UNIT 3 - Lesson 1 - Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Republic of the Philippines
BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

MAIN CAMPUS
Tagbilaran City
UNIT 3
Developmental Theories and Other Relevant Theories
Lesson 1- Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
“The ego is not master in its own house”

-Sigmund Freud
Introduction
Fred’s views about human development are more than a century old. He can be considered the most
well- known psychologist because of his very interesting theory about the unconscious and also about
sexual development. Although a lot of his views were criticized and some considered them debunked,
(he himself recanted some of his earlier views). Freud’s theory remains to be one of the most influential
in psychology. His theory sparked the ideas in the brilliant minds of other theorists and thus became the
starting point of many other theories, notable of which is Erikson’s Psychosocial theory.
Abstraction/ Generalization
As a person grows, the personality is also formed. Many psychologists present different views about
how personality develops. As mentioned, Freud presents a very interesting theory about personality, its
components and development. Read on and hopefully it will also somehow lead you to understand
more your own personality.
Freud’s Stage of Psychosexual Development

Freud is the most popular psychologist that studied the development of personality, also probably
the most controversial. His theory of psychosexual development includes five distinct stages. According
to Freud, a person goes through the sequence of these five stages and along the way where are needs to
be met. Whether these needs are met or not, determines whether the person will develop a healthy
personality or not. The theory is quite interesting for many because Freud identical specific erogenous
zones for each stage of development. These are specific “pleasure areas” that become focal points for
the particular stage. If needs are not met along the area, a fixation occurs. As an adult, the person will
now manifest behaviors related to this erogenous zone.
Oral Stage (birth to 18 months). The erogenous zone is the mouth. During the oral stage, the child
is focus on oral pleasure (sucking). Too much or too little satisfaction can lead to an Oral Fixation o Oral
Personality which is shown in an increased focus on oral activities. This type of personality may be oral
receptive or oral aggressive, that is, with a tendency to bite his or her nails, or use curse words or even
gossip. As a result, these persons may become too dependent no others, easily fooled, and lack
leadership traits. On the other hand, they may also fight these tendencies and become pessimistic and
aggressive in relating with people.
Anal stage (18 months to 3 years). The child’s focus of pleasure in this stage is the anus. The child
finds satisfaction in eliminating and retaining feces. Through society’s expectation, particularly the
parents, the child needs to work on toilet training. Let us remember that between one year and half to
three years the child’s favorite word might be “No!”. Therefore, a struggle might exist in the toilet
training
Page 2
process when the child retains feces when asked to eliminate; or may choose to defecate when asked to
hold feces for some reason. In terms of personality, fixation during this stage can result in being anal
retentive, an obsession with cleanliness, perfection, and control; anal expulsive where the person may
become messy and disorganized.
Phallic Stage (ages 3 to 6). The pleasure or erogenous zone is the genitals. During the preschool
age, children become interested in what makes boys and girls different. Preschool will sometimes be
seen fondling their genitals. Freud’s studied led him to believe that during this stage boys develop
unconscious sexual desire for their mother. Boys then see their father as a rival for her mother’s
affection. Boys may fear that their father will punish them for these feelings, thus, the castration
anxiety. These feelings comprise what Freud called Oedipus Complex. In Greek Mythology, Oedipus
unintentionally killed his father and his mother Jocasta.
Psychoanalysts also believe that girls may also have familiar experiences, developing unconscious
sexual attraction towards their father. This is what is referred to as the Electra Complex.
According to Freud, out of fear of castration and due to the strong competition of their father, boys
eventually decide to identify with them rather than fight them. By identifying with their father, the boys
develop masculine characteristic and identify themselves as males and repress their sexual feelings
toward their mother. A fixation at this stage could result in sexual deviancies (both overindulging and
avoidance) and weak or confused sexual identity according to psychoanalysts.
Latency Stage (age 6 to puberty). It’s during this stage that sexual urges repressed. The children’s
focus is the acquisition of physical and academic skills. Boys usually relate more with boys and girls with
girls during this stage.
Genital Stage (puberty onwards). The fifth stage of psychosexual development begins at the start
of puberty when sexual urges are once again awakened. In the earlier stages, adolescents focus their
sexual urges towards the opposite sex peers, with the pleasure centered on the genitals.
EXERCISE No. 1
Directions: As you read through Feud’s theory, fill out the graphic organizer below to highlight the
important concepts. (25 points.)
Erogenous zone. A specific rea that becomes the focus of pleasure needs. This may be the mouth, anus and the
genitals.
Fixation. Results from failure to satisfy the needs of a particular psychosexual stage.
Stages of Psychosexual Important Concepts on Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Development Erogenous Zone Description of the Stage Fixations
Oral Stage
Anal Stage
Phallic Stage
Latency Stage
Genital Stage
Page 3
Freud’s Personality Components

