All Flashcards
What is the unconscious?
Reservoir of unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and memories, often repressed.
Define free association.
Technique used to explore the unconscious where patients say whatever comes to mind.
What is the id?
The impulsive, irrational part of the personality that operates on the pleasure principle.
What is the ego?
The rational part of the personality that operates on the reality principle.
What is the superego?
The moral part of the personality that represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment.
Define defense mechanisms.
Unconscious strategies that the ego uses to protect itself from anxiety.
What is repression?
Blocking anxiety-provoking thoughts from conscious awareness.
What is regression?
Reverting to immature behaviors from an earlier stage of development.
What is projection?
Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
What is rationalization?
Creating self-justifying explanations for unacceptable behavior.
What is sublimation?
Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.
What is the Oedipus complex?
Boys develop sexual feelings for their mothers and jealousy towards their fathers.
What is the Electra complex?
Girls develop sexual feelings for their fathers and jealousy towards their mothers.
What is identification?
Adopting the characteristics of the same-sex parent to resolve conflict and develop gender identity.
Define inferiority complex.
Motivation stems from a fear of failure and a desire to achieve.
Define superiority complex.
People mask their fears of being inferior by acting superior.
What are archetypes?
Inherited universal concepts shared by all humans.
What are the psychosexual stages of development?
Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital.
Briefly describe the Oral Stage.
Pleasure centers on the mouth (sucking, biting, chewing) from 0-18 months.
Briefly describe the Anal Stage.
Pleasure centers on bowel and bladder elimination (potty training) from 18-36 months.
Briefly describe the Phallic Stage.
Pleasure centers on the genitals from 3-6 years.
Briefly describe the Latency Stage.
Sexual feelings are dormant from 6 years to puberty.
Briefly describe the Genital Stage.
Mature sexual interests develop from puberty on.
How can psychoanalytic theory be applied to understand anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders may stem from unresolved unconscious conflicts and defense mechanisms.
How might the concept of 'repression' be seen in everyday life?
Someone forgetting a traumatic event due to blocking it from conscious awareness.
How does sublimation manifest in career choices?
Someone with aggressive tendencies becoming a surgeon to channel those impulses constructively.
How can understanding defense mechanisms help in therapy?
Therapists can identify and address underlying anxieties by recognizing defense mechanisms.
How might the Oedipus complex influence relationships?
Unresolved conflicts can lead to difficulties in forming healthy relationships with authority figures or partners.
How can psychoanalytic theory explain procrastination?
Procrastination may be a result of unconscious fears or conflicts related to success or failure.
How does the concept of the superego relate to moral development?
The superego represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment, influencing moral behavior.
How can understanding the id, ego, and superego help in parenting?
Parents can better understand and manage their children's behavior by recognizing the interplay of these personality structures.
How might early childhood experiences impact adult relationships?
Early attachment patterns and unresolved conflicts can influence the way individuals form and maintain relationships.
How can psychoanalytic theory explain addiction?
Addiction may be a way to cope with underlying anxieties or to satisfy the id's impulsive desires.