PRE-FREUDIAN PSYCHOLOGY

Philosophical interest in the human mind, as well as behavior, could be traced back
to ancient philosophers of the early civilizations in Greece, Persia, Egypt, and Asia.
Psychology as a branch of philosophy did not emerge until the late 1870s in Germany
and eventually developed into an independent scientific field.
WILHELM WUNDT founded the first laboratory dedicated to psychological
research and conducted experimental studies
FREUD'S PSYCHOANALYSIS and STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY
SIGMUND FREUD was initially interested in laboratory work concerning biological
and anatomical subjects, but his interest shifted from microscopic studies to living patients
Freud spent of his idea studying human psychology through a series of clinical
researches and corresponding theories Freud's studies and case observations of different
mental illnesses led him to his magnum opus PSYCHOANASLYSIS, a book that detailed
the methodology of treating mental illnesses, which earned him the title "FATHER OF
PSYCHOANALYSIS” Freud's psychoanalysis is anchored on the concept that human
behavior is determined by UNCONSCIOUS MOTIVATIONS and BIOLOGICAL and
INSTINCTIVE DRIVES that support the idea that human beings have no real ability to
make choices and control of events.

2 CONFLICTING MAIN INSTINCTS

• EROS, which refers to survival instincts including basic hunger, thirst, sexual
impulses.
• THANATOS, which refers to aggressive and self-destructive instinct driven toward
death.

Freud summarized that human are motivated TO SEEK PLEASURE AND AVOID
PAIN. Freud continued to develop multiple theories including his theorization on the
STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY. The theory describes how people act according to
different systems of personality. The personality is composed of 3 structures known as
the ID, EGO and SUPEREGO
• The id is the primitive and instinctive component of personality. It consists of all
the inherited (i.e., biological) components of personality present at birth, including
the sex (life) instinct – Eros (which contains the libido), and the aggressive (death)
instinct - Thanatos.
• The ego is 'that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of
the external world.'
• The superego incorporates the values and morals of society which are learned
from one's parents and others. It develops around the age of 3 – 5 years during
the phallic stage of
According to Freud, the superego is composed of 2 parts:
1. EGO IDEAL (IDEAL SELF) includes the rules and standards for good behavior
one has learned from his/her parents and other figures of authority.
2. CONSCIENCE EGO which leaves room for self-evaluation and criticism, is rules
by a reward and punishment system, it is responsible for the sense of guilt one
feels when acting wrongly.