Psychoanalytical Approach

Sigmund Freuds’s theories between the 1890’s and the 1930’s constructed the
foundations by which the psychoanalytical approach was formed. These theories were
developed as a result of Freud’s therapy sessions with patients. This approach is
underpinned by a series of assumptions;

Ÿ Our adult behaviour is determined as a result of our childhood experiences and

thus all behaviour has a cause usually unconscious motives.
Ÿ Our personality is made up of three parts; the id, the ego and the super-ego.
Ÿ The id is said to act according to the pleasure principle, the selfish part of our
personality which seeks constant satisfaction with complete disregard for
consequence.
Ÿ The super-ego is said to be our ’conscience’ and is in constant conflict with the id
in order to maintain a socially acceptable pattern of behaviour.
Ÿ The ego operates based on the reality principle. It is in a constant struggle to
balance the influences of both the id and the super-ego in order to make decisions
which take into account both primitive needs and reality.
Ÿ Behaviour is influenced by two instinctual drives: Eros - life instinct, and
Thanatos - the death wish both of which come from the id.

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With this being said, our personality is formed as these drives are altered by differing
conflicts as we progress through childhood.

These were categorized into stages called Psychosexual Development.

The first of which is the Oral Stage.

This stage lasts approx one and a half years and begins at birth where the child is
fixated with the pleasure of sucking and having things within its mouth. A child at this
stage whom was underexposed to this is said by Freud to develop a personality
characterized by sarcasm, envy, and pessimism. Conversely, the overindulged child
will experience traits such as optimism and admiration for others.

The Anal Stage

At one and one-half years, the child enters the anal stage. At this stage the child
becomes obsessed with the retention and expulsion of bodily fluids. This stage
highlights the conflict between the 3 parts of the personality outlined by Freud, in the
child’s pleasure to choose freely to retain and expulse, while being balanced by the
practical and social implications of doing so.