Introduction to Freud

Spring 2004

NCLC 130 (Week 4: Identity)Karen Misencik

Women’s Studies

Background/ContextPart I: Biography

Freud: “Father of Psychoanalysis” Sigmund Freud Born May 6, 1856 in

Freiburg (then Moravia, now Czech Republic).

One of 8 children, Jewish family Age 4, Freud’s father moved family to

Vienna, Austria

Background/ContextPart I: Biography

1873: (Age 17) U. of Vienna med. student 1882: Vienna General Hospital – research on

the brain 1885: Begins working with Jean-Martin

Charcot (French neurologist). Research into “hysteria”

1886: Sets up private practice as consultant for nervous disorders

Background/ContextPart I: Biography

1886 marries Martha Bernays. By 1896 the couple has 6 children, including Anna (youngest child) – Freud’s protégé and confident.

Freud’s research interest begins to shift to psychological disorders. Begins working with Joseph Breuer using hypnosis and free-association.

Background/ContextPart I: Biography

Around turn of century (1900) Freud’s writing takes off – Interpretation of Dreams and Psychopathology of Everyday Life.

Early 1900s begins working with Alfred Adler and develops Vienna Psychoanalytic Society.

Freud still publishing: Case Histories (Wolf Man, Rat Man, Dora, etc.)

Background/ContextPart I: Biography

1909: Swiss Psychologist, Carl Jung (1875-1961) begins collaborating with Freud.

The two become very close colleagues but split bitterly after several years. Causes end of Vienna Psychoanalytic Society.

1914-1918: World War I: Devastating but Freud still lecturing, writing, etc.

Background/ContextPart I: Biography 1923: Freud has several malignant tumors

removed from mouth – beginning of illness which will eventually kill him.

Between 1926-1930 many more of his famous texts are published: Future of an Illusion, Civilization and Its Discontents, etc.

1933: Hitler comes to power. Later on, Freud’s books publicly burned in Berlin.

Background/ContextPart I: Biography

1938 Germans invade Austria. Freud moves to London via Paris.

Freud by now very ill from cancer. 1939 Freud’s final book, Moses and

Monotheism is published. September 23, 1939: Freud dies in

London.

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

Psychoanalysis: “The Talking Cure” therapy that investigates the workings and interactions between conscious and unconscious mind. (Freud first used the term in 1896.)

Think of: “revealing,” “unearthing” what we have hidden, repressed in order to become healthy.

We can’t make what we don’t want to face “go away” but we can change (suppress) it. If ignored can result in neuroses, psychoses, etc.

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

Psychoanalysis depends on understanding how the mind works:

Consider an Iceberg Model (it’s what’s underneath that counts!):

Disclaimer!: Models are helpful, but also limiting….

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

Top of the iceberg: Conscious mind (smallest part – say, 10%). We can access this, we are aware of this part of “us.” We understand it logically.

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

Middle of iceberg: Preconscious (medium size, about 10-15%). Ordinary memory. You don’t keep a lot of information in your conscious mind all the time – why?

If you need to know something (where you parked your car, your sister’s birthday, your 7th grade Stardust Dance, etc.) you can bring it “up” to your Conscious mind.

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

Bottom of iceberg: Unconscious (huge – dwarfs the other two, 75-80% of our mind). “Underwater”

The unconscious: Plays a very large role in how we function as human beings. Most of the work among the Id, Ego, and Superego happens here.

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND: A “dumping ground” for all of our desires,

anxieties, urges, especially those which are painful – why?

Nothing in the unconscious goes away. Even if we aren’t aware of it, what is in the unconscious influences us every day in every way.

Can’t directly or easily access the unconscious with conscious mind. “Speaks” a different language (ex. Dreams).