Freud described the personality structures as having three components, the id, and the superego.
For each person, the first to emerge is the id, followed by the ego, and last to develop is the superego.
While reading about the three components, use the graphic organizer below to put notes and
questions about them.
The id. Freud says that, a child is born with the id. The id plays a vital role in one’s personality because as
a baby, it works so that the baby’s essential needs are met. The id operates on the pleasure principle.
It focuses on immediate gratification or satisfaction of its needs. S0 whatever feels good now is what it
will pursue with no consideration for reality, logicality or practicality of the situation. For example, a
baby is hungry. Its id wants food or milk… so the baby will cry is uncomfortable, in pain, too hot, too
cold, or just wants attention, the id speaks up until his or her needs are met.
Nothing else matters to the id expects the satisfaction of its own needs. It is not towards
considering reality nor the needs of others. Just see how babies cry any time of the day and night!
Absolutely no regard of whether mommy is tired or daddy is sleeping. When the id wants something, it
wants it now and wants it fast!
The ego. As the baby turns into a toddler and then into a preschooler, he/she relates more with the
environment, the ego slowly begins to emerge. The ego operates using the reality principle. It is aware
that others also have needs to be met. It is practical because it knowns that being impulsive or selfish
can result to negative consequences later, so it reason and considers the best response to situation. As
such, it is the deciding agent of the personality. Although it functions to help the id meet its needs, I
always take into account the reality of the situation.
The superego. Near the end of the preschool tears, or the end of the phallic stage, the superego
develops. The superego embodies a person’s moral aspect. This develops from
What the parents, teachers and persons who exert influence impart to be good or moral. The superego
is likened to conscience because it exerts influence on what one considers right and wrong.
The Three Components and Personality Adjustment

Freud said that a well-adjusted person is one who has strong ego, who can help satisfy the needs of
the id without going against the superego while maintaining the person’s sense of what is logical,
practical and real. Of course, it is not easy for the ego to do all that and strike a balance. If the id exerts
too much power over the ego, the person becomes too impulsive and pleasure-seeking behavior takes
over one’s life. On the opposite direction, one may find the superego so strong that the ego is
overpowered. The person becomes so harsh and judgmental to himself sand other’s actions. The
person’s best effort to be good may still fall short of the superego’s expectations.
The ability of a leaner to be well-adjust is largely influenced by how the learner was brought up. His
experiences about how his parents met his needs, the extent to which he was allowed to do the things
he wanted to do, and also how he was taught about right and wrong, all figures to the type of
personality and consequent adjustment that a person will make. Freud believe that the personality of
an individual is formed early during the childhood years.
Topographic Model
The Unconscious. Freud said the most what we go through in our lives, emotion, beliefs, feelings,
and impulses deep within are not available to us at a conscious level. He believes that most of what
Page 4
influence us is our unconscious. The Oedipus and Electra Complex mentioned earlier were both buried
down into the unconscious, out of our awareness due to the extreme anxiety they caused. While these
complexes are in our unconscious, they still influence our thinking, feeling and doing in perhaps
dramatic ways.
The conscious. Freud also said that all we are aware of is stored in our conscious mind. Our
conscious mind only comprises a very small part of who we are so that, in our everyday life, we are only
aware of a very small part of what makes up our personality; most of what we are is hidden and out of
reach.
The subconscious. The last part is the preconscious or subconscious. This is part of us that we can
reach if prompted, but is not in our active conscious. its right below the surface, but still ‘hidden”
somewhat unless we search for it. Information such as our telephone number, some childhood
memories, or the name of your best friend is stored in the preconscious.
Because the unconscious is so huge, and because we are only aware of the very small conscious at
any given time, Freud used the analogy of the iceberg to illustrate it. A big part of the iceberg is hidden
beneath the water’s surface.
The water, may represent all that we are not aware of, have not experienced, and that has not
been made part of our personalities, referred to as the nonconscious.
Conscious
Preconscious
Superego Nonconscious
Ego*
Unconscious
Id Note: Ego is free floating in all three levels
Freud’s conception of the Human psyche

(The Iceberg Metaphor)
EXERCISE No. 2
Directions: Read the statements below and answer the given questions following the specified
number
of sentences. (15 points)
1. Recall a recent incident in your life when you had to make decision. Narrate the situation
below in 3-5 sentences ONLY. Indicate what the decision was about, the factors that were
involved and how you arrive at your decision. (5 points.)
_____________________________________________________________________________.
Page 5
2. Encode your ALL answers per question in ONE SIMPLE SENTENCE ONLY. (10 points)
A. What factors influenced you in making your decision?
___________________________________________________________________________.
B. Which do you consider most in your making decision?
__________________________________________________________________________.
C. What will make you feel satisfied in making decision?

___________________________________________________________________________.
D. What is most beneficial and practical in decision making?
___________________________________________________________________________.
E. What do you believe was the most more thing to do to arrive at sound decision making?
___________________________________________________________________________.
EXERCISE No. 3
Directions: Research the short biography of Sigmund Freud to answer the following questions. (10
points)
1. Describe Freud’s family background including the composition and his growing up stages
in his family for 5-10 SIMPLE SENTENCES ONLY.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. From the lesson on Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory, I learned that ___________________

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.
-END-

UNIT 3 - Lesson 1 - Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UNIT 3 - Lesson 1 - Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

UNIT 3 - Lesson 1 - Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Republic of the Philippines

BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

Lesson 1- Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

“The ego is not master in its own house”

Freud’s Stage of Psychosexual Development

Stages of Psychosexual Important Concepts on Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud’s Personality Components

The Three Components and Personality Adjustment

Freud’s conception of the Human psyche

C. What will make you feel satisfied in making decision?

2. From the lesson on Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory, I learned that ___________________

You might also like