Psychodynamic Psycholgy Vocabulary

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psychoanalysis

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a theory of personality and a method of psychotherapy developed by Sigmund Freud; it emphasizes unconscious motives and conflicts

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intrapsychic

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within the mind or self

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id

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in psychoanalysis, the part of the mind containing inherited psychic energy, particularly sexual and aggressive instincts

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libido

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in psychoanalysis, the psychic energy that fuels the life or sexual instinct of the id

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ego

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in psychoanalysis, the part of the mind that represents reason, good sense, and rational self-control; it mediates between the id and the superego

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superego

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in psychoanalysis, the part of the mind that represents conscience, morality, and social standards

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defense mechanisms

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methods used by the ego to prevent unconscious anxiety or threatening thoughts from entering consciousness

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Oedipus complex

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in psychoanalysis; a conflict in which a child desires the parent of the other sex and views the same-sex parents as a rival; it is the key issue in the phallic stage of development

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castration anxiety

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in psychoanalysis, the boy's unconscious fear of castration by the powerful father; this anxiety motivates the resolution of the Oedipus complex

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inferiority complex

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to Alfred Adler, and inability to accept one's natural limitations; it occurs when the need for self-improvement is blocked or inhibited

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basic anxiety

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to Karen Horney, the feeling of being isolated and helpless in a hostile world; it is the motivation emotion in social relations

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collective unconscious

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to Carl Jung, the universal memories and experiences of humankind, represented in the symbols, stories, and images that occur across all cultures

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archetypes

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universal, symbolic images that appear in myths, art stories, and dreams; to Carl Jung, they reflect the collective unconscious

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object-relation theory

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a psychodynamic approach that emphasizes the importance of the infant's first two years and the baby's formative relationships, especially with other mother

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splitting

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in object-relations theory, the division of qualities into their opposites, as in the Good Mother versus the Bad Mother; it reflects an inability to understand that people are made up of good and bad qualities

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humanist psychology

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a psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth and the achievement of human potential rather than the scientific understanding and assessment of behavior

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unconditional positive regard

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to Carl Rogers, love or support given to another person, with no conditions attached

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existential psychology

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an approach to psychology that emphasizes free will and responsibility for one's actions, and the importance of struggling with the harsh realities of existence, such as the need to find meaning in life and to accept suffering and death