Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory argues that human behavior results from the interaction of the id, ego, and superego. The id operates on the pleasure principle, the ego mediates reality, and the superego internalizes societal values. Freud believed all human actions stem from life and death instincts. Psychoanalysis aims to make the unconscious conscious by identifying repressed urges and enabling patients to deal with them realistically.

3. Psychoanalytic Theory
Arooba Asmat Dev
Speech-Language Pathologist

4. Definition
• Sigmund Freud‘s
psychoanalytic theory of personality
argues that human behavior is the
result of the interactions among three
component parts of the mind: the id,
ego, and superego.

5. Basic Instincts
Unconscious Motivation
 Psychic Determinism
 Energy Model

6.  Closely follows Darwin’s theory
 Freud believed that everything humans do can be
understood as manifestations of the life and death
instincts
 Later termed libido (life) and thanatos (death)
Libido Thanatos

7. Unconscious Motivation
 Individuals control their sexual and
aggressive urges by placing them in the
unconscious
 These take on a life of their own and
become the motivated unconscious

8. Psychic Determinism
 Nothing happens by chance or accident
 Everything we do, think, say, and feel is an
expression of our mind

9. Energy Model
 Humans are viewed as energy systems
 Hydraulic model. Energy transformed but not
destroyed

10. Levels of Consciousness
• Conscious - current awareness
• Preconscious - not aware of material but
it’s retrievable (via ordinary retrieval)
• Unconscious - not aware of material but
it’s not retrievable (via ordinary retrieval)

12. Personality and Psychoanalysis
Techniques for Revealing the Unconscious
 Free Association
 Dream Analysis
 Projective Techniques
 Recovered Memories

13. The Structure of Personality
ID EGO
SUPEREGO

14. The Id – Reservoir of Psychic Energy
Most primitive part of the mind; what we
are born with
Source of all drives and urges
Operates according to the pleasure principle
and primary process thinking

15. The part of the mind that constrains the
id to reality
Develops around 2-3 years of age
Operates according to the reality
principle and secondary process
thinking
Mediates between id, superego, and
environment
The Ego- Executive of Personality

16. The part of the mind that internalizes
the values, morals, and ideals of society
Develops around age 5
Not bound by reality
The Superego- Upholder of Values
and Ideals

17. Psychodynamics
• Conflict model
– Id vs. superego; Individual vs. society
– Restrain expression of all drives
– Surplus energy results in anxiety

18. Defense Mechanisms
• Unconscious psychological processes
designed to avoid or reduce the
conscious experience of anxiety

19. Useful in coping with unexpected or
disappointing events
Can also make circumstances worse
Defense Mechanisms in
Everyday Life

20. Personality and Psychoanalysis
The goal of psychoanalysis is to make the
unconscious conscious
Identify unconscious thoughts and
feelings
Enable the person to deal with the
unconscious urges realistically and
maturely

21. Summary
There are 3 main forces in the psyche that
constantly interact to tame the 2 motives
Defense mechanisms help keep urges,
thoughts, and memories that cause anxiety in
the unconscious
Psychoanalysis is a therapy used for making
the patient's unconscious conscious

23. Thank
you