Freud: Background

Freud: Background

1. Phobias

   • A phobia is an extreme or irrational fear or an aversion to something

2. Abnormality

   • Rules about what is "normal" will not apply to everyone. Therefore, behaviour cannot be easily generalised because everyone differs as an individual.
     • From a psychological perspective, someone is considered "abnormal" if: the behaviour is statistically in frequent, the behaviour violates social norms, the person fails to function adequately, the person deviates from ideal mental health
       • Statistical infrequency: if behaviour is statistically unusual.e.g. an individual with an IQ above average level in society is seen as abnormal
       • Violation of social norm: it is more common in Southern Europe to stand much closer to strangers than in the UK.
       • Deviation from ideal mental health: a very negative view of the self may not be considered normal.
       • Failure to function adequately: not being able to interact meaningfully with others.

3. The Mind

   • The conscious: the part we control and are aware of
   • The precocious: just below the conscious, semi-aware of
   • The unconscious: unaware of
   • Personality according to Freud
     • ID - the most impulsive, most primitive part of the personality: doesn't know right from wrong, demands instant gratification, lies in our unconscious mind so we are not aware of our id, the pleasure principle.
     • EGO - acts as a mediator between the id and the world, tries to balance conflicts between the id and the superego, lies in out precocious mind so sometimes we are aware of EGO, the reality principle.
     • Superego - the moral/judgement part of the personality, if we don't behave according to rules, the superego punishes us with guilt and anxiety, lies in all aspects of of our mind so we are fully aware of some aspects of the superego but not aware of others.

4. Psychosexual Stages of Developement

   • Oral (birth-1 year) - Fixation on the mouth. Important influences - breast feeding; wearing into solids. Ego develops. Anal (1-3 years) - Fixation on the anus. Important influences - Potty training.
     • Phallic (3-5 year) - Fixation on the phallus. Important influences - Oedipus/ Electra complex. Superego develops. Latent (5 - puberty) - Little or no sexual motivation present. Genital (puberty - death) - Fixation on the genitals. Important influence - sexual relationships
   • Phallic stage - Oedipus complex - Boys- Boy starts to develop a sexual desire for his mother, The boy becomes jealous of his father. He fears castration by his father if he finds out about his desire. The boy is in a state of conflict, but deals with this by identifying with his father and internalising his characteristics. The boy substitutes his desire for his mother with a desire for other women and the Oedipus complex is resolved.
   • Girl starts to develop a sexual desire for her mother. The girl realises she has no penis and develops penis envy. She is also jealous of her mother. The girl is in a state of conflict as she realises she can have neighter her father or a penis, and deals with this by identifying with her mother. The girl substitutes her desire for a penis with a baby, and her desire for her father with other men.