Who was Sigmund Freud?
1856-1939) Freud is probably one of the most well-known theorist when it comes to the development of personality. Considered the father of psychoanalysis, and by many, the father of modern personality theory, he was also very strict and stubborn about his beliefs. As a respected scholar, he developed a following of well-known theorists and psychologists in his psychoanalytic society.
Theory of an Iceberg
Freud likened these three levels of mind to an iceberg. The top of the iceberg that you can see above the water represents the conscious mind. The part of the iceberg that is submerged below the water but is still visible is the precociousness. The bulk of the iceberg lies unseen beneath the waterline and represents the unconscious. Each person also possesses a certain amount of psychological energy that forms the three basic structures of personality: the id, the ego, and the superego.
These three structures have different roles and operate at different levels of the mind.
Id
The primitive and instinctive component of personality. It consists of all the inherited (i.e. biological) components of personality, including the sex (life) instinct – Eros (which contains the libido), and aggressive (death) instinct -Thanatos. The id is the impulsive (and unconscious) part of our psyche which responds directly and immediately to the instincts. The personality of the newborn child is all id and only later does it develop ego and super-ego. The id demands immediate satisfaction and when this happens we experience pleasure, when it is denied we experience "dissatisfaction" or pain. The id is not affected by reality, logic or the everyday world.
Ego
That part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world” (Freud 1923). The ego develops in order to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world. It is the decision making component of personality. Ideally the ego works by reason whereas the id is chaotic and totally unreasonable. The ego operates according to the reality principle, working our realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands, often compromising or postponing satisfaction to avoid negative consequences of society. The ego considers social realities and norms, etiquette and rules in deciding how to behave.
Like the id, the ego seeks pleasure and avoids pain but unlike the id the ego is concerned with devising a realistic strategy to obtain pleasure. Freud made the analogy of the id being the horse while the ego is the rider. The ego is "like a man on horseback, who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse"(Freud, 1923, p.15).
Superego
Incorporates the values and morals of society which are learned from one's parents and others. It develops around the age of 3 – 5 during the phallic stage of psycho sexual development.
The superego's function is to control the id's impulses, especially those which society forbids, such as sex and aggression. It also has the function of persuading the ego to turn to moralistic goals rather than simply realistic ones and to strive for perfection.
The superego consists of two systems: The conscience and the ideal self. The conscience can punish the ego through causing feelings of guilt. For example, if the ego gives in to id demands, the superego may make the person feel bad though guilt.
FREUD'S PSYCHO-SEXUAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
Freud advanced a theory of personality development focusing on the effects of the sexual pleasure drive on a person's emerging personality. According to his theory, parts of the personality develop as we move through a series of psycho sexual stages. Each stage is characterized by different demands for sexual gratification and different ways of achieving that gratification.
If as growing humans, we do not receive an appropriate amount of gratification - receiving either too little or too much - we may become fixated in a particular stage. That is, we continue to have the same demand for gratification that we had at that stage throughout the rest of our lives. This condition is thought to produce a variety of adult behaviors.
Oral stage drives (Birth to about 15 months)
A newborn is governed only by its drives. Only the id is present at this stage, so the infant seeks immediate gratification, achieved through its mouth - feeding, crying, and oral exploration of the world.
Result of oral stage disturbance
According to Freud, disturbance of the oral stage may result in a permanent fixation on the oral channel for gratification. Examples of resulting adult behaviors include smoking, overeating, thumb-sucking, and pencil chewing. Typical resulting personality traits include impatience, passivity, greediness, dependence and a preoccupation with giving and taking.
Anal stage drives (15 months to about 3 years)
The focus of gratification shifts from the mouth to the anus. The child experiences pleasure from the elimination of feces. According to Freud, this brings them into conflict with their parents. Random elimination (as demanded by the id) incurs parental displeasure, yet withholding elimination (as requested by the parents) is denying the demands of the id, which until this point has been the source of all motivation. The resolution of this conflict requires the the development of the ego, and as such has important implications for behaviors later in life.
