1.

(a) Write down the basic definition of each of the following defense mechanisms: Reaction formation,
Sublimation, Suppression, Displacement, Denial, and Rationalization. (b) Then practice your
understanding by making up an example for each of them? (c) Which of these defenses are relatively
more mature, which ones more immature? Why? Organize the 6 defense mechanisms listed above into a
table ranging from the most mature to the least mature.

suppression Controlling the expression of 12 step programs to quit addiction Most

unacceptable impulses mature

sublimation The transformation of socially Cleaning the house when you’re angry Most
unacceptable impulses to socially instead of breaking stuff. mature
acceptable actions.

Rationalization Providing an anxiety reducing I only failed my test because my teacher Moderately
interpretation to an unfavorable hates me. mature
reality.

displacement Redirection of negative emotion Taking out your anger towards school Moderately
on loved ones mature

Denial Refusal to accept reality Refusing to admit that vapes are bad for Least
you mature

Reaction mastering an unwanted impulse by Alcoholic champions abstinence and Least

formation exaggerating the opposite tendency. abolition. mature
:
2. Development: Marcia developed a theory about one of Erikson’s stages—which one? Make a schematic
drawing of the 4 combinations formed by Marcia’s two dimensions of exploration/search and
commitment. Can you think of examples for each identity status, drawing from your own life or by
thinking of people whom you know?
The stage in question is identity and role confusion.
Example is someone graduating high school and going to college.

No commitment commitment

No exploration Identity diff usion: has not Identity foreclosure: someone

established any goals for their following a major their parents
education. want them to.

exploration Moratorium: person bounces Identity achievement: person

from major to major. studying the subject they’re truly
interested in.
3. General evaluation of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. Consider strengths and weaknesses, such as whether
the theory stimulated the discovery and investigation of many interesting phenomena, translated easily
into empirical testing, developed new techniques for research and theory, recognized the complexity of
human behavior, or encompassed a broad range of phenomena.

Strengths Weaknesses

1. Developed new techniques 1. Definitions too imprecise to test empirically

a. Dream interpretation 2. Data collected by therapists therefore it
b. Free association could be biased
2. Detailed case studies 3. Too broad to be falsifiable
3. Precursor to system 1 and system 2 4. Based entirely on sexual instinct
psychology
4. Introduced the idea of complex human
behavior and the unconscious.

4. Post-Freudian work on child development. (a) Bowlby started an important Post-Freudian theory of
what? He argued that people develop mental representations of the self and others. What are they called?
How do we develop those representations? (b) Ainsworth studied what kind of situation in her laboratory?
What were the major elements in that situation (e.g., who was present? What did they do? What
behaviors were observed?) How many attachment patterns did Ainsworth find and what are they called?
Which one was most common in the US?
a. He developed a theory of attachment. Bowlby called the mental representations of others internal
working models these models are developed by the degree to which a child’s needs are met and by
whom.
b. A strange situation: a procedure devised to test attachment security in a child. The procedure involves a
series of eight tests where a child is gradually separated from their mother and reunited.

Results from reaction exploration percentage

Secure attachment available, responsive upset when the mother Explore freely while the 70
parenting departs, but happy to mother is present, will
see the mother return. engage with strangers.

Anxious-Ambivalent inconsistent, Extremely distressed Anxious of exploration 10

Attachment hit-or-miss, chaotic when mother leaves; and of strangers, even
parenting Ambivalent upon when the mother is
return; present;

Anxious-Avoidant disengaged parenting showing little visible Will not explore very 20
Attachment emotion when the much regardless of who
mother departs/returns. is there;
5. Adult attachment. How many attachment styles did Hazan and Shaver assess in their famous newspaper
study? To show how Bartholomew improved on their initial research, make a simple scheme that shows the
names of the four attachment patterns she emphasized. What are the two underlying dimensions that are
now dominating current research on adult attachment?
Secure (55%), Avoidant (25%), Anxious/Ambivalent (20%)
Bartholomew:

Thoughts of self

Positive negative

Thoughts of partner Positive Anxious-ambivalent

Negative avoidant

6. Post-Freudians: (a) Who talked about the inferiority complex, and what is that? Give an example. (b)
Who argued that we have a collective unconscious? What are some modern research examples of the way
babies are “prewired”? How did he define archetypes? List 3 important archetypes. (c) Who defined
human tendencies in terms of three major movements, and what are they? Give an example, describing
how someone might react to a stressful situation or to a romantic “bid” (or overture) from their partner.
a. Alfred Adler.unrealistic feeling of general inadequacy. An example would be someone who grew up
scrawny obsessed with being strong as an adult.
b. Jung. babies are preprogrammed for socializing. An archetype is an inherited mental structure.
i. Shadow: and instincts that we possess but don’t want to address
ii. Animus (women’s perception of the ideal male).
iii. Anima (men’s perception of the ideal female).
c. Karen Horney. Moving toward others, Moving against others, Moving away from others. Someone
might react withdrawn to a stressful situation or a romantic bid.