Psychology Chapter 1: Introduction to Personality and Psychodynamic Theories

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Questions and Answers

What is personality, according to the passage?

Our characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting (correct)

A random assortment of behaviors

The color of our eyes

A person's social security number

What did Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory focus on?

Genetics and social class

Physical appearance and career choice

Childhood sexuality and unconscious motivations (correct)

Brain size and education level

What do humanistic theories emphasize, in contrast to psychodynamic theories?

The limitations of the unconscious mind

Our potential for personal growth and self-fulfillment (correct)

The influence of societal pressures

The importance of early childhood experiences

What aspects of personality do trait theories examine?

Characteristic patterns of behavior (traits) Signup and view all the answers

What do social-cognitive theories focus on?

Early experiences and current relationships Signup and view all the answers

What common theme do psychodynamic theories share?

The focus on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the father of psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud Signup and view all the answers

What did Freud believe was the source of many psychological problems?

Unresolved conflicts with societal roles Signup and view all the answers

What type of thoughts does Freud suggest are mostly unacceptable?

Unacceptable thoughts, wishes, and feelings Signup and view all the answers

What technique did Freud use to explore the unconscious mind?

Hypnosis and later, free association Signup and view all the answers

What is the main assumption behind the use of free association in psychoanalysis?

A chain of thoughts leads to repressed memories Signup and view all the answers

During what stage of life did Freud believe personality development occurs primarily?

The first few years of life Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the id, according to Freud?

To mediate between impulses and reality Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the superego, according to Freud?

To balance impulses with societal norms Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of pleasure during the oral stage, according to Freud?

The mouth (sucking, biting, chewing) Signup and view all the answers

What is the central conflict of the phallic stage, according to Freud?

Oedipal conflict Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Personality and Psychodynamic Theories

Personality is a person's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.
Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory focused on childhood sexuality and unconscious motivations as the two main influences on personality.

Key Theories of Personality

Humanistic theories emphasize our potential for personal growth and self-fulfillment.
Trait theories examine characteristic patterns of behavior (traits).
Social-cognitive theories focus on the interaction between people's traits and social context.

Psychodynamic Theories

Psychodynamic theories share a common theme of focusing on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.
Sigmund Freud is considered the father of psychoanalysis.
Freud believed that the source of many psychological problems is unresolved conflicts with societal roles.

The Unconscious Mind

The unconscious, according to Freud, is a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, and feelings.
Freud used free association to explore the unconscious mind, with the assumption that a chain of thoughts leads to repressed memories.

Personality Development

Freud believed that personality development occurs primarily during the first few years of life.
Psychodynamic theories propose that our personality is shaped by a conflict between impulse and restraint.

The Id, Ego, and Superego

The id, according to Freud, strives to satisfy immediate needs and desires.
The ego operates on the reality principle, mediating between impulses and reality.
The superego balances impulses with societal norms and strives for moral perfection.

Psychosexual Development

Freud proposed that psychosexual development occurs through a series of stages.
During the oral stage (0-18 months), the focus of pleasure is on the mouth (sucking, biting, chewing).
During the phallic stage (3-6 years), the central conflict is the struggle between the desire for pleasure and the need to conform to societal norms.