Driven by fundamental biological survival needs which produced psychological tension until they are satisfied. Cyclical pattern
- Sexual - aggressive drive > biological need
- 2 Principles
- Homeostasis - stable internal state
- Hedonism - pleasure above all else
- 2 Impulses
- Eros - Life force based on drive to pursue creative impulse
- Thanatos - aggressive manifest in sucide death instinct, kill each other
Cycles of Eros & Thanatos
Freud suggested that each person has a certain amount of
psychic energy - libido. That is never created nor destroyed. (conservation of energy)
If you suppress your impulse won't go away yet express itself later as a dream, joke, slip of the tongue (Freudian slip)/slip of the pen.
Psychic determinism, all of your psychological events have causes.
Motivational Theory - Freud is looking at what you want/desire. Freud's theory dreams represent
wish fulfillment even when dreams are not apparent, they are hidden symbolically.
- Manifest content - part of your dream that you remember (conscious)
- Latent content - hidden part you aren't aware of (unconscious)
- Analogy of mind as iceberg, large portion is hidden similar to unconscious mind.
- Levels of consciousness
Ego - conscious mind. begins to function 6 months of age, mediator between ID and reality. Reality principle allows you to delay gratifications and understand reality.
Superego - includes conscious and ego ideal (person you want to be) develops at five moral code. All info not currently aware
ID - immature, illogical, basic drives, source of libido, entirely unconscious, lacks moral judgement, operates on the pleasure principle: seeking pleasure regardless of circumstances.
- Conflict based - struggle amongst humans
- Repression talking threatening thoughts & pressing down on ID
- Defense mechanisms involve self suppression, unconscious strategies that we cope.
Repression - pushing back unacceptable thoughts into unconscious
Regression - acting in ways characteristics of early stages
Reaction Formation - replacing an anxiety producing feelings w/ it's exact opposite typically going overboard.
Rationalization - creating false but believable excuses to justify inappropriate behavior.
Sublimation - redirecting forbidden impulses towards a socially desirable goal
Displacement - redirecting emotional feelings ex. anger to substitute target
Projection - attributing your own unacceptable feelings to another person.