Sigmund Freud

Psychological Perspective of the Self

Sigmund Freud(1856-1939)
Born in May 6, 1856,
Died September 23, 1939
Founder of psychoanalysis
Proposed the first complete theory of
personality
A person’s thoughts and behaviors emerge
from tension generated by unconscious
motives and unresolved childhood conflicts
Psychoanal
ytic
Theory
Personality
according to Sigmund
Freud
Personality
An individual’s unique and relatively consistent
patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving

Personality Theory
Attempt to describe and explain how
people are similar, how they are
different, and why every individual is
unique
Free Association
Freudian technique of
exploring the
unconscious mind by
having the person relax
and say whatever
comes to mind no
matter how trivial or
embarrassing
Conscious Mind
All the thoughts, feelings, and sensation that
you are aware of at this particular moment
represent the conscious level

Preconscious Mind
A region of the mind holding information
that is not conscious but is easily
retrievable into conscious awareness
Unconscious Mind
• A region of the mind that includes unacceptable
thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories
• Not aware of these thoughts, wishes, etc… but
they exert great influence over our conscious
thoughts & behavior.
• Can also surface as “slips of the tongue” or
Freudian Slips.
 The
Psychodyna
mic
Perspectiv
e:

The Id, Ego,

and Superego
Psychoanalytic Division of
• Id- instinctual drives present at birth
-does not distinguish between reality
and fantasy
– operates according to the pleasure
principle
Psychoanalytic Division of

• Ego – develops out of the id in infancy

– understands reality and logic
– mediator between id and superego
Psychoanalytic Division o
• Superego
– internalization of society’s & parental moral
standards
– One’s conscience; focuses on what the person
“should” do
– Develops around ages 5-6
– Partially unconscious
– Can be harshly punitive using feelings of guild
Freud's Concept of the “I
• The part of personality that consists of
unconscious energy from basic aggressive
and sexual drives
• Operates on the “pleasure principle” – the
id demands immediate gratification
• Is present from birth
Id: The Pleasure Princip
• Pleasure principle - drive toward immediate
gratification, most fundamental human
motive
• Source of energy
- Eros- life instinct, perpetuates life
- Thanatos-Death instinct, aggression, self-
destructive actions
• Libido- sexual energy or motivation
Freud’s Concept of the “

• The part of personality that mediates the

demands of the id without going against the
restraints of the superego
• Follows the reality principle
Ego: The Reality Principl
• Reality principle- ability to postpone
gratification in accordance with demands of
reality
• Ego - rational, organized, logical, mediator to
demands of reality
• Can repress desires that cannot be met in an
acceptable manner
The Personality
 Freud’s
Psychosexu
al Stage
 Psychosexual Stages

• Freud proposed that psychological

development in childhood takes place
during five psychosexual stages: oral,
anal, phallic, latency, and genital

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