biological explanation of aggression as an alternative to Freud’s psychodynamic explanation Flashcards
according to Freud what motivates all human behaviour including aggression?
- two innate (inborn) drives
- these drives motivate all behaviour
- includes aggressive behaviour
what is eros in Freud’s theory?
- life instinct
- focused on preserving and enjoying life
- energy from eros is called the libido
what is thanatos in Freud’s theory?
- death instinct
- drive towards death and destruction
- first directed at the self
- aim is to reduce arousal and ‘life’
how do eros and thanatos interact in Freud’s theory of aggression?
- behaviour comes from a balance between eros and thanatos
- eros (life instinct) controls thanatos (death instinct)
- thanatos energy is redirected away from self
- this redirection can cause aggression towards others
what is catharsis in Freud’s theory of aggression?
- way to release aggressive urges safely
- prevents violent behaviour
- can happen by watching violence
- or through minor aggression like video games or sports
what are the three parts to personality according to Freud?
- id
- ego
- superego
what is the id in Freud’s theory?
- part of personality we are born with
- most primitive and demanding part
- driven by eros and thanatos
- works on the pleasure principle
- wants immediate gratification with no thought for consequences
what is the ego in Freud’s theory?
- develops around age two
- rational part of the personality
- works on the reality principle
- controls and delays id’s urges
- learns norms and rules of society
- balances demands of id and superego
what is the superego in Freud’s theory?
- develops around age four
- made up of the conscience and ego ideal
- conscience tells right from wrong
- ego ideal is the ideal self
- child feels pride for right behaviour, guilt for wrong
- operates on the morality principle
- controls aggressive impulses
what three parts is our mind made up of according to Freud?
- conscious
- preconscious
- unconscious
what is the conscious mind in Freud’s theory?
- holds thoughts, ideas, emotions we are aware of
- includes perceptual awareness
- awareness of things around you
what is the preconscious mind in Freud’s theory?
- holds thoughts and ideas not currently in conscious awareness
- memories that can be accessed
- not repressed, just not in conscious mind at the moment
what is the unconscious mind in Freud’s theory?
- main part of the mind, where all thoughts originate
- some thoughts become conscious, others enter the preconscious
- thoughts are repressed unconsciously, not by choice
- active, uses up mental energy
- holds unknown thoughts, emotions, and desires
- guides thinking and emotions without our awareness
how does Freud link aggression to the death instinct (thanatos)?
- aggression is the outlet for the death instinct (thanatos)
- without aggression, the death instinct would negatively affect behaviour and thinking
- the death instinct is in everyone and expresses itself as aggression
how did Freud explain the cause of aggression? (id)
- aggression comes from anger
- anger comes from frustration
- frustration occurs when the id’s desires are blocked
- frustration happens when unable to gain pleasure or avoid pain
- Freud believed this frustration led to aggression
how does the superego relate to aggression in Freud’s theory?
- superego is the conscience formed from parents’ demands
- the child feels aggression towards parents for blocking pleasure (id’s desires)
- child loves parents, so aggression is not directed at them
- aggression is internalised in the superego
- child may develop strong conscience and guilt
- catharsis transforms aggression into acceptable behaviours, like competitive sport
