APP 1012 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Psychodynamics, Libido, Reaction Formation
Personality
Personality is stable and enduring pattern of thought, feeling, motivation and behaviour that are
expressed in similar ways in different situations. Personality is about understanding what a person is
like. Scientific study is concerned with the structure of personality followed by individual differences.
Approaches to personality
• Psychodynamic theory
• Social cognitive theory
• Humanism
• Behaviourism
• The trait approach
Psychodynamic theory
Behaviour arises from the dynamic flow and exchange of psychological energy in the personality
system.
Libido: unconscious motivations.
Psychic Determinism: notion that all behaviour has purpose.
Topographic model of consciousness
Conscious: everything we are aware of at any moment. Current thoughts and feelings, rational, goal
directed through processes.
Preconsciousness: thoughts, feelings, memories and wishes that can easily be brought to the
conscious level
Unconsciousness: Feelings, memories etc that is difficult to bring to conscious awareness.
Personality Structures
Three components that exist in different layers of consciousness,
ID- sole structure at birth. Source of libido- psychological energy originates.
EGO- interface between ID and external world. Lives in conscious but has access to preconscious
SUPEREGO- develops in early childhood as we learn right from wrong. Based on upbringing.
Defence Mechanisms
Repression- A ID’s ipulse is uaeptale. Its deied aess ito the osious id.
Projection- unacceptable drivers or feelings are attributed to somebody ese, allows a person to
deny responsibility.
Rationalisation- create false but plausible excuses for unacceptable behaviour.
Reaction formation- converting unacceptable thoughts into the opposite, self-denial.
Sublimation- Expressing unacceptable impulse into a socially palatable way.
Intellectualisation- Use logic and reason to understand an experience and to avoid feeling
associated with it.
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Document Summary
Personality is stable and enduring pattern of thought, feeling, motivation and behaviour that are expressed in similar ways in different situations. Personality is about understanding what a person is like. Scientific study is concerned with the structure of personality followed by individual differences. Approaches to personality: psychodynamic theory, social cognitive theory, humanism, behaviourism, the trait approach. Behaviour arises from the dynamic flow and exchange of psychological energy in the personality system. Psychic determinism: notion that all behaviour has purpose. Conscious: everything we are aware of at any moment. Current thoughts and feelings, rational, goal directed through processes. Preconsciousness: thoughts, feelings, memories and wishes that can easily be brought to the conscious level. Unconsciousness: feelings, memories etc that is difficult to bring to conscious awareness. Three components that exist in different layers of consciousness, Lives in conscious but has access to preconscious. Superego- develops in early childhood as we learn right from wrong.