CPPsychoanalysis
CPPsychoanalysis
ComPutational
Psychoanalysis
Freud's Personality Theory
Psychoanalytic theories explain human behaviour in terms of the interaction of various components of personality. Sigmund Freud was the founder of this school. Freud drew on the physics of his day (thermodynamics) to coin the term psychodynamics. Based on the idea of converting heat into mechanical energy, he proposed that psychic energy could be converted into behavior. Freud's theory places central importance on dynamic, unconscious psychological conflicts.
Psychoanalysis must be understood as both a major theoretical system and a form of therapy. Here we'll discuss it only as a theory, conducting our discussion of psychoanalysis as therapy in the Personality: Therapies Chapter. One sage argued that humanity has suffered three great blows to its ego in the past millennium. Copernicus' now-demonstrable assertion that the earth is not the center of the universe cost humankind its centrality in the universe in the 1500's. Darwin's Theory of Evolution argued in the mid-1800's that humans are not ultimately likely to be the the supreme form of animal life.
We are simply the most sophisticated, most recently evolved form. That cost us ultimate dominance in the animal hierarchy. And then, in the latter 1800's, here comes Freud arguing that we are not even aware of all the forces controlling our behavior -- we are subject to unconscious urges! The entire psychoanalytic theory is based on only two forms of observations made by Sigmund Freud.
He studied deviant, or irrational, behavior of a very small number (less than a dozen) of his own medical patients. He also drew observations from everyday life, such as expression of humor and slips of the tongue. Out of these two kinds of observations he developed the single most influential theory of personality yet created. Within this intellectual framework he laid out his observations of the primary underlying assumptions on which psychoanalysis is based. He also detailed his ideas about the structure of personality and sexual and aggressive drives to which we are subject. Two of his students -- Jung and Adler -- went on to develop substantial psychodynamic theories of their own.
Central Elements of Psychoanalysis
There are two major elements underlying all of Freud's theory. One of these is his conception of the conscious- unconscious dimension. He suggested that the mind has three subsystems. The conscious involves thoughts of which you are aware. Thus, your thinking about psychology and Freud's views of our conscious mind are in your conscious mind right now. The preconscious involves thoughts of which you are not immediately aware. However, they are thoughts you can bring to conscious attention easily and rapidly. Want an example? Who's your best friend of the opposite sex right now? Immediately a picture of somebody flashed into your mind. That person was -- if you've been paying attention and not daydreaming about him or her! -- just in your preconscious.
Your unconscious involves the largest source of influences on your overt, conscious behavior, as seen in the diagram. Without our awareness (according to Freud) the conscious becomes a symbol or vehicle of unconscious urges. Thus, by studying such things as slips of the tongue and dreams, Freud would assert we are able to study unconscious processes.
Remember that psychoanalysis was first developed in the 1800's, just at a time when physics, chemistry, and biology were making great strides as disciplines. Essentially mimicking the theories of physics and physical energy, Freud proposed that each of us is born with a certain amount of psychic energy, or libido. This energy creates inner tensions that we seek to reduce. Freud stressed sexuality in his theoretical statements and analyses, but he used the word "sexual" broadly, as it relates to many different intentions and activities. These concepts of the conscious-preconscious-unconscious dimension and libido operate throughout the structure and motivational systems of the personality. Other psychodynamic theorists -- especially with the issue of unconscious urges -- developed somewhat different concepts.
Psychoanalytic Personality Structure
As a theorist, Freud's major contribution to our understanding of personality was his development of the concepts of the id, ego, and superego. He viewed them as separate but interacting systems. Freud liked to use analogies when he spoke and wrote about psychoanalytic concepts. He often compared the id, ego, and superego to a Russian troika. Success in moving this type of vehicle requires contributions by three horses all hitched abreast, and the same idea applies (Freud asserted) in developing a functioning personality.
The id
The id is the initial system present at birth. All libidinal energy is deposited there. That is, all the organism's personal activities are at first directed to satisfying the needs of the id. The id has to do with our most basic desires, and it cannot tolerate tension. Functioning completely unconsciously, the id is said to operate in terms of pleasure principle. It seeks pleasure for itself without any regard for the needs, wants, or concerns of others.
The ego
The ego develops to monitor the id and to direct its impulsive desires. At first it serves only to satisfy the id's impulses. The ego stresses rationality and an awareness of the realities of our physical and social environment. It operates at a conscious and preconscious level, mainly in terms of the reality principle. It balances the impulses of the id against the equally real demands of the environment.
The superego
The superego is the last of the three to develop. It really doesn't begin to make its appearance until as late as the age of six or seven, though Freud was loath to assign age deadlines for developmental processes. The superego is thought to be composed of one's conscience (the values of one's parents) and to involve an ego-ideal.
The superego is as irrational as the id. However, the id does things impulsively only to serve the organism's own needs, while the superego is concerned completely with the good of society. It also operates the realms of both the conscious and the preconscious, without regard for the good of the individual.
How do these concepts work together?
If you had only an ego and the id, then the id's impulses would always be satisfied. If you had only an ego and superego, then the superego's urgings would always be met. But in fact, most of us -- still according to Freud -- have all three. Thus, the ego serves to balance the demands of the id against those of the superego by realistically assessing the limits imposed by the real world. The ego serves an executive function to maximize the benefits to the whole person.
Moreover, these are not the only aspects impacting the operation of the personality. Unconscious urges and libido as well as the forces of life and death also impact our behavior, according to Freud -- though he debated the precise manner of their impact with his students.
