Chapter 15

Freuds Drive Theory

Source of Drive Impetus of Drive Object of Drive Aim of Drive

Bodily deficit Intensity of the Environmental Satisfaction

psychological object capable by removing the
discomfort of satisfying bodily deficit
(anxiety) bodily deficit

Development of mental representations of self through your

relationships with others.
 Freuds Dual-Instinct Theory

EROS THANATOS
Instinct for Life Instincts for Death

e.g., instincts for e.g., instincts for

sex, aggression toward self,

(self-criticism, depression)
nurturance,
aggression toward others
affiliation (anger, prejudice)
 Contemporary Psychodynamic Perspective

1. The Unconscious.
Much of mental life is unconscious.

2. Psychodynamics.
Mental processes operate in parallel with one another.

3. Ego Development.
Healthy development involves moving from an immature socially dependent
personality to one that is more mature and interdependent with others.

4. Object Relations Theory.

Mental representations of self and other form in childhood that guide the persons
later social motivations and relationships.
Three Contemporary Views on the Unconscious

Freudian Adaptive Implicit

Unconscious Unconscious Motivation

Automatically e.g., sets goals, Automatically

appraises makes attend to
the judgments, emotionally
environment and initiates linked
action environmental
events
Adaptive Unconscious
Implicit Motivation
Repression
Suppression
Illustration of Psychodynamics

1. Repression

The process of forgetting information and an experience by ways that are

unconscious, unintentional, and automatic.

Repression is the egos counterforce to the ids demanding desires.

2. Suppression

The process of removing a thought from attention by ways that are conscious,
intentional, and deliberate.
Ego Development

A developmental progression toward what is possible in terms of psychological

growth, maturity, adjustment, prosocial interdependence, competence, and
autonomous functioning (Hartman, 1958; Loevinger, 1976)
 Motivational Importance of
Ego Development

The ego develops to

empower the person to
The ego develops to
defend against interact more
anxiety effectively and more
proactively with its
surroundings.
Object Relation Theory
The quality of any ones mental representation of relationships can be
characterized by three chief dimensions:
Object Relation Theory
Form the basis of motivational states (relatedness, anxiety)
that guide the adults interpersonal relationships
Object Relation Theory
Positive mental models of oneself, predict adult level of self-
reliance, social confidence, self-esteem and loving and
committed partnerships
Object Relation Theory
Negative mental models , forecast dysfunctional
interpersonal relationships
Criticisms of the Psychodynamic Approach
Many of Freuds concepts are not scientifically testable.

Motivational concepts arose from case studies of disturbed individuals.

Many points about human motivation and emotion was simply wrong. (e.g.,
Freuds theory of superego formation; Fisher & Greenberg, 1977)

Methods of data collection.

Psychoanalytic theory is woeful as a predictive device.

End of Chapter 14