defense mechanismsStrategies used by the ego to
stave off threats originating internally, from one’sid
or superego. (Also referred to asego defenses.)
egoThe organized, rational component of the
personality. The ego uses perception, learning, plan-
ning, and so forth to satisfy the needs of the organism
while at the same time preserving its place in the world.
ego analysisAn alternative to traditional psy-
choanalysisthatischaracterizedbyrelativedeem-
phases on the role of the unconscious and the
exploration of childhood experience and relative
emphases on the adaptive functions of the ego
(e.g., perception, learning, memory) and the
exploration of contemporary problems in living.
fixationThe defense mechanism that occurs when
the frustration and anxiety of the next psychosexual
stage cause the individual to be arrested at his or her
current level of psychosexual development.
free associationA cardinal rule of psychoanalysis
in which patients are required to say anything and
everything that comes to mind. Over time, free
association is believed to shed light on unconscious
thoughts and urges.
genital stageThe psychosexual stage that follows
the onset of adolescence and ideally culminates in
a mature expression of sexuality.
idThe deep, inaccessible portion of the person-
ality that contains the instinctual urges. The id is
without order, logic, or morals and operates solely
to gratify the instinctual urges.
insightIn psychoanalytic psychotherapy, a com-
plete understanding of the unconscious determi-
nants of one’s irrational and problematic thoughts,
feelings, or behaviors.
interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)Abrief,
insight-oriented therapy that is psychodynamic
in tone. IPT has been applied primarily to the
treatment of depression and is considered a“well-
established”empirically supported treatment
(EVT) for this disorder.
interpretationA methodin whichthepsychoanalyst
reveals the unconscious meanings of the patient’s
thoughts and behaviors, thus helping the patient to
achieve insight. Interpretation is the cornerstone of
nearly every form of dynamic psychotherapy.
latency stageThe psychosexual stage that extends
from about 5 to 12 years of age, during which the
child is characterized by a lack of overt sexual
activity (and perhaps even a negative orientation
toward anything sexual).
latent contentThe symbolic meaning of a
dream’s events.
life instincts (Eros)Theinnatedrivesthatare
responsible for all of the positive or constructive
aspects of behavior.
manifest contentWhat actually happens during a
dream.
moral anxietyAnxiety that arises from the concern
that a person will act in a way that conflicts with the
standards of his or her conscience.
neurotic anxietyAnxiety that stems from the fear
that a person’s id impulses will be expressed
unchecked, thus resulting in trouble.
Oedipus complexThe phase in which a child
feels sexual attraction for the parent of the opposite
sex and feelings of hostility toward the parent of
the same sex. The superego emerges from the
resolution of this complex.
oral stageThe psychosexual stage spanning about
the first year of life, during which the mouth is the
chief source of pleasure and satisfaction.
phallic stageThe psychosexual stage that extends
from about 3 to 7 years of age, during which the sexual
organs become the primary source of gratification.
pleasure principleThe rule of conduct by which
one seeks pleasure and avoids pain. The id operates
according to the pleasure principle.
primary processThe irrational and impulsive
type of thinking that characterizes the id.
projectionThe defense mechanism that occurs
when a person attributes his or her unconscious
feelings to someone else.
psychic determinismA major assumption of
Freudian theory that holds that everything one
does has meaning and is goal directed.368 CHAPTER 12