The PsychoanalyticTheory

Applications

• Psychoanalysis has three applications:– a method of investigation of the mind; – a systematized set of theories about human

behaviour; – a method of treatment of psychological or

emotional illness.

• Five psychosexual stages of child development

A bit about this

• Believed in unconscious motivation.

• In Freud's view, each stage focused on sexual activity and the pleasure received from a particular area of the body.

Stage 1

• Birth to 18 months

• Oral

• Obsession with mouth

• Sucking and biting

Stage 2

• 18 months to 3 years

• Anal

• Obsession with Anus

• Bowel and bladder control

Stage 3

• 3 years to 6 years

• Phallic

• Obsession with Genitals

• Self stimulation

• Oedipus and Electra Complex.

Stage 4

• 6 years to puberty

• Latency

• Repression or

• Relative dormancy of sexual excitation

Stage 5

• Puberty to adulthood

• Genital

• Mature sexual functioning or fixation

Id, Ego and Superego

• Another part of Freud's theory focused on identifying the parts of consciousness.

• All babies are initially dominated by unconscious, instinctual and selfish urges for immediate gratification which he labeled the Id.

• As babies attempt and fail to get all their whims met, they develop a more realistic appreciation of what is realistic and possible, which Freud called the "Ego".

• Over time, babies also learn about and come to internalize and represent their parents' values and rules. These internalized rules, which he called the "Super-Ego", are the basis for the developing child's conscience that struggles with the concepts of right and wrong and works with the Ego to control the immediate gratification urges of the Id.

Defending the ego

• Defense mechanisms developed by ego to protect itself.– Fixation– Regression– Repression– Denial– Distortion– The list goes on

Funny haha

• By today's rigorous scientific standards, Freud's psychosexual theory is not considered to be very accurate. However, it is still important and influential today because it was the first stage development theory that gained real attention, and many other theorists used it as a starting place.