GROUP 2 (MIDTERM REPORTING)

Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory

Overview
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, developed the Psychoanalytic Theory, which suggests that
human behavior is influenced by unconscious motives, childhood experiences, and internal conflicts. He
proposed that personality is shaped during early childhood and that unconscious desires drive much of our
behavior.

The Structure of Personality

Freud’s theory divides personality into three parts:

1. Id – The primitive and instinctual part of the mind that seeks immediate gratification of basic desires, such
as hunger, aggression, and pleasure. It operates based on the pleasure principle.

Example: A child sees a candy bar in a store and immediately wants to take it without paying. This is the id’s
impulse for immediate gratification.

2. Ego – The rational and realistic part of the mind that balances the desires of the id and the demands of
reality. It operates based on the reality principle.

Example: Instead of stealing the candy, the child asks their parent if they can buy it later. The ego helps the
child understand that taking it without paying has consequences.

3. Superego – The moral conscience that incorporates societal values, norms, and parental guidance. It strives
for perfection and operates based on the morality principle.

Example: The child decides not to ask for the candy at all because they remember their parent’s rule about
not buying sweets before dinner. The superego enforces ethical behavior.

Defense mechanisms

are ways people protect themselves from feelings that are too painful, stressful, or difficult to face. They work
automatically, without people even realizing it, to help them cope with emotions like anxiety, guilt, or
frustration. While these strategies can help in the short term, relying on them too much can create problems.

Types of Defense Mechanisms

1. Denial

How It Works: A person refuses to accept reality because it is too painful or uncomfortable. They act as if the
problem doesn’t exist.

Example: A smoker who is told they have a high risk of lung disease insists, “I’m perfectly healthy! Smoking
isn’t bad for me.”
 2. Repression

How It Works: The mind hides painful memories or thoughts deep inside, so the person is not aware of them.
Unlike denial, where a person actively refuses reality, repression happens automatically.

Example: A person who was in a car accident as a child does not remember the incident but feels uneasy
whenever they get into a car.

3. Projection

How It Works: A person takes their own feelings or thoughts and wrongly places them onto someone else.

Example: A person who dislikes someone might claim, “That person doesn’t like me,” when in reality, it is their
own feelings of dislike they are projecting.

4. Rationalization

How It Works: A person gives logical but false explanations to justify an action or feeling instead of admitting
the real reason.

Another Example: A worker who misses a deadline tells themselves, “The assignment wasn’t that important,”
rather than admitting they procrastinated.

5. Sublimation

How It Works: Instead of acting on an unacceptable urge, a person redirects their energy into something
positive or productive.

Example: Someone who has a strong desire to argue with others becomes a lawyer, using their debating skills
professionally.

6. Regression

How It Works: A person goes back to behaviors they used at a younger age to feel safe or comforted.

Example: A grown adult who is feeling extremely stressed starts sucking their thumb or cuddling with a
childhood stuffed toy.

7. Displacement

How It Works: A person redirects their strong emotions from the real cause to a safer target.

Example: A man who is frustrated with his boss comes home and yells at his children instead.

Psychosexual Stages of Development

Freud proposed that personality develops through five psychosexual stages. If conflicts are unresolved at any
stage, they may lead to psychological issues in adulthood.
1. Oral Stage (0-1 year) – The infant derives pleasure from sucking, biting, and breastfeeding.

Example: A baby constantly puts objects in their mouth as a way of exploring the world. If fixated at this stage,
they may develop habits like nail-biting or excessive eating in adulthood.

2. Anal Stage (1-3 years) – Pleasure is focused on controlling bowel and bladder movements.

Example: A toddler learning to use the toilet might become very particular about cleanliness. If overly strict
toilet training occurs, they might grow into an adult who is obsessively neat (anal-retentive) or extremely
messy (anal-expulsive).

3. Phallic Stage (3-6 years) – The child becomes aware of gender differences and experiences the Oedipus
complex (for boys) or Electra complex (for girls).
Example: A little boy may become overly attached to his mother and see his father as a rival for her attention.
This stage helps develop gender identity and relationships.

4. Latency Stage (6-12 years) – Sexual impulses are suppressed, and children focus on social interactions,
education, and friendships.

Example: A child prefers playing with friends, excelling in school, and developing hobbies rather than focusing
on relationships.

5. Genital Stage (12 years and above) – Sexual maturity is reached, and individuals develop romantic and
intimate relationships.

Example: A teenager begins to have romantic feelings and seeks meaningful relationships with others,
balancing work, love, and personal goals.

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Overview

Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, proposed a theory of cognitive development that describes how children
acquire, construct, and use knowledge. He believed that cognitive development occurs in distinct stages,
influenced by biological maturation and interaction with the environment.

Key Concepts in Piaget’s Theory

Piaget introduced several key concepts related to cognitive development:

1. Schemas – Mental structures or frameworks that help individuals organize and interpret information.
Example: A child who sees a dog for the first time may create a schema that all four-legged animals are dogs.

2. Assimilation – The process of incorporating new experiences into existing schemas.

Example: A child sees a cat and calls it a “dog” because it fits their existing schema of four-legged animals.

3. Accommodation – The modification of existing schemas to fit new information.

Example: The child learns that not all four-legged animals are dogs and creates a new schema for cats.
4. Equilibration – The process of balancing assimilation and accommodation to create stable understanding.
Example: The child eventually learns to differentiate between various animals, achieving a balanced
understanding of their characteristics.

Stages of Cognitive Development

Piaget identified four stages of cognitive development, each with specific characteristics and abilities:

1. Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years)

- Infants learn through sensory experiences and motor activities.
- They develop object permanence, understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen.

Example: A baby who enjoys peekaboo initially believes the person disappears but later understands they are
still there.

2. Preoperational Stage (2-7 years)

- Children develop language and symbolic thinking but lack logical reasoning.
- They exhibit egocentrism, meaning they struggle to see things from another person’s perspective.

Example: A child covers their eyes while hiding and believes others cannot see them because they cannot see
themselves.

3. Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years)

-Children develop logical thinking about concrete objects and events.
-They understand conservation, realizing that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape or
appearance.

Example: When shown two glasses of water (one tall and narrow, the other short and wide) with equal
amounts of liquid, a child in this stage understands they hold the same amount.

4. Formal Operational Stage (11 years and above)

- Adolescents and adults develop abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning.

Example: A teenager can understand complex moral dilemmas and discuss philosophical concepts like justice
and fairness.

Significance of Freud’s Theory

Freud’s theory has greatly influenced psychology, literature, and art. It introduced the importance of
unconscious motives, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts in shaping behavior. However, critics argue
that it lacks scientific evidence and relies heavily on subjective interpretation.

Significance of Piaget’s Theory

Piaget’s theory has had a profound impact on education, emphasizing the importance of active learning,
hands-on experiences, and age-appropriate teaching methods. However, critics argue that cognitive
development is more continuous than Piaget suggested and that social and cultural factors play a bigger role
in shaping intelligence.