Psychoanalysis must be understood as both a major theoretical system and a form of therapy. Here we'll discuss it only as a theory, conducting our discussion of psychoanalysis as therapy in the Personality: Therapies Chapter. One sage argued that humanity has suffered three great blows to its ego in the past millennium. Copernicus' now-demonstrable assertion that the earth is not the center of the universe cost humankind its centrality in the universe in the 1500's. Darwin's Theory of Evolution argued in the mid-1800's that humans are not ultimately likely to be the the supreme form of animal life.
We are simply the most sophisticated, most recently evolved form. That cost us ultimate dominance in the animal hierarchy. And then, in the latter 1800's, here comes Freud arguing that we are not even aware of all the forces controlling our behavior -- we are subject to unconscious urges! The entire psychoanalytic theory is based on only two forms of observations made by Sigmund Freud.
He studied deviant, or irrational, behavior of a very small number (less than a dozen) of his own medical patients. He also drew observations from everyday life, such as expression of humor and slips of the tongue. Out of these two kinds of observations he developed the single most influential theory of personality yet created. Within this intellectual framework he laid out his observations of the primary underlying assumptions on which psychoanalysis is based. He also detailed his ideas about the structure of personality and sexual and aggressive drives to which we are subject. Two of his students -- Jung and Adler -- went on to develop substantial psychodynamic theories of their own.
Central Elements of Psychoanalysis
There are two major elements underlying all of Freud's theory. One of these is his conception of the conscious- unconscious dimension. He suggested that the mind has three subsystems. The conscious involves thoughts of which you are aware. Thus, your thinking about psychology and Freud's views of our conscious mind are in your conscious mind right now. The preconscious involves thoughts of which you are not immediately aware. However, they are thoughts you can bring to conscious attention easily and rapidly. Want an example? Who's your best friend of the opposite sex right now? Immediately a picture of somebody flashed into your mind. That person was -- if you've been paying attention and not daydreaming about him or her! -- just in your preconscious.
Your unconscious involves the largest source of influences on your overt, conscious behavior, as seen in the diagram. Without our awareness (according to Freud) the conscious becomes a symbol or vehicle of unconscious urges. Thus, by studying such things as slips of the tongue and dreams, Freud would assert we are able to study unconscious processes.
Remember that psychoanalysis was first developed in the 1800's, just at a time when physics, chemistry, and biology were making great strides as disciplines. Essentially mimicking the theories of physics and physical energy, Freud proposed that each of us is born with a certain amount of psychic energy, or libido. This energy creates inner tensions that we seek to reduce. Freud stressed sexuality in his theoretical statements and analyses, but he used the word "sexual" broadly, as it relates to many different intentions and activities. These concepts of the conscious-preconscious-unconscious dimension and libido operate throughout the structure and motivational systems of the personality. Other psychodynamic theorists -- especially with the issue of unconscious urges -- developed somewhat different concepts.
Psychoanalytic Personality Structure
As a theorist, Freud's major contribution to our understanding of personality was his development of the concepts of the id, ego, and superego. He viewed them as separate but interacting systems. Freud liked to use analogies when he spoke and wrote about psychoanalytic concepts. He often compared the id, ego, and superego to a Russian troika. Success in moving this type of vehicle requires contributions by three horses all hitched abreast, and the same idea applies (Freud asserted) in developing a functioning personality.
The id
The id is the initial system present at birth. All libidinal energy is deposited there. That is, all the organism's personal activities are at first directed to satisfying the needs of the id. The id has to do with our most basic desires, and it cannot tolerate tension. Functioning completely unconsciously, the id is said to operate in terms of pleasure principle. It seeks pleasure for itself without any regard for the needs, wants, or concerns of others.
The ego
The ego develops to monitor the id and to direct its impulsive desires. At first it serves only to satisfy the id's impulses. The ego stresses rationality and an awareness of the realities of our physical and social environment. It operates at a conscious and preconscious level, mainly in terms of the reality principle. It balances the impulses of the id against the equally real demands of the environment.
The superego
The superego is the last of the three to develop. It really doesn't begin to make its appearance until as late as the age of six or seven, though Freud was loath to assign age deadlines for developmental processes. The superego is thought to be composed of one's conscience (the values of one's parents) and to involve an ego-ideal.
The superego is as irrational as the id. However, the id does things impulsively only to serve the organism's own needs, while the superego is concerned completely with the good of society. It also operates the realms of both the conscious and the preconscious, without regard for the good of the individual.
How do these concepts work together?
If you had only an ego and the id, then the id's impulses would always be satisfied. If you had only an ego and superego, then the superego's urgings would always be met. But in fact, most of us -- still according to Freud -- have all three. Thus, the ego serves to balance the demands of the id against those of the superego by realistically assessing the limits imposed by the real world. The ego serves an executive function to maximize the benefits to the whole person.
Moreover, these are not the only aspects impacting the operation of the personality. Unconscious urges and libido as well as the forces of life and death also impact our behavior, according to Freud -- though he debated the precise manner of their impact with his students.
For your attention
If you had only an ego and the id, then the id's impulses would always be satisfied. If you had only an ego and superego, then the superego's urgings would always be met. But in fact, most of us have all three. Thus, the ego serves to balance the demands of the id against those of the superego by realistically assessing the limits imposed by the real world. The ego serves an executive function to maximize the benefits to the whole person.
If you had only an ego and the id, then the id's impulses would always be satisfied. If you had only an ego and superego, then the superego's urgings would always be met. But in fact, most of us have all three. Thus, the ego serves to balance the demands of the id against those of the superego by realistically assessing the limits imposed by the real world. The ego serves an executive function to maximize the benefits to the whole person.