Freud's psychoanalytic theory

3. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
The psychoanalytical theory of Freud has three major
parts.
(1) Theory of personality dynamics
(2) Theory of personality structure
(3) Theory of psycho-sexual development

4. (1) Theory of Personality Dynamics
According to Freud, the human mind has three
levels of consciousness

6. (c)The unconscious mind:
 Freud believed that the most important factor
in psychic activity( behaviour) is the
unconsciousness.
The unsatisfied desires and painful
experiences of the individual are forced down to
the unconscious layer of the mind(repression).
The behaviour pattern and hence the
personality of an individual is determined by
the suppressed desires and experiences that
constitute the unconscious mind.
Repression of feelings and desires result in
blocking up of the libido (the psychic energy
that provides power for all mental activity)
which in turn , gives birth to severe anxiety and
conflicts leading the mental illness and
abnormal personality development.

7. (2) Theory of personality structure
Freud believes that personality structure is
composed of three major systems-

8. I. The id:
 The id is the original system of personality.
 It is instinctual in nature.
 It is also the reservoir of psychic energy.
 It furnishes all the energy for the functioning of the ego
and super ego as well.
 Id operates on the pleasure principle and it has only
one motive namely deriving pleasure for the individual
as an organism.
 It is not concerned with good or bad , right or wrong ,
real or unreal . This means that for the reduction of
tension it chooses a path which is the most pleasurable
to the individual.

9. There are two processes
employed by the id for the
fulfillment of its goal.
They are
i. Reflex action and
ii.Primary process

10. Reflex actions are inborn and
automatic like sneezing and
blinking. They reduce the tension
immediately.
The primary processes attempts
to discharge the function by
formulating an image of an object
or action that will provide
pleasure and thus remove the
tension.

11. II. The Ego:
 The ego develops out of id in order to
facilitate the goals of id in a more
acceptable manner and out causing
danger to the individual . This is done
be deriving energy from id.
 Apart from the id, ego has no
existence as id is the reservoir of all
energy.
 Ego obeys the reality principle.
 It distinguishes between the
subjective experiences and the
objective truth.

12. III . The Super ego:
The super ego develops out of the ego’s experiences
with social reality.
It is the morally and culturally conditioned aspect of
the psyche.
It develops as a result of the child’s interaction with
the parents , teachers , social codes of conduct , religious
values , etc.
It is the moral arm of the individual’s personality.
It represents the ideal rather than the real.
It strives for perfection rather than pleasure.
Its main concern is to decide whether something is
right or wrong so that it can act in accordance with the
moral standards approved by the society.

13. (3) Theory of Psycho-sexual Development
Freud has formulated five stages of psycho-sexual
development.