The Hidden Mind
Psychoanalysis, founded by Sigmund Freud, proposes that human behavior is driven by the unconscious mind: hidden urges and memories shaping action.
Freud modeled the psyche as three interacting systems:
| System | Governing Principle | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Id | Pleasure principle | Innate biological drives, immediate gratification |
| Ego | Reality principle | Rational mediator among id, superego, and world |
| Superego | Morality principle | Internalized moral standards and ideals |
Conflict among these systems generates anxiety. To manage it, the ego uses defense mechanisms like repression (pushing threats from awareness), projection (attributing bad impulses to others), and sublimation (redirecting impulses into valued activities).
Common pitfall: Treating defense mechanisms as signs of weakness. They are normal, universal ego functions; only extreme rigidity becomes clinical.
Stages and Splits
Freud argued personality develops through psychosexual stages (Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital). Unresolved conflicts leave a lasting fixation shaping adult behavior.
Freud's inner circle later split over his heavy focus on sexuality:
| Theorist | Core Concept | Difference from Freud |
|---|---|---|
| Carl Jung | Collective unconscious & archetypes | Shared ancestral memory, less focus on sex |
| Alfred Adler | Feelings of inferiority | Driven by compensation, not sexual urges |
Psychoanalysis shifted clinical focus from pure biology to inner mental conflict, laying the groundwork for modern psychodynamic therapies.