Glossary G-7idealistic principle (Freud) A reference to the ego-
ideal, a subsystem of the superego that tells people what
they should do.
idealized self-image (Horney) An attempt to solve
basic conflicts by adopting a belief in one’s godlike
qualities.
identity crisis Erickson’s term for a crucial period or
turning point in the life cycle that may result in either
more or less ego strength. Identity crises can be found in
those Eriksonian stages that follow the development of
identity, ordinarily during adolescence.
idiographic Approach to the study of personality
based on the single case.
incestuous symbiosis (Fromm) Extreme dependence
on a mother or mother substitute.
incongruence (Rogers) The perception of
discrepancies between organismic self, self-concept, and
ideal self.
individual psychology Theory of personality and
approach to psychotherapy founded by Alfred Adler.
individuality corollary Kelly’s assumption that people
have different experiences and therefore construe events
in different ways.
individuation Jung’s term for the process of becoming
a whole person, that is, an individual with a high level of
psychic development.
inductive method A form of reasoning based on
observation and measurement without preconceived
hypotheses.
infancy (Erikson) The first stage of psychosocial
development—one marked by the oral-sensory mode and
by the crisis of basic trust versus basic mistrust.
infantile stage (Freud) First four or five years of life
characterized by autoerotic or pleasure-seeking behavior
and consisting of the oral, anal, and phallic substages.
inferiority complex (Adler) Exaggerated or
abnormally strong feelings of inferiority, which usually
interfere with socially useful solutions to life’s problems.
instinct (Freud) From the German Trieb, meaning
drive or impulse; refers to an internal stimulus that
impels action or thought. The two primary instincts are
sex and aggression.
instinct (Jung) An unconscious physical impulse
toward action. Instincts are the physical counterpart of
archetypes.
instinctoid needs (Maslow) Needs that are innately
determined but that can be modified through learning.
The frustration of instinctoid needs leads to various types
of pathology.
intentionality (May) The underlying structure that
gives meaning to our experience.H
hero A Jungian archetype representing the myth of the
godlike man who conquers or vanquishes evil, usually in
the form of a monster, dragon, or serpent.
hesitating (Adler) Safeguarding tendency
characterized by vacillation or procrastination designed
to provide a person with the excuse “It’s too late now.”
hierarchy of needs Maslow’s concept that needs are
ordered in such a manner that those on a lower level
must be satisfied before higher level needs become
activated.
hoarding characters (Fromm) People who seek to
save and not let go of material possessions, feelings, or
ideas.
holistic-dynamic Maslow’s theory of personality,
which stresses both the unity of the organism and the
motivational aspects of personality.
human agency (Bandura) The ability of people to use
cognitive abilities to control their lives.
human dilemma (Fromm) The present condition of
humans who have the ability to reason but who lack
powerful instincts needed to adapt to a changing world.
humanistic psychoanalysis Fromm’s personality
theory that combines the basics of both psychoanalysis
and humanistic psychology.
humanistic-existential theories The primary
assumption of the humanistic (currently known as
“positive psychology”) approach is that people strive
toward meaning, growth, well-being, happiness, and
psychological health. Existential theories assume that not
only are we driven by a search for meaning, but also
negative experiences, such as failure, awareness of death,
death of a loved one, and anxiety are part of the human
condition and can foster psychological growth.
hypochondriasis Obsessive attention to one’s health;
typically characterized by imaginary symptoms.
hypothesis An assumption or educated guess that can
be scientifically tested.
hysteria (Freud) A mental disorder marked by the
conversion of repressed psychical elements into somatic
symptoms such as impotency, paralysis, or blindness,
when no physiological bases for these symptoms exist.
I
id (Freud) The region of personality that is alien to the
ego because it includes experiences that have never been
owned by the person. The id is the home base for all the
instincts, and its sole function is to seek pleasure
regardless of consequences.
ideal self (Rogers) One’s view of self as one would
like to be.