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Questions and Answers
What does Freud believe is the primary aim of sexual drive?
Which of the following areas does Freud identify as particularly capable of producing sexual pleasure?
What term does Freud use to describe the investment of libido in an object or person?
According to Freud, what characterizes primary narcissism in infants?
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What misconception might someone have about drives as described by Freud?
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Which domain of personality theory focuses on traits that individuals are born with?
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What is a key characteristic of a good scientific theory in personality psychology?
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In which approach is an individual studied without the need to compare to others?
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Which domain addresses the necessary adjustments a person makes to life's challenges?
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What does the Scientific Theory in personality psychology allow researchers to do?
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Study Notes
Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalysis
- The aim of the sexual drive is pleasure.
- Pleasure is not limited to genital satisfaction.
- The entire body is invested with libido, known as erogenous zones.
- The mouth and anus are especially capable of producing sexual pleasure.
- Cathexis is the investment of libido in an object or person.
- Freud postulated a dynamic, or motivational, principle to explain the driving forces behind people's actions. This motivation is derived from psychical and physical energy that springs from our basic drives.
- Freud used the German word "Trieb" to refer to drives such as a stimulus within the person.
- All pleasurable activity is traceable to the sexual drive.
Sex and Narcissism
- Narcissism is a form of sexuality.
- Primary narcissism occurs in infants who are primarily self-centered, with their libido invested almost exclusively on their own ego.
- As the ego develops, children give up much of their primary narcissism and develop a greater interest in other people.
- Narcissistic libido or ego-libido is the concentration of libido on the self.
Dynamics of Personality
- Freud believed personality involved a dynamic, motivated principle.
- People are motivated to seek pleasure and reduce tension and anxiety.
- This is known as the pleasure-pain principle.
Personality Influences
- There are six domains which influence personality:
- Dispositional Domain: traits a person is born with
- Biological Domain: caused by biological functions
- Intrapsychic Domain: conflict within the mind
- Cognitive-Experiential Domain: thoughts and feelings
- Social & Cultural Domain: social and cultural influences
- Adjustment Domain: adjustments made to challenges
The Role of Personality Theories
- A good theory fulfills three roles in science:
- Provides a guide for researchers
- Organizes known findings
- Makes predictions.
- Theories can be tested to see if they are consistent and falsifiable.
Sigmund Freud's Theory: Anxiety and Defense Mechanisms
- Freud proposed three types of anxiety:
- Neurotic anxiety: This anxiety is triggered by unconscious fears, primarily arising from the id’s impulses. It is the fear of unknown dangers.
- Moral anxiety: This anxiety originates from the conflict between the ego and the superego. It involves feelings of guilt or shame when one’s actions or desires conflict with internalized moral standards.
- Realistic anxiety: This anxiety is specifically related to actual, external threats and dangers. It’s a rational response to real, potential dangers in the environment.
- The purpose of anxiety, according to Freud, is to serve as a warning signal of impending danger. This alertness helps the ego to prepare for defense either by taking protective actions or mobilizing against threats.
Freud's Psychosexual Stages of Development
- Freud believed that the first four or five years of life, or the infantile stage, are the most crucial period for personality formation.
- Each developmental stage has a conflict to resolve before moving to the next stage:
- Oral Stage (birth to 18 months): The child derives pleasure through the act of sucking. Fixations can lead to behaviors like sucking on candy, chewing gum, overeating, smoking and biting remarks.
- Anal Stage (18 months to 3 years): During this stage, the anus emerges as a sexually pleasurable zone. The child learns to delay gratification during toilet training.
- Phallic Stage (3 to 5 years): The genitals become the primary erogenous zone. The child becomes aware of their own gender and experiences attraction to the opposite-sex parent.
- Latency Stage (5 to puberty): Sexual impulses become dormant as the child focuses on social and intellectual development.
- Genital Stage (puberty onward): Mature sexual development and adult relationships emerge.
Progression and Regression
- Progression: Adaptation to the outside world involves the forward flow of psychic energy.
- Regression: Adaptation to the inner world relies on the backward flow of psychic energy.
Nomothetic vs. Idiographic
- Nomothetic Approach: Studies groups of individuals, comparing their trait/factor scores, and relating them to specific behaviors or background experiences
- Idiographic Approach: Studies one individual at a time without comparing them to others.
What Makes a Theory Useful
- A useful theory generates research.
- A useful theory is falsifiable.
- A useful theory organizes data, is consistent.
Teleological vs. Causal
- Causality: This approach explains how events in the past influence present behavior, predicting future actions.
- Teleology: Explains present events based on goals and aspirations for the future.
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Description
Explore the key concepts of Sigmund Freud's theories on psychoanalysis and sexuality. This quiz covers foundational ideas such as libido, cathexis, and narcissism, providing insight into the motivation behind human behavior. Test your understanding of these influential psychological principles.
