PSYCH101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 40: Tasmanian Devil, Unconscious Mind, Theory-Theory

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Richard Ennis

Document Summary

Personality an individual"s characteristic pattern of thinking, feelings, and acting. Psychodynamic theories view personality w/ a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences: view human behaviour as a dynamic interaction b/w the conscious and unconscious mind, including assoc"d motives and conflicts. Freud"s psychoanalytic perspective: exploring the unconscious free association method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing. Psychoanalysis attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts: freud"s theory of personality techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret conscious tensions. Human personality arises from a conflict b/w impulse and restraint. Personality arises from our efforts to resolve this basic conflict to express these impulses in ways that bring satisfaction w/o also bringing guilt and punishment. 3 interacting systems: the id, ego, and supergo id reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that strives to satisfy basic sexual/aggressive drives.