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Freud's Theory of Personality

Definition

This theory suggests that personality is largely shaped by unconscious forces including primitive desires (id), reality-oriented rational thinking (ego), and moral conscience (superego).

Analogy

Consider Freud's theory as if it were a play production. The id is like an impulsive actor who only cares about their own performance; ego is the director who tries to balance the actor's desires with the realities of staging a successful play; and superego is like the critic, always judging based on moral and societal standards.

Related terms

Psychosexual Stages: These are five stages in Freud's theory where pleasure shifts from one body part to another - oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. It’s like different levels in a video game where each level focuses on a different challenge.

Oedipus Complex: This is a stage in Freud's psychosexual development when a male child has sexual feelings towards his mother and sees his father as a rival. Imagine it as an intense childhood rivalry for mom’s attention.

Repression: This is an unconscious defense mechanism where distressing thoughts or memories are pushed out of conscious awareness. It’s like pressing the 'delete' button on uncomfortable files in your brain's computer system.