PSYC1023 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Reaction Formation, Reality Principle
Document Summary
Freud (1856-1939) was raised in a jewish home in the victoria era. Victorian era is where there was jewish prosecution and sexual oppression. Freud treated patients with fears and anxiety from childhood. In 1938, freud fled the nazis but his four sisters were killed. People maximise instinctual satisfaction and minimise punishment and guilt. The id" has self-preservation, sexual and aggressive instincts and obeys only pleasure (primary process thought) These can be easily satisfied like (food, water etc. ) Sexuality and aggression leads to problems as there are rules, laws and regulations. The ego" satisfies the id using the reality principle (secondary process thought) Learned early in childhood, acquired through the environment, we are not born with it like the id. It is the sense of right and wrong almost like a conscience or moral compass, reflects the parenting you receive as a child. It is very powerful and should not be underestimated as often as it is.
