Freudian Understanding of Personality and its Mechanism

Freudian understanding of personality and it’s mechanism Sigmund Freud was an Austrian doctor and psychologist who lived from 1856 to 1939. He is one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of the 20th century. He is best known for developing psychoanalysis, a method of understanding the mind and treating mental health issues. Freud’s contributions to the understanding of personality have been both groundbreaking and controversial. He explored how unconscious thoughts and early experiences shape our behaviour and personality. His major contributions to the field of personality are; Freud’s elements of personality; Id, ego and superego According to Freud, the three components or agencies of personality are id, ego, and superego. Each one has a specific part to play in how the personality is developed and used in the adult years of a person's life. These elements work together to create complex human behaviours.  The id The id is the instinctive and unconscious aspect of our psyche that reacts instantly to fundamental urges, impulses, needs, and desires including what he called “libido”, the energy created by survival and sexual instincts. Freud called the id the "true psychic reality" because it represents our inner experiences and doesn’t understand objective reality. The id engages in primary process thinking, which is primitive, illogical, irrational, fantasy-oriented, selfish and wishful in nature. Id is not modified or changed with experience because it not in contact with the external world.  The ego The ego is the part of the psyche that interacts with the external world and operates according to the reality principle, unlike the id, which follows the pleasure principle. The ego develops from the id as the infant becomes aware of its own identity, serving to manage and accommodate the id's demands. The ego’s primary goal is to fulfil the id’s desires in ways that are safe and socially acceptable. The ego's role is to maintain the health, safety, and stability of the personality by balancing external realities with internal urges. As the decision-making component of personality, the ego ideally operates based on reason, unlike the chaotic and irrational id.  The superego Freud’s superego is the moral component of the psyche, representing internalized societal values and standards. It is shaped by the traditional norms and expectations of society and is enforced through a system of rewards and punishments imposed by the parents and society. This component helps to guide the child’s behaviour according to these learned values and moral standards. It acts on moral principle and contrasts with the id’s desires, guiding behaviour towards moral righteousness and inducing guilt when standards aren’t met. It also persuades the ego to turn to moralistic goals rather than simply realistic ones and strive for perfection. Super ego consists two systems; The conscience: is our “inner voice” that tells us when we have done something wrong. The ideal self :(or ego-ideal) is an imaginary picture of how you ought to be, and represents career aspirations, how to treat other people, and how to behave as a member of society. An example on how id, ego and superego work together: You see a cookie while on a diet. - Id: "I want it now!" - Ego: "Maybe later, or try something healthier." - Superego: "You shouldn't have it at all; you're on a diet. The ego balances the impulsive id and the strict superego. Psychosexual stages of development Freud's psychosexual theory outlines five stages of human development: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. These stages represent key points of growth from infancy to adulthood, focusing on different desires and needs. According to Freud, each stage is crucial for shaping an individual's personality, with sexual energy (libido) being expressed through different body parts at each stage. As a person matures, specific areas of the body become significant as sources of pleasure, frustration, or both. According to Freud, if certain issues are not resolved at the appropriate stage, fixations can occur. A fixation is a persistent focus on an earlier psychosexual stage. Until this conflict is resolved, the individual will remain "stuck" in this stage.  Oral Stage Birth to 1 year Erogenous Zone: Mouth The Oral Stage is the first phase of Freud’s psychosexual development theory, occurring from birth to about 1 year. During this stage, an infant's pleasure centres around the mouth, and they gain satisfaction from activities like sucking, biting, and chewing. The infant derives pleasure and comfort from oral stimulation and relies on caregivers for feeding, which fosters a sense of trust and security. This stage is crucial for developing early trust and gratification behaviours. As the child grows and weans from breastfeeding or bottle feeding, they start to learn delayed gratification and begin to interact with their caregivers for their needs. Freud believed that fixation at the Oral Stage, which often results from difficulties during weaning or interruptions in oral development could lead to issues with dependency or aggression in adulthood. This might manifest as problems with drinking, eating, smoking, eating candy or nailbiting.  Anal Stage Age range: 1 to 3 years Erogenous zone: Bowel and bladder control The anal stage, the second phase of psychosexual development, occurs between 18 months and three years. During this stage, the child’s libido is focused on the anus, and they gain pleasure from controlling bowel movements. This stage's main conflict involves potty training, where children learn to control their bodily functions. Freud believed that the way parents handle toilet training can impact the child's future relationship with authority. Positive outcomes are encouraged by parents who use praise and rewards, helping children feel accomplished and independent. Freud suggests that fixation at this stage can have long-term effects on personality. If parents are too strict or start training too early, it may result in an anal-retentive personality. These individuals tend to be excessively orderly, rigid, and controlling, with a dislike for mess and a tendency to hoard or be tight with money. On the other hand, if parents are too lenient, an anal-expulsive personality can develop. This personality is characterized by messiness, disorganization, generosity, and rebelliousness, as the individual tends to be careless and enjoys "sharing" freely. Freud believed that unresolved conflicts during this stage can lead to future issues like stubbornness or a need for control.  