Sigmund Freud

 It is a little odd that Freud himself never, except in conversation, used the term Thanatos for the death instinct, which has become so popular since. At first, he used the terms "death instinct" and "destructive instinct" indiscriminately, alternating between them, but in his discussion with Einstein about war, he made the distinction that the former is directed against the self and the latter, derived from it, is directed outward. Stekel had, in 1909, used the word Thanatos to signify a death wish, but it was Feden who introduced it in the present context.

Freud’s psychodynamic perspective. Sigmund Freud believed that our behaviour is influenced by the unconscious mind, thoughts, feelings, memories and desires that we are not fully aware of. He suggested that our personalities develop through early childhood experiences and through ongoing conflict between our natural instincts and social expectations.

 

Key components of Freud’s theory: The ID. ID is part of our personality we are born with. ID is driven by basic instincts and seeks immediate satisfaction needs and desires, such as hunger, pleasure, and comfort. It operates according to the pleasure principle, meaning seeking immediate gratification with considering consequences.

 The Ego.

The ego develops as we grow and helps us deal with reality. It balances the demands of the id with what is practical and socially acceptable. The ego follows the reality principle, helping us to make sensible and rational decisions.

The superego represents our conscience and moral values. It develops through guidance from parents, teachers and society. 

The superego encourages us to follow the rules, behave ethically, and distinguish between right and wrong.

The unconscious mind: Freud believed that thoughts, feelings, wishes, and memories rehidden the unconscious mind. Although we are not aware of them, they can still influence our emotions, choices, dreams and behaviours.

Internal conflict.

·      According to Freud, personality develops through the constant conflict between:

·      Biological drive, such as desire for pleasure or aggression (tied).

·      Reality and social expectations managed by the ego.

 Morals, values and conscience, represented by the superego. The way these three parts interact shapes how we think, feel and behave throughout life.

 

The importance of childhood Freud believed that experiences in the first few years of life have lasting influence on personality. Positive childhood experiences can affect emotional development, relationships, and behaviour in adulthood.

 

Freud's contribution to psychology. Freud’s psychodynamic theory was one of the first comprehensive theories of personality.

Although many of his ideas are debated today, his work had a major influence on psychology.

§  Introducing the concept of the unconscious mind.

§ Emphasising the importance of childhood experiences.

§  In spring, the development of talking therapies (psychoanalysis).

§  Later influenced theories of personality and counselling.

Limitations

× Many ideas are hard to test scientifically.

× Some concepts rely on personal interpretation rather than objective evidence.

× Critics argue that Freud placed too much emphasis on sexual and unconscious conflict.

× His theories were based on the reality of a small number of patients and may not apply to everyone.

Key takeouts

Freud’s psychodynamic perspective suggests that human behaviour is influenced by unconscious thoughts, feelings and behaviour from childhood experiences, interacting between the Id, Ego and Superego.  While many aspects of his theory have been challenged by modern research, his work remains an important foundation in the history of psychology and psychotherapy.

 

What is personality?

 

Personality refers to the long-lasting patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour. 

This makes each one of us unique. It influences how we respond to situations, how we interact with one another and how we view the world. This makes it more interesting because we are all different to one another. 

Psychologists believe that personality is generally:

 

Stable over time.

Relatively consistent across are different in different situations.

Responsible for the characteristics that make each person unique.

The personality comes from a Latin word, persona, meaning an ancient theatrical mask.

Represented different character traits rather than hiding the person’s identity.

 

History perspectives on personality.

Psychologists and philosophers have studied personalities for over 2,000 years.

Early theories attempts to explain why people behave differently. Hippocrates, four Temperament (370BCE).

The Greek physical Hippocrates personality with determination by four bodily fluids, called humor.

Temperament Body fluids.

Choleric     yellow bile

Melancholic Black bile

Sanguine    Blood

Phlegmatic Piegan

Bibliography complete works Archives for home and museum Vienna home and museum London home and museum 1971 statue Interment Freudian slip Humor Inner circle Neo-Freudianism Views on homosexuality Religious views

Cultural

depictions

Freud: The Secret Passion (1962 film) The Visitor (1993 play) Mahler on the Couch (2010 film) A Dangerous Method (2011 film)Freud (2020 TV series) Freud’s Last Session (2023 film)

Family

Martha Bernays (wife)Anna Freud (daughter)Ernst L. Freud (son)Clement Freud (grandson)Lucian Freud (grandson)Walter Freud (grandson)Amalia Freud (mother)Jacob Freud (father)Edward Bernay (nephew)Jodi (dog)