I.

Psychoanalytic theory

Sigmund Freud originated the psychoanalytic theory in the early 1900s. He was an Austrian born Physician, in the part of the city which is now the Czech Republic. He believes that the conscious experience was our psychological make up and experience, and thought that our personality that is determined by our unconscious. He also thought that our behavior was motivated by our unconscious. He argued that we needed to expose the unconscious so that we could understand the personality. Although our unconscious determines our personality, it is also made up of the preconscious (Feldman, 2005, Page 329). He formulated the theory of human personality and psychological disorders. He believed that his psychological theories were just a temporary measure that would be replaced by knowledge of the underlying biological and neural process (Zuckerman, 1995). He applied the task of understanding the human mind ideas about sensory thresholds and the possibility of responding to stimuli that we can not report perceiving (Baron & Kalsher, 2005, page 319) Freud felt that this constant struggle among id, ego, and superego plays a key role in personality and in many psychological disorders. Moreover, he suggested that the struggle was often visible in everyday behavior in what is known as the Freudian Slips. II. Three components of personality

The structure of personality, as a theory, holds that personality consists of three separate but interacting components: the id, ego and superego. The three structures could be diagrammed to show how they relate to the conscious and the unconscious. The three structures of the personality represent the abstract conceptions of a general model of personality. III. The first structure of personality: the id

A major component of the personality structure consists of primitive, instinctual, cravings and longings. The id is apparent at birth and reduces the tension related to hunger, sex, aggression and irrational impulses. The id operates on the principle of pleasure which is subjected to reality. The drives are fueled by the libido (fixation) of the psychic energy. IV. Aspect of personality: id Level of consciousness: unconscious Description/Function: Basic impulses (sex and aggression); pleasure principle seeks immediate gratification; irrational, impulsive The second structure of personality: the ego

The ego strives to balance the desires of the id and the realities of the objective, outside world. Unlike the id that operates on the pleasure principle, the ego operates according to the reality principle. The ego is restrained by instinctual energy. Moreover, the ego is the executive of personality because it is the basis of the following functions: decisions, Sanders, Thalia C. Class Discussion Page 1 of 3 Chapter 10 PSY105 Unit Seven: 2/20-25/2007

controls actions, allow thinking, and problem solving. Lastly, the ego must compromise between the demands of the superego and the demands of the id. Moreover, the ego is both unconscious and conscious with its struggle with the id. V. Aspect of personality: ego Level of consciousness: mostly conscious Description/Function: Mediates between id impulses and superego inhibitions; reality principle; rational. The second structure of personality: the superego

The superego represents the social right-and wrong, and is the model by the lessons taught by the parent, and teacher etc. Furthermore, the superego has two components: conscience and ego-ideal. The superego helps us to control the impulses coming from the id, so that our behavior is selfless and virtuous. VI. Aspect of personality: super-ego Level of consciousness: all levels, but mostly preconscious Description/Function: Ideals and morals; conscience; incorporated from parents. Conclusion:

The superego and the id are unrealistic approaches because they do not consider the practical realities imposed by society. The superego that is unrestrained would create perfectionist (ego-idea), and the compromises of life would not be that big of an issue. Moreover, an id that is unrestrained would create a primitive pleasure-seeking, thoughtless (conscience) person, only to seek and fulfill desires (Feldman, 2005, page 317). However, the ego must strike a balance between our primitive urges (the id) and our learned moral constraints (the superego). An aspect of the personality that is a key dimension is the conscientiousness. The dimensions range from well-organized, careful, self-disciplined, responsible, and precise through disorganized, impulsive, careless and undependable at the other end of the spectrum of dimensions (Costa & McCrae, 1994, Zuckerman, 1994). I have always had an idea that I should weigh a certain amount. I always weighed less than 134 pounds, until the car accident and the kids came into the picture. I had a car accident in March 1992. I stopped exercising as much as I liked to because my joints and tissues were too shaken. I also had a crazy partner/boyfriend, and I had to watch his every move sometimes. Although exercising allows being consciously alert. I had to be alert in other ways so that the mind may not readily be able to perceive and report back. I am always ready to confirm that I am in danger. However, it never dawned on me that when you are sexually active with a guy that it can result in (a) child/ren. For me, that did not happen once, with an unplanned pregnancy, it had happened twice. Of course, I have been engaged to their fathers. I felt that they did not Sanders, Thalia C. Class Discussion Page 2 of 3 Chapter 10 PSY105 Unit Seven: 2/20-25/2007

really love me. So I decided to have the children, but not the relationship with the man. I must admit the fathers of the children were smitten. I guess it was me who got caught up in the ego and superego. If I would have only paid attention to my id, which was a foot loose and fancy free traveling Women Marine, who was not settling down until she got near 40, then maybe kids and step kids. Nevertheless, I had two full-term births. I birthed Catherine from a vaginal delivery in 2004. I was able to drop the weight of in 9 months and weighed about 134 lbs. I went from pre-gestation weight of 128 pounds, ready and fit to ship in the United States Marine Corps. Of course the consequences of my decision put my career on the back-burner. Then, I had a slow pregnancy and began to pick up weight steadily by the late 7th month, or 3rd cycle. The third cycle was marked by exciting milestones. By the time I delivered the girl, I was weighing in at 190 pounds. The pregnancy of my boys was very similar to that of the girl. However, I had stubborn weight. My hour glass figure was affected not only by the years of drinking, eating French and Italian breads, but also all those darn caffeine sodas. I feel that deciding to have another child is the cause of my breast being so large. As a result, I have to be refitted for a new wardrobe in the upper torso. I still continue to weigh near 190 pounds, and my son is already 4 years old. Cited Reference: Feldman, Robert S. (2003), Essentials of Understanding Psychology, 5th Ed. McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.: New York, NY. ISBN: 0-07-249426-3. R. A. Baron and M. J. Kalsher, Psychology: From Science to Practice [the customized version's title is Introduction to Psychology]. Allyn & Bacon or Pearson, 2005.

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