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
Freud's focus refers to his emphasis on the unconscious mind, particularly the Id and the Oedipus complex. He believed that these internal forces strongly influence human behavior and personality development.
The ego is another aspect of Freud's psychoanalytic theory. It acts as a mediator between the desires of the Id and reality, helping to balance our impulses with societal demands.
The superego represents our internalized moral standards and values. It develops through socialization and aims to control or suppress the desires of the Id.
Adler’s Individual Psychology: Adler's Individual Psychology focuses on understanding individuals as unique beings shaped by their own perceptions of themselves and their social environment. It challenges Freud's notion of universal unconscious forces driving behavior.