Question 1

When Freud referred to the sexual drive of babies and young children, to what was he really referring?

Accepted Answer

Freud's concept of the sexual drive in children refers to their focus on bodily sensations and the pleasure derived from them, which is part of his theory of psychosexual development.

Question 2

Which element in Freud's personality theory corresponds to the common notion of the conscience?

Accepted Answer

The superego corresponds to the common notion of the conscience in Freud's personality theory. The superego acts as a moral compass and enforces society's norms and values on the behavior of an individual. It develops through internalizing the rules and expectations of authority figures such as parents, teachers, and peers.

Question 3

Anthony is sick of writing papers and studying for tests, but he knows he needs a college degree if he wants to be successful in his chosen career. So every morning Anthony gives himself a dressing down-in essence yelling at himself-to make himself get out of bed and go to classes, and every evening he does the same thing to get himself to do his work. According to Freud, which personality structure is in control here?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Anthony is sick of writing papers and...

Question 4

When Candace ordered a hot fudge sundae and a diet soda, she told herself that the calories from the ice cream really were not a big deal because the diet soda sort of balanced it all out. Which of Freud's defense mechanisms is motivating Candace?

Accepted Answer

Candace is using rationalization, which is a defense mechanism that involves creating a false but plausible explanation for an event or behavior in order to justify or make it acceptable. In this case, Candace is telling herself that the calories from the ice cream are not a big deal because she is drinking a diet soda, which is a way to make the unhealthy choice seem more reasonable.

Question 5

Yongmei is studying for her math test. Her boyfriend Marcus asks if she can go to the movies with him. She would love to go, but she knows she has to study for the math test in order to pass the class. What part of Yongmei's personality will say, "You must stay home and study because passing the class is necessary for you to graduate"?

Accepted Answer

The superego is the part of the personality that represents the moral conscience and wants individuals to act in a socially responsible manner. Therefore, it is the superego that would remind Yongmei of the importance of passing the class and encourage her to stay home and study instead of going to the movies with her boyfriend.

Question 6

According to Freud, a boy's sexual attachment to his mother and jealousy of his father is called

Accepted Answer

The Oedipus complex, according to Freud, is a psychological phenomenon in which a boy develops a sexual attraction towards his mother and a sense of rivalry with his father. This often arises during the phallic stage of psychosexual development, which typically occurs between the ages of three and six.

Question 7

For Freud, the moral guardian of personality is the

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's structural theory of personality, the superego is the component that acts as a moral guardian, representing the internalized ideals and values of society and parents. It works to suppress and control the impulses of the id to ensure that behavior aligns with ethical and moral standards.

Question 8

In the metaphor "the angel, the devil, and me," the angel is the

Accepted Answer

In psychoanalytic theory, the superego represents our internalized sense of morality and values, often referred to as the "angel on our shoulder" or our conscience. The devil represents the id, which is the primitive part of our psyche that is driven by instinctual desires and impulses. The ego, on the other hand, is the mediator between the two, seeking to balance our desires and impulses with the constraints of reality and morality. Therefore, in the metaphor "the angel, the devil, and me," the angel would represent the superego.

Question 9

A Freudian analyst would interpret a church-going person who views premarital sex as a sin as being ruled by his or her

Accepted Answer

The answer of A Freudian analyst would interpret a church-going...

Question 10

What did Freud perceive as the outcome of successful resolution of the Oedipus complex?

Accepted Answer

Identification with the same-sex parent is seen as the outcome of successfully resolving the Oedipus complex according to Freud. This process involves the child adopting the characteristics, values, and behaviors of the same-sex parent.

Question 11

Four-year-old Larry squeezes between his Mommy and Daddy as they sit together on the couch. He cuddles with Mommy and pushes Daddy away. This illustrates which Freudian concept?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Four-year-old Larry squeezes between his Mommy and...

Question 12

Mahmoud was just told that his father has cancer. Mahmoud's first response is that there must be a mistake, and he demands that the doctor repeat his tests. Which defense mechanism is at work here?