Phallic stage 3 to 6 years Erogenous zone: Genitals Freud's phallic stage, occurring between ages three and six, is the third phase of psychosexual development, where the libido is focused on the genitals as the primary source of pleasure. During this stage, children become more aware of their bodies and notice the differences between males and females. They may exhibit increased interest in their own and others' genitals. This stage is one of the most controversial aspects of Freud’s theory due to its focus on early sexual awareness. Freud believed that unresolved conflicts during the phallic stage could cause problems later in life, like sexual difficulties, issues with gender identity, or trouble forming relationships. If a person becomes fixated at this stage, it might lead to personality traits like vanity, being overly focused on appearance, or sexual aggressiveness. For men, fixation could result in anxiety about sexual performance, needing constant validation, or being overly aggressive. For women, it might lead to a desire to control men, compete with other women, or seek male attention and approval. Oedipus complex: It suggests that boys see their fathers as rivals for their mother's affection and wish to replace them. However, they also fear punishment from the father, which Freud called castration anxiety. Electra complex: The Electra complex describes similar feelings in girls, but Freud believed they experience penis envy. He suggested this envy is never fully resolved, leaving women somewhat fixated on this stage.  Latent Stage 6 years to puberty Erogenous zone: Dormant sexual feeling The latency stage, Freud's fourth stage of psychosexual development, occurs from around age six to puberty. During this period, the libido is dormant, and sexual impulses are repressed, allowing for a calm phase of development. Children focus on building social skills, relationships, hobbies, and intellectual interests. The superego continues to develop, and sexual energy is redirected into non-sexual activities, contributing to self-confidence, social, and communication skills. Freud believed that children could become fixated in the latency stage, leading to issues like immaturity and difficulties forming fulfilling relationships in adulthood. If a child struggles to make friends or falls behind academically, it can result in feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, or social isolation later in life. This stage ends with puberty, when sexual urges reemerge, and the individual enters the final phase of psychosexual development, the genital stage.  Genital Stage Puberty to adult Erogenous zone: Genitals, mature sexual feeling The genital stage is the final phase of Freud's psychosexual development, starting at puberty and lasting into adulthood. During this stage, the libido becomes active again, focusing on mature, sexual relationships. Unlike earlier stages, where self-centred needs dominated, individuals now develop a greater concern for others and explore sexual feelings in a more responsible and mature way. If previous stages were successfully resolved, the person becomes well-balanced, warm, and caring. The ego and superego are fully developed, allowing teens to balance basic desires with the need to conform to social norms and reality. According to Freud, if individuals have unresolved conflicts or issues during this stage, it can lead to problems such as sexual dysfunction, difficulties forming healthy relationships, or other emotional problems. Defense mechanisms Sigmund Freud first introduced the concept of defense mechanisms in the 19th century, relating to the subconscious defenses of the id, ego, and superego. His daughter, Anna Freud, further developed these ideas in the 20th century, identifying 10 major defense mechanisms; Repression, Regression, Reaction formation, Denial, Projection, Identification, Displacement, Rationalization, Isolation, Sublimation). Since then, other psychoanalysts have expanded the list, adding more mechanisms to the original theory. Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory and therapeutic method developed by Sigmund Freud in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It focuses on uncovering unconscious thoughts, desires, and conflicts that influence behaviour. Psychoanalysis aims to explore these unconscious conflicts through techniques like free association, dream analysis, and transference, helping individuals understand repressed thoughts and emotions. This understanding is believed to alleviate psychological distress. While Freud's ideas have evolved and been critiqued, psychoanalysis laid the foundation for many modern approaches to mental health, emphasizing the importance of early childhood experiences and unconscious processes in shaping behaviour. In conclusion, Sigmund Freud’s theories have had a major impact on our understanding of personality and behaviour. His ideas about the id, ego, and superego, as well as his stages of psychosexual development, have given us a way to explore the unconscious mind and its influence on behaviour. Freud’s work on defense mechanisms and the importance of early childhood experiences has shaped modern psychology and therapy. Although some of Freud’s ideas have been criticized and revised, his contributions are still important. They laid the groundwork for exploring how the unconscious mind affects our actions and how our early experiences shape who we are. Freud’s legacy continues to influence psychological practices and understanding today.