1. Personality Development
Lap 4
Psychodynamic and Cognitive Theories
Part I

2. What does Psychology want to accomplish?

3. Theories of Personality
Goal- to EXPLAIN similarities/ differences
To provide reasons for differences in personalities
To discover patterns
To determine how life can be improved

4. Psychodynamic Theories
Personality/ behavior is the result of unconscious motivations and conflicts
Only a small part of the mind is conscious
Unconscious- things recalled with effort
Theorists: Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Alfred Adler
Criticisms include the unscientific nature of the ideas
Ignores the “neurological” parts of the brain

5. Freud and Personality Personality develops at different stages in life
The Structure of Personality:
Behavior is the result of interaction and conflict between 3 elements
Id- inborn, impulsive, instinctive drives
Demands satisfaction
Libido-- Life-preserving (sexual) drive
Aggressive, destructive drive
Pleasure Principle– impulses should be satisfied, regardless of consequences!

6. Freud and Personality The structure of personality:
Ego- Executive agent of personality
Mediates between self and world
Compromise to satisfy the demands of the ID– reason and strategy
Reality principle- delays pleasure until a suitable object available
Defense Mechanisms to protect it (Lap 2)
Denial, repression, projection, intellectualization, etc

7. Freud and Personality The structure of personality:
Superego- Conscience/ moral standards/ right vs wrong
Superego blocks the aggressive and sexual impulses of the ID
Controls the ID
Ideal Self- how we should be… leads to feelings of guilt or pride

8. Freud Personality develops over time
Childhood experiences continue to influence behaviors
5 Stages of Personality Development
Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital
Milestones and conflicts of each
Oedipus complex in phallic stage
Focused on the role of primitive urges/ sexual instincts

9. Freud Conflict leads to maladjustment
Goal of therapy- to uncover the hidden root of current problems and reveal the unconscious mind
Therapy methods - “talking outo” lead to “free association” and dream analysis
Dreams: the expression of emotional memories