Microsoft Word intro psych fm doc

ACTIVITY 
 
 
 
MAN
ENVIRONMENT 
 
5.1.1 Psychoanalytic theory 
♦ Sigmund Freud was the founder
of the theory. 
♦ It is the most profound theory of
personality. 
♦ Basic ideas of the theory 
▪ Forces contained within us, which we are not 
aware of trigger our behavior. 
▪ These hidden forces, shaped and consolidated by 
childhood experiences, play an important role in 
directing our behavior. 
▪ Freud termed this process the Unconscious. 
Note: Underline that childhood is a critical period for the 
formation of later adulthood personality. 
According to Freud the human personality consists of three 
structures. These are: 
1. The Id 

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▪ It is inborn. 
▪ It is governed by the pleasure principle. 
▪ its main goal is to reduce tensions created by 
primitive drives and get maximum 
satisfaction of the biological needs. 
(Example: hunger, sex) 
2. The ego 
▪ It is executive of personality. All decision making 
processes of the personality are done by the ego. 
• It Makes decision. 
• It Controls action. 
• It allows thinking and problem solving 
approach when the personality faces 
problems. 
3. The super ego 
• It helps to integrate broad moral values of society. 
These broad moral values are learned through the 
socialization process in the family, religious 
institutions and from the community at large. 
Through the socialization process we learn all the 
dos and don’ts. 
• It prevents us from doing immoral things. 

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• The super ego motivates us to do what are morally 
accepted things by the society.