1. Introduction to Theories

2. Modern Biological View – Brains, Genes and Behaviour
Developed as science and technology grew
Role of the highly developed brain
Biochemical processes underlying thoughts, feelings, emotions, actions
Genetic Influences on behaviour

3. Evolutionary Psychology – Grew out of Darwin’s natural selection
Evolutionary pressures led to development of brain mechanisms that help us to:
Learn
Think
Reason
Socialize

4. Sociobiology-a branch of evolutionary psychology
everything we do is related to helping our genes carry on
example – aggression, competition, and dominance in males, altruism??
Critics say continuation of species is important to our behaviour and development, but we must also consider our behaviour in light of our need to be social and live together

5. Psychodynamic or Psychoanalytic Theory
There are several – all originated with Sigmund Freud.
All psychodynamic theories suggest that personality is characterized by a dynamic struggle between
*our drives for sex, aggression, and superiority, and;
*the laws, social rules, and moral codes of society.
Once we have learned the social rules, we have inner conflict between these two forces

6. Freud developed a theory of the human mind (see diagram p. 493)

7. Three structures: The Id
Follows the pleasure principle – demands gratification of instincts without consideration of law, social custom, or the needs of others
present at birth
represents psychological drives
entirely unconscious

8. The Ego
Follows the Reality Principle – takes into account what is practical, along with what is urged by the Id
develops in the first year of life when demands are not met instantly
reason and good sense
curbs the id through defense mechanisms
makes plans consistent with social conventions, while trying to satisfy the id
provides person’s conscious sense of self
mostly conscious, some unconscious

9. The Super Ego
Develops throughout early childhood and represents the Moral Principle
incorporation of the moral standards and values of society
a person’s ideal self
conscience/moral guardian
judges right and wrong
floods ego with guilt and shame if plan is judged to be negative

10. The ego gets stuck between the id and the superego

11. To explore the unconscious part of the mind, Freud developed a form of “mental detective” work called psychoanalysis.
His theory of personality is also referred to as Psychoanalytic Theory as a result of this term

12. During psychoanalysis, patients are encouraged to talk about anything that pops into their mind.

13. "How many psychoanalysts does it take to change a lightbulb
"How many psychoanalysts does it take to change a lightbulb?... Just the one - but it takes a very long time, and the lightbulb has got to want to change".

14. The Freudian Slip – when you say something by accident that might reveal what is in your unconscious

15. Freud also developed an theory about how people develop over time
Text….
Criticism of Freud
Unscientific
Untestable and unobservable
Too much focus on sexuality

16. But: We do know that unconscious processes do occur and affect behaviour
Defense Mechanisms - See handout