22. Describe the structure of personality as Freud views it (id, ego, superego), his concept of defense, and his theory of development.
To understand the structures it is important to first understand Freud’s belief about personality. In his perspective human personality came from a conflict between basic impulse and restraint. He theorized that a personality a rose from “our biological pleasure seeking urges and there struggle with are internalized social control over these urges” (Psychodynamic Theories, page 533). He proposed that personality came from are efforts to resolve this conflict; personality was the minds resolute expression of these in a fashion that brought satisfaction without guilt or punishment. He introduced a theory of three interacting systems; id, ego and superego.
The id has a goal of satisfying basic need to survive, reproduce, and aggress. It wants immediate gratification. Its like the infant part of your personality. Ego wants gratification in a realistic way that will relate to long term pleasure. It evolves to include some of are conscious thoughts as well. Usually around the time before we enter grade school a superego develops. This is made up more of a moral compass. It understands that there is right and wrong the superego wants us to strive to create positive feelings when we do good, and negative feelings of guilt when we do something bad. It is a constant struggle between these three structures that form our personality.
With this constant battle Freud proposed the need to protect the ego. He outlined six defense mechanisms; regression, reaction formation, projection, rationalization, displacement, denial. The table on page 536 describes these as follows. Regression retreating to a more infantile psychosexual stage, or some energy remains fixated.Reaction formation is switching unacceptable impulses into there opposites. Projection disguising ones own impulses by attributing them to others. Rationalization offering self justifying reasons for ones actions. Displacement is shifting sexual or aggressive impulses toward a less threatening object or person. Denial was a refusal to believe and perceive; it was a way of convincing oneself something didn’t happen or exist. Under all of these mechanisms Freud believed repression lied. This banished anxiety- arousing, wishes, and feelings from consciousness. Essentially this was the ultimate way to cope.
Freud also had a theory on personality development. He believed there were five general stages that each human being went through. The table on 534 describes these as follows. In the initial stage form 0-18 months Freud labels it oral, this focuses on pleasure centers of the mouth- sucking, biting, chewing. In the second stage from 18-36 months, Freud says is anal centered. In this stage pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control. Between 3 and 6 years he says the phallic stage is a time when the pleasure zone is focused on the genitals. This is when we cope with incestuous sexual feelings. From 6 years olds to puberty there is a latency period. This is a phase where sexual feelings go dormant. Finally from puberty on the genital stage is simply a maturation of sexual interest.
Artifact #1
This image below describes the defense mechanisms. Also giving an example of how they are related to everyday life.
Artifact #2
The bottom image shows how Freud believed that the personality of a human is acquired.
To understand the structures it is important to first understand Freud’s belief about personality. In his perspective human personality came from a conflict between basic impulse and restraint. He theorized that a personality a rose from “our biological pleasure seeking urges and there struggle with are internalized social control over these urges” (Psychodynamic Theories, page 533). He proposed that personality came from are efforts to resolve this conflict; personality was the minds resolute expression of these in a fashion that brought satisfaction without guilt or punishment. He introduced a theory of three interacting systems; id, ego and superego.
The id has a goal of satisfying basic need to survive, reproduce, and aggress. It wants immediate gratification. Its like the infant part of your personality. Ego wants gratification in a realistic way that will relate to long term pleasure. It evolves to include some of are conscious thoughts as well. Usually around the time before we enter grade school a superego develops. This is made up more of a moral compass. It understands that there is right and wrong the superego wants us to strive to create positive feelings when we do good, and negative feelings of guilt when we do something bad. It is a constant struggle between these three structures that form our personality.
With this constant battle Freud proposed the need to protect the ego. He outlined six defense mechanisms; regression, reaction formation, projection, rationalization, displacement, denial. The table on page 536 describes these as follows. Regression retreating to a more infantile psychosexual stage, or some energy remains fixated.Reaction formation is switching unacceptable impulses into there opposites. Projection disguising ones own impulses by attributing them to others. Rationalization offering self justifying reasons for ones actions. Displacement is shifting sexual or aggressive impulses toward a less threatening object or person. Denial was a refusal to believe and perceive; it was a way of convincing oneself something didn’t happen or exist. Under all of these mechanisms Freud believed repression lied. This banished anxiety- arousing, wishes, and feelings from consciousness. Essentially this was the ultimate way to cope.
Freud also had a theory on personality development. He believed there were five general stages that each human being went through. The table on 534 describes these as follows. In the initial stage form 0-18 months Freud labels it oral, this focuses on pleasure centers of the mouth- sucking, biting, chewing. In the second stage from 18-36 months, Freud says is anal centered. In this stage pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demands for control. Between 3 and 6 years he says the phallic stage is a time when the pleasure zone is focused on the genitals. This is when we cope with incestuous sexual feelings. From 6 years olds to puberty there is a latency period. This is a phase where sexual feelings go dormant. Finally from puberty on the genital stage is simply a maturation of sexual interest.
Artifact #1
This image below describes the defense mechanisms. Also giving an example of how they are related to everyday life.
Artifact #2
The bottom image shows how Freud believed that the personality of a human is acquired.