2.6.3. Psychoanalytic Theory (Sigmund Freud)

• Id: Instinctual desires; pleasure principle • Ego: Reality-based; balances Id and Superego • Superego: Moral conscience

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory divides the personality into three parts. The Id consists of our basic instincts and desires, operating on the pleasure principle, which seeks immediate gratification of needs. The Ego develops to mediate between the unrealistic Id and the external real world; it operates on the reality principle, making decisions that consider social norms. The Superego embodies moral standards and ideals acquired from parents and society, acting as our conscience that judges the actions and thoughts of the Ego.

Think of a person wanting to eat a whole cake. The Id wants to eat it all right now because it looks delicious. The Ego says, 'Wait a minute; let's have a slice instead and save some for later,' while the Superego might remind them of the importance of healthy eating and calories.

1. Oral (0–1 years)
2. Anal (1–3 years)
3. Phallic (3–6 years)
4. Latency (6–12 years)
5. Genital (12+ years)

Freud suggested that personality develops through a series of stages during childhood, each characterized by the focus of pleasure on different erogenous zones. In the Oral Stage (0-1 years), pleasure centers on the mouth through activities like sucking and biting. In the Anal Stage (1-3 years), the focus moves to bowel and bladder control, where children derive pleasure from controlling their bodily functions. The Phallic Stage (3-6 years) shifts to the child's genitals, as they begin to identify with their same-sex parent. The Latency Stage (6-12 years) is a period of relative calm, where sexual feelings are suppressed. Finally, in the Genital Stage (12+ years), sexual maturity and the desire for relationships emerge.

Imagine a child's development as a video game with different levels. Each level requires the player to conquer challenges focused on different skills. If a player struggles to overcome an obstacle, it can affect their ability to progress further in the game. Similarly, if a child does not successfully navigate through these psychosexual stages, it may lead to personality issues in adulthood.

• Repression: Pushing uncomfortable thoughts out of conscious awareness • Projection: Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to others • Denial: Refusing to acknowledge reality • Regression: Returning to behavior characteristic of an earlier stage of development • Displacement: Redirecting emotions to a safer substitute target

Freud proposed that the Ego employs defense mechanisms to protect itself from anxiety arising from conflicts between the Id and Superego. Repression is when troubling thoughts are pushed out of conscious awareness, while projection involves attributing one’s own unwanted feelings to someone else. Denial is a refusal to accept the reality of a situation, whereas regression is reverting to earlier behaviors when faced with stress. Lastly, displacement involves directing emotions toward a less threatening object or individual when it is not safe to express that emotion directly.

Imagine a student's anxiety about failing a test. If they feel too overwhelmed, they might repress the thought of studying. If they blame their friends as being distracting, they are projecting their own inability to focus. If they deny the possibility of failing, that's denial. If they start throwing tantrums or sulking like a child when facing this stress, they are regressing. Finally, if they take out their frustration on their family members instead of addressing their feelings about school, that's an example of displacement.

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