What makes a person different from every other? What makes a person unique? What is per- sonality? Over the course of the last centuries those questions led scientists to conduct re- search and develop partially contrary answers. Personality is a concept that is familiar to eve- ryone but difficult do define. Henry Murray once said that “all of us are in some ways like all other people, in some ways like some other people and in some ways like no other person” (Murrey in King 2008: p. 407). Fingerprints or irises of eyes are perfect examples of physical features, which makes a person unique. Not even twins with identical DNA have the same fingerprint, because a fingerprint is determined not simply by genes but also by prenatal envi- ronmental factors such as the health condition of the mother or other individual influences (King 2008: p. 407). According to that, personality could be seen as the fingerprint of mind, a collection of psychological attributes such as traits, abilities, beliefs or experiences that make us who we are. Personality is a pattern of emotions, behaviours and enduring, distinctive thoughts that form an individual ́s unique character and accounts for its existence as the same person throughout its life (King 2008: p. 408; Oxford Dictionary 2013).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Id, Ego and Superego
- The Avoidance of Anxiety
- Repression
- Regression
- Projection
- Denial
- Displacement
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the Freudian concept of the id, ego, and superego, examining the role of these three components in shaping human personality and behavior. It focuses on the development of the ego and its function as a mediator between the instinctual drives of the id, the moral constraints of the superego, and the demands of reality. The text also delves into the ego's defense mechanisms, highlighting their role in protecting the individual from anxiety.
- The Id, Ego, and Superego as Components of Personality
- The Development and Function of the Ego
- Defense Mechanisms as Strategies for Avoiding Anxiety
- The Impact of Early Childhood Experiences on Personality Formation
- The Role of Psychoanalytic Theory in Understanding Human Behavior
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The text begins by introducing the concept of personality and its complexities. It then delves into Sigmund Freud's groundbreaking theory of the id, ego, and superego, explaining the functions and dynamics of each component. The ego is highlighted as a mediator, balancing the demands of the id and superego while navigating the realities of the external world.
The chapter then discusses various defense mechanisms employed by the ego to avoid anxiety. These mechanisms include repression, regression, projection, denial, and displacement. The text explores the unconscious nature of these strategies and their potential benefits and downsides.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts central to this text include: id, ego, superego, personality, psychoanalysis, defense mechanisms, repression, regression, projection, denial, displacement, anxiety, unconscious, conscious, early childhood experiences, mental health.
- Quote paper
- Christopher Hahn (Author), 2013, Id, Ego and Superego. The avoidance of anxiety, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/262938