Freud’s TheoriesPart II: Psychoanalytic Model of Identity

“Mystic Writing Pad” essay Mystic Writing Pad (toy): analogous to mind. Some key passages:(208) “Our mental apparatus….of them”(211) “Thus the Pad…or systems”(211) “We need not be disturbed…are present”(212) choice of words “protective shield”(212) “It is as though…coming from it”

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: Id, Ego, Superego

Freud’s theory of Identity is based on a

CONFLICTMODEL

Important! Radical notion!(Keep in mind that with Freud, identity becomes confusing

– hard to use pronouns to describe ourselves. Who am “I”? Is “I” really “We”?)

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: Id, Ego, Superego

Conflict Model: The self is NOT UNIFIED; it is not a coherent, singular entity. Not entirely rational, not entirely in control of yourself.

There are competing elements within ourselves. No way to resolve competing elements – only

way to stay healthy is to not let any one of them “get the upper hand” or sickness (i.e. neurosis or psychosis) can occur.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

Freud’s conflict model is based on the idea of the Id, the Ego, and the Superego. These are the components of the self.

First: THE ID: The oldest part of our mind – most

primal, most fundamental, most primitive. The Id precedes culture! And is universal.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

“Id” does NOT stand for “Identity.”

Rather, it means “It” – WOW!It is irrational, emotional,

demanding…and STRONG

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

The ID: The source for libido (psychic energy, not just sexual in meaning like today’s connotation)

Psychic energy fuels our thoughts, memories, sexual desires, perceptions, etc.

Psychic energy – fixed amount (like theory of “matter” – can neither be created nor destroyed)

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

The Id is ruled by The Pleasure Principle: (I WANT, I WANT, I WANT, I WANT!!!!!)

Pleasure Principle: Cares only about immediate self-gratification; does not care about deferring, doesn’t care about others.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO A new baby is all Id. Not born fully human

(controversial) – must successfully navigate the treacherous path to adulthood.

A new baby only wants to eat, sleep, urinate, defecate, be comfortable, and gain sexual pleasure and wants it all now.

(Yes, Freud believes we are all born sexual, “polymorphous perverse” – all areas of body to an infant are pleasurable BUT: “sexual” is understood as “sensual”).

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

The Ego: “I” Functions with the rational part of the

mind. The Ego develops in the child by about age 3.

Child learns that it is often unwise and there are consequences if s/he cannot learn to delay her/his gratification.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO The Ego is ruled by The Reality Principle,

the Ego is pragmatic. “You can’t always get what you want.”

The Ego mediates between the Id and the world. The Ego develops strategies to help the Id make it until the urge can be satisfied.

It takes a tremendous amount of psychic energy to help suppress the Id’s urges.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO The Ego is in service to the Id, yet it uses some of

the Id’s psychic energy to control the Id by reasonably satisfying the Id.

Over time, the Ego becomes pretty good at this and develops a large repertoire of KSAs to keep the Id gratified.

This causes the Ego to become aware of itself as an entity – now the individual experiences him/herself as a “self”, not just a big ball of urges.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

The Superego: “Over-I” Last part of the mind to develop (by about

age 5). The moral part of the mind (because the

Ego is not necessarily moral). Represents societal and parental values.

“Steps In” when Mom or the Cops aren’t around.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

Two components to Superego: Ego Ideal and Conscience. (Don’t confuse with “conscious”)

Ego Ideal: The rules or standards for what constitutes good or appropriate behavior.

Conscience: The rules or standards for what constitutes bad, immoral, embarrassing behavior.

Freud’s TheoriesPart III: ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

If, as an adult, your Id is too dominant? (very self-absorbed, don’t care about others, only out for yourself)

If, as an adult, your Ego is too dominant? (distant, rational, efficient, unemotional, cold)

If, as an adult, your Superego is too dominant? (guilt-ridden or sanctimonious).

THE END

THANK YOU!

QUESTIONS?

SOURCES

Freud, Sigmund. A Note upon the “Mystic Writing-Pad,” General Psychological Theory. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1991.

_______. The Ego and the Id. (Trans. Joan Riviere.) New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1960.

Lecture Notes, Professor Debra Bergoffen, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, George Mason University, 1994.