PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

Sigmund Freud, is considered the “Father of Psychiatry”, was concerned with both dynamics and structure of the psyche.

He divided the personality in three parts:

1.       Id – the id developed out of Freud’s concet of the pleasure principle. The id comprises primitive, instinctual drives like hunger, sex, aggression. The id says “I want.”

2.       Ego – the rational mind, that is called upon to control the instinctual impulses of the self-indulgent id. The ego says “I think/ I evaluate.”

3.       Superego – the superego is the conscience of the psyche and monitors the ego. The superego says “I should/ I ought.”

TOPOGRAPHIC MODEL OF THE MIND

Freud’s topographic model deals with the level of awareness and is divided into three categories:

UNCONSCIOUS MIND – All mental content and memories outside of conscious awareness; becomes conscious through the preconscious mind.

PRECONSCIOUS MIND – Not within the conscious mind can more easily be brought to conscious awareness (repressive function of instinctual desires or undesirable memories). Reaches consciousness through word  linkage.

CONSCIOUS MIND – All content and memories immediately available and within conscious awareness. Of lesser importance of psychoanalysts.

FREUD’S PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT:

0-18 MONTHS  - Oral Stage  - Oral gratification

8 months – 3 year old – Anal Stage – Independence and control (voluntary sphincter control)

3 – 6 year old – Phallic Stage – Genital Focus

6 – 12 year old – Latency Stage – Repressed sexuality; channelled sexual drives (sports)

3 – 20 year old – Genital Stage – puberty with sexual interest in opposite sex.