Result of anal stage disturbance
Freud suggests that fixations may be caused by either exceptionally strict toilet training or intense pleasure associated with taboos such as smearing feces on the wall. Too little gratification in this stage results in an 'anal' or obsessive character who has a wish to make a terrible mess and therefore must build defenses against this, such as orderliness, rigidity, and hatred of waste. They are also obstinate, stingy, punctual and possessive. Too much gratification will result in opposite behaviors, untidiness, a hot temper and destructiveness
Phallic stage drives ( age three to six)
According to Freud, the focus of gratification is now on the genitals, although this gratification is not the same as that experienced by adults. Children take an increasing interest in their own genitals, and show a curiosity about other people's bodies
Result of phallic stage disturbance
According to Freud, the conflicts may result in homosexuality, authority problems, and rejection of appropriate gender roles if not resolved
Latency stage drives (around five years until puberty)
The drives that have been responsible for gratification in the previous stages appear relatively inactive. This is partly due to the repression of sexual drives that is accomplished during the Oedipal stage.
Result of latency stage disturbance
Freud suggests that these repressed drives may be redirected into other activities, such as the formation of friendships, or hobbies.
Genital stage drives (puberty onward)
With puberty there is re-emergence of the earlier drives. Drive energy is focused on the genitals once more, but this time with an adult expression of sexuality. Although the term 'genital' suggests that gratification during this stage must inevitably be sexual, Freud emphasized the importance of secondary process thinking as a form of symbolic gratification in this stage. Thus, forming loving relationships or assuming the responsibilities of adult life may all be seen as symbolic ways of satisfying the drive energy of this stage.
Result of genital stage disturbance
If too much libidinal energy is taken up in the first three stages, the individual cannot reach maturity, cannot shift the focus from their own body, their own parents and their immediate needs to larger responsibilities involving other
These are forms of defense mechanisms that are very useful for coping strategies.
1856-1939) Freud is probably one of the most well-known theorist when it comes to the development of personality. Considered the father of psychoanalysis, and by many, the father of modern personality theory, he was also very strict and stubborn about his beliefs. As a respected scholar, he developed a following of well-known theorists and psychologists in his psychoanalytic society.
Theory of an Iceberg
Freud likened these three levels of mind to an iceberg. The top of the iceberg that you can see above the water represents the conscious mind. The part of the iceberg that is submerged below the water but is still visible is the precociousness. The bulk of the iceberg lies unseen beneath the waterline and represents the unconscious. Each person also possesses a certain amount of psychological energy that forms the three basic structures of personality: the id, the ego, and the superego.
These three structures have different roles and operate at different levels of the mind.
Id
The primitive and instinctive component of personality. It consists of all the inherited (i.e. biological) components of personality, including the sex (life) instinct – Eros (which contains the libido), and aggressive (death) instinct -Thanatos. The id is the impulsive (and unconscious) part of our psyche which responds directly and immediately to the instincts. The personality of the newborn child is all id and only later does it develop ego and super-ego. The id demands immediate satisfaction and when this happens we experience pleasure, when it is denied we experience "dissatisfaction" or pain. The id is not affected by reality, logic or the everyday world.
Ego
That part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world” (Freud 1923). The ego develops in order to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world. It is the decision making component of personality. Ideally the ego works by reason whereas the id is chaotic and totally unreasonable. The ego operates according to the reality principle, working our realistic ways of satisfying the id’s demands, often compromising or postponing satisfaction to avoid negative consequences of society. The ego considers social realities and norms, etiquette and rules in deciding how to behave.
Like the id, the ego seeks pleasure and avoids pain but unlike the id the ego is concerned with devising a realistic strategy to obtain pleasure. Freud made the analogy of the id being the horse while the ego is the rider. The ego is "like a man on horseback, who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse"(Freud, 1923, p.15).
