Development Theories and Other Relevant Theories

CHAPTER 2

MODULE 44 Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

The ego is not master in its own

house.”
- Sigmund Freud

Introduction

Freud’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 all 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 the theorists and thus became the starting point of many other theories,
notable of which is Erickson’s Psychoanalytic theory in Module 6.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

 Explain Freud’s views about child and adolescent

development.
 Draw implications of Freud’s theory to education.
 Activity
1. Recall a recent incident in your life when you had to make a decision.
Narrate the situation below. Indicate when the decision was about, the
factors that were involved and how you arrived at your decision.

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Analysis
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What factors influence you in making your decision?

Which of the following did you consider most in making your

decision: what will make you feel satisfied, what is most beneficial or
practical, what you believe was the most moral thing to do? Elaborate
your answer.
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 Erogenous Zone
_______________________________________________
Description of the Stage
Oral _____________________________________________
Fixations
Stag _________________________________________________________

Erogenous Stage
___________________________________________
Description of the Stage
Anal _____________________________________________
Fixations
Stag _________________________________________________________

e
Erogenous zone, a
specific area that
becomes the focus of
pleasure needs. This Erogenous Stage
___________________________________________
may be the mouth,
arms and the Phali Description of the Stage
__________________________________________
genitals. c Fixations
_________________________________________________________
Stag
Fixation. Results e
from failure to satisfy
the needs of a Erogenous Stage
particular ___________________________________________
psychosexual stage. _
Late Description of the Stage
___________________________________________
ncy Fixations
Stag _________________________________________________________

Erogenous Stage
___________________________________________
Description of the Stage
Geni __________________________________________
Fixations
tal ___________________________________________
Stag _______________

e
 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 there 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 identified specific erogenous zone 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 The erogenous zone is the mouth. During the oral stage,
months). the child is focus on oral pleasures (sucking). Too much or too
little satisfaction can lead to an Oral Fixation or Oral Personality
which is shown in an increased focus on oral activities. This type
of personality maybe oral receptive, that is, have a stronger
tendency to smoke, drink alcohol, overeat, or oral aggressive,
that is, with a tendency to bite his or her nails, become too
Anal Stage (18 months to 3 independent on others, easily fooled, and lack leadership traits. On
years). the otherThe child’s
hand, they focus of pleasure
may also in this
fight these stage is and
tendencies the anus.
become
The child finds satisfaction in eliminating and
pessimistic and aggressive in relating with people. retaining feces.
Though society’s expectation, particularly the parents, the
child needs to work on toilet training. Let us remember that
between one year and a half to three years the child’s favorite
word must be “No!” Therefore a struggle might exist in the
toilet training process when the child retains feces when asked
for some reason. In terms of personality, fixation during this
Phallic Stage (ages 3 to stage can result in being anal retentive, an obsession with
6). The pleasure
cleanliness, or erogenous
perfection zone is
and control; orthe
analgenitals. During
expulsive the
where
preschool age, children
the person become
may become interested
messy in what makes boys and girls
and disorganized.
different. Preschoolers will sometimes be seen fondling their genitals.
Freud’s studies 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 those feelings, thus, the castration anxiety. These feelings
comprise what Freud called Oedipus Complex. In Greek Mythology,
Oedipus unintentionally killed his father and married his mother Jocasta.

Psychoanalysts also believe that girls may also have a similar experience, 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 father than fight. By identifying their
father, the boys develop masculine characteristics and identify themselves as males and
repress their sexual feelings toward their mother. A fixation at this stage could result in
sexual deviances (both overindulging and avoidance) and wear to confuse sexual identity
according to psychoanalysts.

Latency Stage (age 6 to puberty).

It’s during this stage that sexual urges remain

repressed. The children’s focus is the acquisition of physical
Genital Stage (puberty
and academic skills. Boys usually relate more with boys and
onwards).
girls with girls during this stage.
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.
Freud’s Personality Components

Freud described the personality structures as having three components, the id, the ego,
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
your notes and questions about them.

ego
 Freud says that, a child is born with the id. The id plays a vital
THE ID
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. If
focuses on immediate gratification or satisfaction of its needs. So
whatever feels good now is what it will pursue with no consideration
for the reality, logically or practically of the situation. For example, a baby is hungry. Itsid
wants food or milk… so the baby will cry. When the child needs to be changed, the id cried.
When the child 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 except the satisfaction of its own needs. It is not oriented
towards considering reality nor the needs of others. Just see how babies cry any time of 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 it wants it fast!

As the baby turns into a toddler and then into a preschooler, he/she
THE EGO
relates more with the environment, the ego slowly begins to emerge.
The ego operates using the reality principle.it aware that others also
have needs to be met. It is to negative consequences later, so it
reasons and considers the best response to situations. As such, it is
the deciding agent of the

personality. Although it functions to help the id meet its needs, it always takes into
account the reality of the situation.

Near the end of the preschool years, or the end of the

THE SUPEREGO
phallic stage, the superego develops. The superego
embodies a person’s moral aspect. This develops from what
the parents, teachers and other persons who exert influence
on what one considers right and wrong.

The Three Components and Personality Adjustment

Topographical Model

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
superegowhile maintaining the
person’s sense of what is logical,
practical and real. Of course it is not
easy for the ego to do all the strike of
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
Freud alsotosays
himself
that and
we are aware of is stored in our conscious mind. Our conscious
other’s actions. The
mind person’s
only best effort
comprises a very small part of who we are so that, in our everyday life,
to be good maywe still fall short
are only awareofofthe
a very small part of what makes up our personality; most of
superego’s expectations.
what we are is hidden and out of reach.
 The ability of the learner to be

The last part is the preconscious or subconscious. This is

the part of us that we can reach if prompted, but is not in our active
conscious. It’s right below the surface, but still “hidden” somewhat
unless we search for it. Information such as telephone number,
some childhood memories, or the number of your best childhood
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.

Freud said that most what we go through in our lives, emotions, beliefs, feelings, and
impulses deep within are not available to us at a conscious level. He believed that most of what
influence us in our consciousness. The Oedipus and Electra Complex mentioned earlier where
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.
SELF-ASSESSMENT

Freud used the case study method to gather the data he used to
formulate the theories. Among the many case studies, five really stood out
as bases of his concepts and ideas. Do further reading of these case studies
and write a reaction paper on one of these case studies focusing on how he
explained the personality development of the individuals in the case
studies.

From your internet search engine, just type Freud’s case studies. It
will be easy to find a pdf file which you can readily download.

Research Connection

Read a research that is related to Freud’s Theory. Fill out the matrix below.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
PROBLEM
 FINDINGS CONCLUSIONS

How are the findings of this research useful to teachers?

Synapse Strengtheners

Visit the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, through its virtual museum. Visit
the walls that contain very interesting pictures, documents and information about the most
controversial psychologist of all time, Sigmund Freud!

You won’t need a passport, just follow these steps:

1. Go to www.loc.gov
2. Click “Exhibitions”
3. Click “View all exhibits”
4. Go to “Sigmund Freud: Conflict and Culture”
5. Seat back and enjoy the virtual tour! The pictures and write-ups are so
interesting!!!!

As in any visit to a museum, it would be good to take some notes. Make notes of the
following and add your own ideas and comments as well….
 Describe Freud’s family background. Describe the composition of his family. What
do you think was it like for Freud growing up in this family?

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Reflection

5-minuteFrom
Non-stop Writingon
the Module Begins…. Now!
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory, I learned that….

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