Personality 2017 Flashcards
(40 cards)
Define personality
A relatively stable set of characteristics that determine how we think, feel and behave - when alone and with others.
Define personality theory
An approach to describing and explaining the origins and development of personality, focusing on the similarities and differences between individuals.
What is psychoanalysis according to Freud?
A method for treating mental illness and also a theory which explain human behaviour. It is often refered to as the ‘talking cure’. Freud encouraged his patients to talk freely regarding their symptoms.
Explain the unconscious mind.
Within the unconscious mind lies the real cause of behaviour. It is seemingly impossible to ‘unlock’ the unconscious mind. It contains primitive wishes and impulses that are inaccessible and controlled by the preconscious mind. Freud believed the contents of the unconscious mind were repressed as they would be too painful to be remembered or acknowledged. He also believed psychoanalysis made the unconscious mind conscious.
What is the id?
The pleasure principle (gratification from satisfying basic instincts). Comprised of Eros and Thanatos. Eros helps the individual to survive (respiration, eating, sex) and Thanatos (death instinct) - destructive force in all humans, overpowered by Eros.
What is the ego?
Develops during infancy. It is the reality principle. Its goal is to satisfy the demands of the id in a socially acceptable way. The ego operates in both the conscious and unconscious mind. It is a mediator between the id and superego.
What is the superego?
Acts on morality principle. Ensures moral standards are followed. Encourages us to behave in a socially acceptable manner.
List the six defense mechanisms.
Repression Denial Projection Displacement Regression Sublimation
What is repression?
An unconscious mechanism employed by the ego to keep disturbing or threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.
What is denial?
Involves blocking external events from awareness. If some situation is too much to handle, the individual refuses to accept or experience it.
What is projection?
Involves individuals attributing their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings and motives to another person.
What is displacement?
Satisfying an impulse with a substitute object. e.g. mad so come home and kick the dog.
What is regression?
This is a movement back in psychological time when one is faced with stress.
What is sublimation?
Satisfying an impulse with a substitute object, in a socially acceptable way. e.g. mad so puts energy into a sport.
What is Freud’s dream theory?
Freud believed dreams to be the ‘royal road’ to the unconscious as in dreams, the ego’s defenses are lowered, allowing repressed material to come through.
What is free association?
When presented with a stimulus, clients are asked to talk about the first thing that comes to mind.
What does manifest content and latent content mean?
Manifest content - what we remember
Latent content - true meaning of the manifest content.
Define fixations
Prevent the development of a ‘normal’ personality.
Name and explain the first psychosexual stage.
Oral stage (birth to 2yrs):
- pleasure for child centres around the mouth, through sucking, biting, chewing, etc.
- infant could develop oral fixation if experience of being fed is too frustrating or pleasurable.
- later in life, may show fixation through smoking, nail biting, chewing gum, overeating, alcoholism.
- personality characteristics; gullibility, passivity, need for attention and dependence on others.
Name and explain the second psychosexual stage.
Anal stage (2 to 3yrs):
- pleasure relates to anus, particularly when passing stools.
- during toilet training, child for the first time has some power over gaining approval from parents either by ‘holding it in’ or ‘letting it go’.
- personality characteristics: anal-retentive (excessively clean, orderly, organised, hoards things, stubborn and stingy) and anal-repulsive (untidy, destructive, disorderly and cruel).
Name and explain the third psychosexual stage.
Phallic stage (4 to 5yrs):
- child’s attention is often focused on the sex organs
- at this time, the child is said to seek genital stimulation and develops an unconscious attraction to the parent of the opposite sex, while developing unconscious feelings of jealousy and hatred towards the parent of the same ex
- electra complex and oedipus complex.
Name and explain the fourth psychosexual stage.
Latency stage (6 to puberty):
- attention is focused away form bodily zones and pleasure seeking.
- it is a time when psychosexual development is put on hold and previous sexual feelings are forgotten while the child focuses on developing relationships with others of the same sex.
Name and explain the last psychosexual stage.
Genital stage (puberty to early-adulthood)
- sexual energies are focused on the genitals as they mature and the ability to reproduce occurs.
- there is a growing want and need for mature social and sexual relationships with others.
- Freud did not identify this stage as causing problems in the development of the ‘normal’ personality as much as the previous stages.
What are three strengths of Freud’s theory?
- psychological ailments are treatable
- cathartic nature (using talking as a cure)
- emphasis on the environment and our upbringing on our future behaviour