Superego
Incorporates the values and morals of society which are learned from one's parents and others. It develops around the age of 3 – 5 during the phallic stage of psycho sexual development.
The superego's function is to control the id's impulses, especially those which society forbids, such as sex and aggression. It also has the function of persuading the ego to turn to moralistic goals rather than simply realistic ones and to strive for perfection.
The superego consists of two systems: The conscience and the ideal self. The conscience can punish the ego through causing feelings of guilt. For example, if the ego gives in to id demands, the superego may make the person feel bad though guilt.
FREUD'S PSYCHO-SEXUAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
Freud advanced a theory of personality development focusing on the effects of the sexual pleasure drive on a person's emerging personality. According to his theory, parts of the personality develop as we move through a series of psycho sexual stages. Each stage is characterized by different demands for sexual gratification and different ways of achieving that gratification.
If as growing humans, we do not receive an appropriate amount of gratification - receiving either too little or too much - we may become fixated in a particular stage. That is, we continue to have the same demand for gratification that we had at that stage throughout the rest of our lives. This condition is thought to produce a variety of adult behaviors.
Oral stage drives (Birth to about 15 months)
A newborn is governed only by its drives. Only the id is present at this stage, so the infant seeks immediate gratification, achieved through its mouth - feeding, crying, and oral exploration of the world.
Result of oral stage disturbance
According to Freud, disturbance of the oral stage may result in a permanent fixation on the oral channel for gratification. Examples of resulting adult behaviors include smoking, overeating, thumb-sucking, and pencil chewing. Typical resulting personality traits include impatience, passivity, greediness, dependence and a preoccupation with giving and taking.
Anal stage drives (15 months to about 3 years)
The focus of gratification shifts from the mouth to the anus. The child experiences pleasure from the elimination of feces. According to Freud, this brings them into conflict with their parents. Random elimination (as demanded by the id) incurs parental displeasure, yet withholding elimination (as requested by the parents) is denying the demands of the id, which until this point has been the source of all motivation. The resolution of this conflict requires the the development of the ego, and as such has important implications for behaviors later in life.
Result of anal stage disturbance
Freud suggests that fixations may be caused by either exceptionally strict toilet training or intense pleasure associated with taboos such as smearing feces on the wall. Too little gratification in this stage results in an 'anal' or obsessive character who has a wish to make a terrible mess and therefore must build defenses against this, such as orderliness, rigidity, and hatred of waste. They are also obstinate, stingy, punctual and possessive. Too much gratification will result in opposite behaviors, untidiness, a hot temper and destructiveness
Phallic stage drives ( age three to six)
According to Freud, the focus of gratification is now on the genitals, although this gratification is not the same as that experienced by adults. Children take an increasing interest in their own genitals, and show a curiosity about other people's bodies
Result of phallic stage disturbance
According to Freud, the conflicts may result in homosexuality, authority problems, and rejection of appropriate gender roles if not resolved
Latency stage drives (around five years until puberty)
The drives that have been responsible for gratification in the previous stages appear relatively inactive. This is partly due to the repression of sexual drives that is accomplished during the Oedipal stage.
Result of latency stage disturbance
Freud suggests that these repressed drives may be redirected into other activities, such as the formation of friendships, or hobbies.
Genital stage drives (puberty onward)
With puberty there is re-emergence of the earlier drives. Drive energy is focused on the genitals once more, but this time with an adult expression of sexuality. Although the term 'genital' suggests that gratification during this stage must inevitably be sexual, Freud emphasized the importance of secondary process thinking as a form of symbolic gratification in this stage. Thus, forming loving relationships or assuming the responsibilities of adult life may all be seen as symbolic ways of satisfying the drive energy of this stage.
Result of genital stage disturbance
If too much libidinal energy is taken up in the first three stages, the individual cannot reach maturity, cannot shift the focus from their own body, their own parents and their immediate needs to larger responsibilities involving other
These are forms of defense mechanisms that are very useful for coping strategies.