What is the pleasure principle?
The instinctive drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain, expressed by the id as a basic motivating force.
What is the reality principle?
The ability of the ego to assess the reality of the external world and act upon it accordingly, mediating the id's demands.
Explain the core idea of psychodynamic theory.
Personality is shaped by unconscious processes, childhood experiences, and conflicts among the id, ego, and superego.
Explain the core idea of humanistic theory.
Emphasizes the inherent goodness and potential for growth in each individual, focusing on self-actualization and subjective experience.
What is the significance of childhood experiences in psychodynamic theory?
Early experiences and relationships shape unconscious processes and influence personality development.
What role does free will play in humanistic theory?
Humanistic theory emphasizes free will and the individual's capacity for making choices and directing their own lives.
What is the focus of humanistic psychology?
The present moment and subjective experience, emphasizing personal growth and potential.
What is the goal of projective tests?
To reveal unconscious thoughts and motivations by interpreting responses to ambiguous stimuli.
Describe the Rorschach Inkblot Test.
A projective test where interpretations of inkblots are used to assess personality characteristics and emotional functioning.
Describe the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).
A projective test where individuals create stories about ambiguous pictures to uncover recurring themes and patterns in their thoughts and feelings.
Define 'unconscious' in psychodynamic theory.
The part of the mind containing thoughts, desires, and memories not accessible to awareness but influencing behavior.
What is the 'id' according to Freud?
The primitive and instinctual part of the mind that contains sexual and aggressive drives and operates on the pleasure principle.
Define the 'ego' in Freudian terms.
The component of personality that mediates between the desires of the id and the reality of the external world, operating on the reality principle.
What is the 'superego'?
The part of the personality that represents internalized moral standards and values, often referred to as the conscience.
Define 'defense mechanisms'.
Unconscious psychological strategies used to protect a person from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
What is 'repression'?
An unconscious defense mechanism that keeps disturbing or threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.
Define 'displacement'.
Redirecting emotions from a threatening target to a less threatening one.
What is 'projection'?
Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to another person.
Define 'rationalization'.
Justifying unacceptable behaviors or feelings with logical reasons.
What is 'sublimation'?
Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.
Define 'unconditional positive regard'.
Acceptance and love without conditions attached, crucial for healthy self-concept development.
What is 'self-actualization'?
The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, considered as a drive or need present in everyone.
Compare the psychodynamic and humanistic views on the role of the unconscious.
Psychodynamic theory emphasizes the unconscious as a reservoir of repressed conflicts, while humanistic theory focuses on conscious experience and self-awareness.
Compare the psychodynamic and humanistic approaches to therapy.
Psychodynamic therapy aims to uncover unconscious conflicts through techniques like free association, while humanistic therapy emphasizes empathy and unconditional positive regard to promote self-discovery.
Contrast psychodynamic and humanistic views on human nature.
Psychodynamic theory views human nature as inherently conflicted and driven by unconscious desires, while humanistic theory sees humans as inherently good and striving for self-actualization.
Compare how psychodynamic and humanistic theories explain anxiety.
Psychodynamic theory explains anxiety as a result of unresolved unconscious conflicts, whereas humanistic theory attributes it to incongruence between one's ideal self and actual self.
Contrast the focus of psychodynamic and humanistic theories regarding the past and future.
Psychodynamic theory emphasizes the impact of past experiences on current behavior, while humanistic theory focuses on the present and future potential for growth.
Compare the roles of the therapist in psychodynamic and humanistic approaches.
In psychodynamic therapy, the therapist acts as an interpreter of unconscious conflicts, while in humanistic therapy, the therapist serves as a facilitator of self-exploration and personal growth.
Contrast the methods used in psychodynamic and humanistic assessments.
Psychodynamic assessments often involve projective tests to uncover hidden motivations, while humanistic assessments may use self-report measures to understand an individual's subjective experience.
Compare the goals of psychodynamic and humanistic interventions.
Psychodynamic interventions aim to resolve unconscious conflicts and gain insight into past experiences, while humanistic interventions focus on promoting self-acceptance, self-awareness, and personal fulfillment.
Contrast the emphasis on determinism versus free will in psychodynamic and humanistic theories.
Psychodynamic theory suggests that behavior is largely determined by unconscious forces, while humanistic theory emphasizes the individual's capacity for free will and self-determination.
Compare the views of psychodynamic and humanistic theories on the origins of personality.
Psychodynamic theory attributes personality development to early childhood experiences and psychosexual stages, while humanistic theory emphasizes the individual's ongoing quest for self-actualization and personal meaning.