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Summary 1.2C Differences Between People
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This is a summary of the literature and articles of Problem 1-8 from course 1.2.
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M 1.2 Differences between People PersonalityPsychology
Problem 1: Psychoanalytical perspective
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
The Psychoanalytic Theory of:
motivation
personality development
mental structures
psychopathology and symptom formation
psychotherapy
- Psychodynamic –processes through which personality works
- Parts of personality can conflict
- Constant defense
- Consists of many metaphors, Freud believed biological processes were
underlying mental processes
- Psychoanalytic theory = complex, concepts deeply interwoven
transformation of motives
- Basic impulses persist + press for discharge, objects at which they are
directed + manner in which they are expressed are transformed
Fundamental Assumptions of Freud
1. The unconscious (the topographical model of mind)
3 level of consciousness:
- Conscious level: Thoughts, Perceptions
- Preconscious Level: Memories, Stored Knowledge
- Unconscious Level (according to Freud most important part of mind): Fears,
Violent Motives, Immoral Urges, Selfish Needs, Irrational Wishes, Shameful
experiences, Unacceptable Sexual Desires
2. Psychic Determinism
(there is a reason behind every thought, feeling, act -> expression of our mind)
to cure psychological illness unconscious cause must be discovered
3. Internal Conflicts (Eros; Thanos = opposing thrives) (-> human behaviour is
motivated by those)
- operate on unconscious level
Eros: life instinct, helps individual to survive, energy created by life instinct
known as libido
Thanos: death instinct, destructive forces, when this energy is directed to others
it is expressed as aggression and violence
Freud saw Personality as having three aspects which interact to create
complexity of behaviour Id, Ego, Superego
,The Structural Model of personality (Freud)
personality consist of 3 parts: Id, Ego, Super-Ego; in constant conflict
with one another. Ich, Es, Über-Ich
Id: Reservoir of Psychic Energy
• inherited, instinctive, primitive aspects of mind, unconscious
• part of the mind, source of all drives and urges
• original component of personality, present at birth
• close to basic biological processes
• all psychic energy comes through it / "engine" of personality
• follows pleasure principle (all needs should be satisfied immediately;
unsatisfied needs create aversive tension state)
• attempts to satisfy needs via primary process (forming unconscious mental
image of object / event that would satisfy need) experience of having such
image is called wish fulfilment
Primary process thinking wish fulfilment
(does not follow rules of logic, direct, reality-ignoring)
Ego: Executive of Personality (seeks Pleasure; avoids pain)
• Develops at age 2-3
• Gatekeeper
• Act mainly at conscious and precocious, but also at unconscious
No moral sense, pragmatic ego is okay with stealing, cheating
• ego wants id’s desire to be satisfied
• source of intellectual process + problem solving
• executive role in personality; mediate between desires of id + reality
• tension reduction by primary process has drawback, does not connect well
with reality
as result ego develops; evolves from id + takes part of id’s energy
• tries to make id’s impulses expressed effectively
• mostly conscious + preconscious; but partly unconscious due to connection to
id
• uses secondary process: matching unconscious image of tension-reducing
object to real object, until then ego keeps tensioning check
,• Secondary process thinking (rational, realistic, oriented towards problem
solving)
• follows reality principle (external reality combined with internal needs and
urges)
leads to weigh risk + action before acting
• a goal is delay discharge of id’s tension until appropriate object / context is
found
• can plan actions to satisfy needs + test plans mentally = reality testing
• Reality testing = if one strategy does not work the Ego tries out another
solution; enables person to control their impulses
Superego: Upholder of Societal Values, Morals, Ideals
• Develops at age of 3-5
• Operates at all levels of consciousness
• Introjection: process of "taking in" / incorporating parent’s values
• embodiment of parental + social values; exerts civilizing influence on person
• Strives for perfection (its perfectionism far away from reality)
• Operates on extremes
• operates on all 3 levels of consciousness
Superego consists of two systems:
1. Conscience: rules on bad behaviour (e.g. can create feelings of guilt)
comprises rules about what behaviour parents disapprove of + punish
doing these things, conscience punishes you with feelings of guilt
reflects things to avoid
2. Ego-ideal: rules of good behaviour = Ideal-self (imaginary picture of how we
should be, behave)
comprises rules for good behaviour / standards of excellence
reflects things you strive for
SuperEgo has 3 interrelated goals:
1. tries to prevent any id impulse that would be frowned by parents
2. tries to force ego to act morally rather than rational
3. tries to guide person toward perfection in thought, word + deed
BALANCING THE FORCES
• EGO (strength) mediates between Id, Superego and reality;
ego strength = ego’s ability to be effective despite conflicts
• with more ego strength person can manage pressures
often not capable of handling conflict, so it uses defence mechanisms
the internal conflict between Id, Ego & Superego is always present and cause
of anxiety, feelings of discomfort
• ego must deal with id, superego + reality
-> ego has to release tension in a way that is socially acceptable + realistic (to
satisfy demands)
-> unlikely because forces often conflict
• in psychoanalysis those conflicts are part of life
, • no aspect of personality is better than the others!!!
-> there should be balance
• the healthier personality is one in which all three aspects are integrated +
balanced
The Topographical Model of Mind (Freud)
• many people assume the mind has two regions
1.) conscious experience (thoughts, feelings, behaviours you are aware of right
now)
2.) memories (is on outside of awareness in the moment, can come to awareness
easily)
Freud added 3. Region
• these 3 regions combined built topography of mind / surface configuration
• conscious, unconscious, preconscious
• Freud called part of mind that represented ordinary memory preconscious
things in preconcious can easily go to conscious
• Freud used unconscious as part of mind that cannot be directly accessed;
unconscious as source of desires, urges, feelings, ideas tied to anxiety, conflict
or pain
those things have influence on behaviour / experience
• Freud saw unconscious as most important part of mind (core operations of
personality take place there)
material = thoughts, feelings, desires
Ego Processes and delay of Gratification
- Key function of Ego to delay gratification impulses
- Mark of mature personality
- Ability to delay gratification makes people more productive members of
society and vis versa
Defense mechanisms (responses to anxiety)
• F. viewed anxiety as warning signal to ego that something bad will happen
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