PSYC 3140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Defence Mechanisms, Reality Principle, Psychopathology
3 Jan 2019
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Document Summary
Central assumption: psychopathology results from unconscious conflicts in the individual. Id: (when we are born) pleasure principle immediate gratification primary process thinking = fantasies source of energy: biological unconscious. Ego: reality principle the mediator secondary process thinking = planning & decision making source of energy: psychic primarily conscious, also unconscious. Superego: perfection principle conscience punish individual for not meeting expectations source of energy: psychic conscious, primarily unconscious. Defense mechanisms: coping with anxiety - the worst thing for your ego is to be overwhelmed. Neurotic anxiety: a feeling of fear that is not connected to reality or any real threat. Defense mechanism: a strategy, unconsciously used, to protect the ego from anxiety. Function of defense mechanisms: allows ego to discharge some id energy while not directly facing the true nature of the motivation. Denial: not accepting some aspect of objective reality which is apparent to others. Regression: reverting to a younger, less mature way of handling stresses and feelings.
