Assignment

Psychoanalytic theory
Aug 17, 2023

Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud, born in 1856, lived for 84 years, and died in 1939, was an Austrian neurologist
and the founder of psychoanalysis, a revolutionary approach to understanding the human mind.
Freud used the technique to treat mental disorders. He formed his theory of psychoanalysis by
observing his patients. Freud's work had a profound impact on psychology, psychiatry, and
cultural discourse, influencing fields such as dream interpretation, personality development, and
therapeutic techniques.

Freud's psychoanalytic theory is a comprehensive framework developed by Sigmund Freud in

the late 19th and early 20th century. This theory revolutionized the field of psychology. His
theories emphasized the importance of the unconscious mind, childhood experiences, and the
role of sexuality in shaping human behavior. In simple terms, psychoanalytic theory suggests
that our personality develops as we try to deal with conflicts between our hidden desires and
what society expects.

According to Freud, two main ideas are:

1) Your early experiences as a child shape who you become as an adult. The way you solve
problems as a child influences how you act as an adult.

2) The process of growing up is about learning to manage oour urges and behave in ways that
society considers okay. It's like finding acceptable ways to handle our not-so-friendly thoughts.

Psychoanalytic Approach to Criminal Psychology:

Psychoanalytic theory provides a comprehensive model for understanding the complexities of
the human mind and has been influential in various fields, including the analysis of criminal
2

psychology. Psychoanalytic theory offers valuable insights into understanding criminal

behavior and motivations. It provides a lens through which to examine the underlying
psychological factors that contribute to criminal acts.

Key concept of psychoanalytic theory

Level of consciousness: Freud proposed a tripartite model of the mind, consisting of the
conscious, preconscious, and unconscious.

1. Conscious Mind: This is the part of your mind that you are aware of at any given
moment. It contains thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that you are currently
experiencing. Example: Right now, you are consciously reading.
2. Preconscious Mind: This level contains information that is not in your immediate
awareness but can be easily brought to consciousness when needed. It acts like a
mental "storage" of thoughts that you're not currently focused on. Example:
Remembering your friend's phone number when you need to dial it. You weren't actively
thinking about it, but you can easily recall it.
3. Unconscious Mind: This is the deepest and most hidden part of your mind. It contains
thoughts, desires, and memories that are hidden from your conscious awareness, often
because they are too uncomfortable or disturbing. Example: Traumatic experiences from
early childhood that you might not consciously remember, yet they can influence your
behavior and emotions.

These levels of awareness help explain how some thoughts are readily available, while others
might influence you without you even realizing it.

structural Model: Sigmund Freud proposed a structure of personality composed of three main
parts, each with its own functions and influences.

1. Id The primal, instinctual part of our personality.- Operates based on the pleasure
principle, seeking immediate gratification. Example: A hungry infant crying to get food.
2. Ego:Acts as the mediator between the id and the external world.- Operates based on the
reality principle, balancing the id's desires with real-world constraints. Example:
Choosing to wait for lunchtime instead of grabbing someone else's food.
3

3. Superego:Represents our internalized moral values and societal norms.- Strives for
perfection and moral correctness. Example: Feeling guilty after telling a lie because it
goes against your internal sense of right and wrong.

These three components interact and sometimes conflict with each other, leading to personality
dynamics and the ways we behave. Freud believed that a healthy personality involves a
balanced interaction among these three parts.

Defense mechanism: Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies employed by the ego to
cope with anxiety and protect the individual from psychological distress.

Common defense mechanism according to Freud.

1. Repression: This is when we unconsciously push troubling thoughts or memories out of

our awareness. For example, someone who experienced a traumatic event might have
trouble recalling the details.
2. Denial: People refuse to accept the reality of a situation to avoid anxiety. For instance, a
person with a drinking problem might insist they don't have a problem at all.
3. Projection: This involves attributing our own unwanted thoughts or feelings to someone
else. If someone has strong feelings of dislike for a colleague, they might believe that the
colleague dislikes them.
4. Regression: When under stress, people may revert to behaviors that are more childlike.
For instance, an adult might start sucking their thumb during a particularly stressful
time.
5. Displacement: This is when we direct our negative emotions onto a safer target. For
example, after a bad day at work, someone might come home and yell at their family
members.
6. Sublimation: People channel their negative emotions into socially acceptable activities.
For instance, someone who is angry might take up boxing as a way to release that anger.
7. Rationalization: This involves creating logical explanations for our behavior, even if they
aren't entirely true. For instance, Someone who failed an exam might say they didn't
really want to pass anyway.
8. Reaction Formation: People act in a way that is opposite to their true feelings. For
instance, someone who is attracted to a coworker might act very cold and distant
towards them.
4

9. Intellectualization: This is when we approach difficult emotions or situations in a

detached and intellectual manner, avoiding the emotional aspects. For example,
someone dealing with the death of a loved one might focus solely on the medical details
of the illness.

These defense mechanisms help us protect ourselves from anxiety and discomfort, but they
can sometimes lead to unhealthy patterns of behavior if used excessively.

Psychosexual stages of development: psychosexual stages are development periods proposed

by freud where individuals experience different erogenous zones and conflicts.

1. Oral Stage (0-1 years): Pleasure centers on the mouth, through activities like sucking,
biting, and chewing. Example: Infants find comfort and pleasure in sucking their thumbs.
2. Anal Stage (1-3 years): Focus shifts to the anus and bowel movements. Children
experience pleasure in controlling their bowel movements. Example: Potty training is a
significant aspect of this stage, where children learn to control their bodily functions.
3. Phallic Stage (3-6 years): Interest turns to the genital area. Children may experience the
Oedipus or Electra complex, developing feelings of attraction toward the opposite-sex
parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent. Example: A young boy might feel affection
for his mother and competition with his father.
4. Latency Stage (6-12 years): Sexual impulses are dormant, and focus is on developing
social and intellectual skills. Example: Children might become more involved in school,
friendships, and hobbies, temporarily setting aside sexual thoughts.
5. Genital Stage (12+ years): Sexual desires reemerge, and the focus shifts to mature,
romantic relationships. Individuals seek to establish healthy sexual relationships with
others. Example: Teenagers start experiencing romantic attractions and begin dating.

These stages are believed to influence personality development and how individuals interact
with the world, based on how they resolve conflicts and experiences at each stage.