The

Psychological
Self

WMSU

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Psychology

is the study of human behavior and

mental processes.

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Basic Question

WHY MAN BEHAVES THE WAY HE DOES ?

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Five Approaches

• Neurobiological Approach

-- Man’s behaviors are related to events taking place in

the body particularly in the brain and in the nervous
system

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• Behavioral Approach

- Behavior is influenced by our environment :

objects, people & events

- Behavior is caused

- Behavior is learned

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• Cognitive Approach

- man is capable of performing

different mental processes

like :
◦ thinking
◦ remembering
◦ forgetting
◦ problem-solving
◦ perceiving
◦ imagery
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• Psychoanalytic Approach

- behavior is influenced by the unconscious – thoughts,

fears & wishes that are mostly sexual in nature.

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◦ expressed through :

* dreams
* slips of speech
* mannerisms
* symptoms of mental illness
* socially accepted activities like writing &
painting

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 free association – technique which
allows the person to just say
whatever comes to mind, without
fear of judgment

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 Conversion

Psychological pain is translated in

physical pain

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Catharsis

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Levels of the Mind & Man’s Personality

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Components of the Personality
Preconscious level of
operation
Superego Uses ideals and morals
to present ideal version
“ It’s not right of self to the world.
to do that.” Learned ideals and
morals from parents &
environment
ID
“ I want to do
it now.” Ego Conscious and
preconscious level
“Maybe we of operation.
can Mediates between
Unconscious level compromise.” ID & Superego
of operation Impulses &
Seeks immediate inhibitions, a
gratification and rational part of the
express impulses, psyche
desires, and
instincts
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• Intrapsychic conflict = ANXIETY

1. Reality Anxiety -- conflict between the Ego & Reality

2. Neurotic Anxiety – conflict between the ID & Ego
3. Moral Anxiety – conflict between the ID & superego

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Ego’s Defense Mechanisms

• Unconscious
resources used by
the ego to reduce
conflicts with the ID
and superego

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• Humanistic/Phenomenological Approach

- Man is free to choose & decide his own actions

- Man is a rational being
- Man is always in the process of becoming, moving
towards self-actualization

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