PS51005B: Psychology of the Person – Week 13 Lecture Notes: Personality II – Psychoanalytic Approach (Goldsmiths BSc Psychology)

These notes summarise Week 13 of PS51005B: Psychology of the Person, focusing on Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality. This lecture introduces the structure of the mind, psychosexual development, and defence mechanisms, with critical evaluation of Freud’s legacy in psychology. Topics covered: • Freud’s tripartite structure: id, ego, superego • Psychic determinism and levels of consciousness • Psychosexual stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital • Complexes: Oedipus and Electra • Common defence mechanisms (e.g. repression, projection, sublimation) • Strengths and criticisms of the psychoanalytic approach • Multiple choice revision questions included Ideal for: • Psychology students exploring theories of personality • Revision on psychoanalytic and psychodynamic frameworks • Critical analysis of Freud’s influence on modern psychology