Accepted Answer

Denial is a defense mechanism where a person refuses to accept or acknowledge the reality of a situation. In this case, Mahmoud is in denial that his father has cancer, asking the doctor to repeat the tests and implying that there must be a mistake.

Question 13

In the metaphor "the angel, the devil, and me," the devil is the

Accepted Answer

The id is the part of a person's unconscious mind that is responsible for their basic and instinctive drives, such as thirst, hunger, and the desire for pleasure. The devil in this metaphor represents the impulsive and pleasure-seeking side of the person, which is characteristic of the id.

Question 14

Frank and Gina are looking at an abstract painting in a museum. Gina describes objects and people she thinks she sees in the painting. Frank says, "It's a bunch of paint thrown on a canvas." Gina responds, "No, there is so much here that you just don't see." During lunch they agree that their experience reminds them of what concept they learned in introductory psychology?

Accepted Answer

Gina's interpretation of the abstract painting, seeing specific objects and people, is reminiscent of projective testing in psychology. Projective tests involve presenting individuals with ambiguous stimuli, such as inkblots or abstract images, and asking them to describe what they see. The theory behind these tests is that people project their own feelings, desires, and thoughts onto the ambiguous stimuli, revealing aspects of their personality. Frank and Gina's differing perceptions of the painting illustrate this concept, as they each project their own interpretations onto the abstract artwork.

Question 15

Carolyn took home some printer paper from the office. Later, she felt guilty for stealing it, so she brought some paper to work to replace what she took. Freud would suggest that Carolyn's ________ was influencing her motives and behavior.

Accepted Answer

Freud believed that the superego, which represents society's norms and values, can influence a person's behavior and motivate them to act in a way that aligns with their moral conscience. In this case, Carolyn's guilt for stealing the paper may have been driven by her superego, which then motivated her to replace the paper to rectify her wrongdoing.

Question 16

There were three friends. Maybe you've heard of them! Harry was rational, logical, and cunning. Hermione was rule-oriented, moral, and always ethical. Ron was pleasure- seeking, found it hard to delay gratification, and usually just did what he wanted. According to Freud, Hermione was mostly

Accepted Answer

According to Freudian theory, the psyche is composed of three parts: id, ego, and superego. The id is the primitive and instinctual part of the psyche, concerned with gratifying basic needs and desires. The ego is the rational and pragmatic part, mediating between the id's impulses and the demands of reality. The superego is the moral and ethical part, reflecting societal and cultural values and norms. Hermione, with her strong rule-oriented and ethical stance, would best fit the characteristics of the superego.

Question 17

Smith and Dr. Jones are at a lecture given by their mentor. Dr. Smith thinks the talk is horrible, but rather than deal with the fact that he is critical of his mentor's work, he instead accuses Dr. Jones of thinking the talk was terrible. Dr. Smith feels this way due to

Accepted Answer

Dr. Smith is projecting his own negative feelings about the talk onto Dr. Jones and accusing him of thinking the same thing. This is a defense mechanism known as projection, which involves attributing our own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives onto someone else.

Question 18

Jeromy has been having an affair with another woman. One afternoon his wife came home later than usual and Jeromy became angry-accusing his wife of infidelity. Which defense mechanism is behind Jeromy's accusation?

Accepted Answer

Jeromy is projecting his own infidelity onto his wife by accusing her of being unfaithful. This is a common defense mechanism, where a person attributes their own unacceptable thoughts and feelings onto others.

Question 19

________ occurs when you yell at your dog after receiving an F on a term paper.

Accepted Answer

Displacement occurs when one redirects their negative feelings or impulses towards a less threatening target. In this case, the individual is angry about their grade on a term paper, but instead of expressing that to their professor or in a productive way, they yell at their dog as a less threatening outlet for their frustration.

Question 20

Donita is angry with her boss, so she left work a little early in order to run an extra mile before it gets dark. Which defense mechanism is Donita employing?

Accepted Answer

Donita is channeling her anger into a physical activity, which is a form of sublimation - a defense mechanism where one redirects their emotions into a more socially acceptable behavior.

Quiz 10: Personality