Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis and proposed that unconscious motives and internal conflicts between the id, ego, and superego determine our behavior. The id represents basic drives, the ego tries to satisfy the id reasonably, and the superego acts as our conscience. Conflicts between these lead to anxiety, which we deal with using defense mechanisms like denial, displacement, projection, rationalization, and reaction formation. Freud believed the sex drive is a primary motivating force and proposed psychosexual stages of development from birth through adulthood. Fixation in certain stages could result in personality traits or behaviors.

1. Sigmund Freud
(6 May 1856 – 23
September 1939),
Founder of
psychoanalysis
and one of the
most famous
psychologists

2.  Unconscious motives and internal conflicts
determine our behavior (our mind split into 3
psychological structures):
 Id: Basic drives like hunger (think of a 2 year old…”I
want it now!!! Id is the kid) Present at birth
 Ego: Stands for “reason and good sense” and tries to
satisfy the id. “I’m hungry but I can’t get a sandwich
out of the trash.”
 Superego: Acts as the conscience/moral sense and
floods ego with guilt if we think/do something
defined as wrong (“Super”ego is “super” moral)

3.  Conflicts between id, ego, and superego lead to
anxiety/stress, so we deal with this with:
 Denial (most common) Refusing to accept realities of
a situation (not an addict, sick, etc.)
 Displacement (common) Taking out anger on a
person who didn’t cause it (mad at coach, yell at
sibling).
 Projection- Taboo urges are seen in others; not in self
(you want to steal but decide not to, but then you
notice others do it).

4.  Rationalization-Making logical excuses for
illogical behavior (I got fired because boss is
sexist; not because of the fact that I stole).
 Reaction formation: Compensate for
unacceptable impulses by displaying the
TOTAL OPPOSITE in great excess (boy likes
girl, afraid of being judged, treats her mean).
 Regression-Reverting to childlike behavior to
get attention you got when you were young
(adult acting like teen, child when sister is
born).

5.  Sublimation- the process of transforming libido
into "socially useful" achievements
 Repression-Unconsciously forgetting
information that is too painful to recall (child
abuse or attack).

6.  Freud believed the sex drive was most
motivating force (humans strive for pleasure
from birth—infants with sucking, toddler &
using restroom, child & pleasure with genitals,
adults & intercourse)

7.  Oral stage: Birth-18 months. Sucking & biting
are favorite activities.
 Anal stage: 18 months-4 years. Focus of
pleasure is using restroom (hold in, let go).
 Phallic stage: 4ish-7. Focus is genitalia.
Touching self might occur during this stage.
 Latent stage: 7ish-12ish-Sexual impulses are
suppressed.
 Genital stage: Puberty–Resurgence of sex drive

8.  Phallic: Fixation & possible narcissistic
personality (boys). Implied that women never
progress past this & maintain sense of
inferiority.
 Oedipus/Electra Complexes occur in phallic
stage (subconscious desire to have sex with
parent of opposite sex & kill parent of same
sex).
 Penis envy….girls are jealous of men & scarred
(may blame mom).
 Freudian slips-Stem from unconscious

9.  Oral: Could result in oral fixation (smoking,
chewing pens, nail biting, thumb sucking,
excessive gum chewing, overeating or
drinking….attempt to fill emotional emptiness
inside).
 Anal: Explosiveness-Very sloppy & non-
conforming.
*Retentive-Obsessively clean & orderly