Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Psychoanalytic theory is a framework for understanding human behavior that emphasizes unconscious thoughts, conflicts between biological drives such as sex drive and societal norms, and early childhood experiences.
Related terms
Freudian Slip: This term refers to an unintentional error regarded as revealing subconscious feelings.
These are unconscious psychological strategies used by individuals to cope with anxiety and maintain a positive self-image.
Id, Ego, Superego: These are the three parts of the psychic apparatus defined in Freud's structural model of the psyche. The id is driven by basic urges, the ego seeks realistic ways to satisfy those urges, and the superego represents moral conscience.