!

Latency Period Begins at about age 5; ends with the onset of puberty. Marks the end of the first five years of life which were the most formative for personality. Not a psychosexual stage. No erogenous zone: sexual instinct is dormant. Time for: Learning developing same sex relationships engaging in sports or other activities

Genital Stage Begins with the onset of puberty; lasts throughout adulthood unless/until senility sets in. Erogenous zone is again the genitals, but now the energy is directed at others. Challenge is to find a socially acceptable means of reducing tension or of reaching equilibrium: a heterosexual relationship. Sublimation is common if outlet is not found.

Assessment Assessment = making the unconscious conscious Free Association and Dream Analysis

Free Association Free Association – daydreaming; say whatever comes to mind. Encountering resistance = you are on the right track. Must experience emotion along with free association for it to be therapeutic (to get symptom relief).

Dream Analysis or Interpretation Repressed material can only gain expression in disguised form. Two types of dream content: Manifest content – actual events in the dream Latent content – symbolic meaning of the events Universal symbols – often sexual in nature Therapist interprets the dream.

Scientific Validation of Freudian Concepts Evidence from research seems to support: Anal and oral character types

Scientific Validation of Freudian Concepts Concepts not supported by research: Dreams as disguised expressions of repressed wishes Women have inadequately developed superegos Freud’s psychosexual stages

Cheers and Jeers Cheers: Incredible impact on theory and practice of psychology and psychiatry Gave us important concepts: unconscious, importance of childhood, and defense mechanisms Stimulated the development of opposing views

Cheers and Jeers Jeers: Too much emphasis on instincts/biological Sex and aggression as motivators Based theory on the emotionally disturbed View on women: poorly developed superegos Ambiguous definitions of concepts