PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY?
 The word Psychology was derived from two Greek words
– Psyche and logos.
 Psyche means soul and logos means discourse or science.
So it literally meant – the study of soul.
 Psychology was purely speculative at the beginning
therefore it was known as armchair psychology.
THERE ARE THREE PARTS FOR THIS DEFINITION

 Psychology is a science
 Application of Psychology
 Psychology studies behavior
PSYCHOLOGY IS A SCIENCE

 Psychology as Science – Like Science ,

Psychologists gather knowledge by carefully
observing and measuring events in a systematic
manner.
APPLICATION OF PSYCHOLOGY

 The Application of Psychology - Psychology is used

to solve real-life problems. This needs skill, practice
and special experience.
PSYCHOLOGY STUDIES BEHAVIOR

Psychology studies behavior – is the avenue through

which internal mental events can be studied.
PSYCHOLOGICAL VIEW OF SELF
Sigmund Freud: The Psychoanalytic Theory of Self
 Freud’s asserts that the human psyche (personality) is
structured into three parts (tripartite).
 These three structures are systems and not physical parts
of the brain. Although each part comprises unique features
and contributes to an individual’s behavior, they interact to
form a whole.
PARTS OF PERSONALITY

Id (Internal desires)

 Ego (reality)
 Superego (conscience)
ID

 Also called internal drives or instinctive drives, it consist of

the body’s primitive biological drives and urges which are
concerned only with achieving pleasure and self-
satisfaction. Id lives completely in the unconscious.
EGO

 It is the “I” part of the individual that gives him/her

the sense of his/her own identity. The ego is the
rational part of the personality.
SUPEREGO

 It is the part of the personality concerned with

morals, precepts, standards, and ideas. The
superego is also the critical faculty of the
personality.
FREUDIAN STAGES OF PSYCHOSEXUAL
DEVELOPMENT

 Freud also argues that the development of an

individual can be divided into distinct stages
characterized by sexual drives. As a person grows,
certain areas become sources of pleasure,
frustration or both.
1. ORAL – BIRTH TO THE END OF THE 1 ST YEAR
 During the oral stage, the infant's primary source of interaction occurs through
the mouth, so the rooting and sucking reflex is especially important. The mouth
is vital for eating, and the infant derives pleasure from oral stimulation through
gratifying activities such as tasting and sucking.
 Because the infant is entirely dependent upon caretakers (who are
responsible for feeding the child), the child also develops a sense of trust and
comfort through this oral stimulation.
 The primary conflict at this stage is the weaning process--the child must
become less dependent upon caretakers. If fixation occurs at this stage, Freud
believed the individual would have issues with dependency or aggression.
Oral fixation can result in problems with drinking, eating, smoking, or nail
biting.
2. ANAL- FROM AGE 2 T0 3 YEARS

During the anal stage, Freud believed that the primary

focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel
movements. The major conflict at this stage is toilet
training--the child has to learn to control his or her bodily
needs. Developing this control leads to a sense of
accomplishment and independence.
3. PHALLIC – AGE 3 TO 6 YEARS

Freud suggested that during the phallic stage, the primary

focus of the libido is on the genitals. At this age, children
also begin to discover the differences between males and
females.
4. LATENCY – AGE 10 TO 12 YEARS
 During this stage, the superego continues to develop while the id's energies
are suppressed. Children develop social skills, values and relationships with
peers and adults outside of the family.
 The development of the ego and superego contribute to this period of calm.
The stage begins around the time that children enter into school and become
more concerned with peer relationships, hobbies, and other interests.
 The latent period is a time of exploration in which the sexual energy
repressed or dormant. This energy is still present, but it is sublimated into other
areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions. This stage is
important in the development of social and communication skills and self-
confidence.
5. GENITAL – AFTER PUBERTY
 The onset of puberty causes the libido to become active once
again. During the final stage of psychosexual development, the
individual develops a strong sexual interest in the opposite sex. This
stage begins during puberty but last throughout the rest of a
person's life.
 Where in earlier stages the focus was solely on individual needs,
interest in the welfare of others grows during this stage. If the other
stages have been completed successfully, the individual should now
be well-balanced, warm, and caring. The goal of this stage is to
establish a balance between the various life areas.
ERIK ERIKSON’S THEORY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
 Erik Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development emphasizes the
sociocultural determinants of development and presents them as eight stages
of psychosocial conflicts (often known as Erikson’s stages of psychosocial
development) that all individuals must overcome or resolve successfully in
order to adjust well to the environment.
