Question 1

Which element in Freud's personality theory contains the conscience?

Accepted Answer

The superego is the element in Freud's personality theory that contains the conscience. It represents our moral and ethical standards and is responsible for feelings of guilt and shame when we violate these standards.

Question 2

In the metaphor of the angel, the devil, and me, the devil is the _________.

Accepted Answer

The metaphor of the angel, the devil, and me is often used to represent the three parts of Sigmund Freud's structural model of the psyche: the superego, the ego, and the id. In this metaphor, the devil would represent the impulsive and instinctual drives of the id, while the angel would represent the moral and rationalizing tendencies of the superego. Therefore, the best choice would be A) id.

Question 3

For Freud, the moral guardian of personality is the ______.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the superego acts as the moral guardian of personality, representing the internalized ideals and values of society and culture. It mediates between the impulses of the id and the demands of the external world, enforcing morality and self-control through feelings of guilt and shame. The id represents the unconscious and primitive instincts, while the ego acts as the mediator between the id and the external world. The libido represents the energy of psychic life and is associated with sexual drive.

Question 4

An individual operating on the reality principle seeks ____________.

Accepted Answer

The reality principle operates on rational means for obtaining gratification, meaning that the individual prioritizes obtaining their desires through realistic and socially acceptable methods. This contrasts with the pleasure principle (choice A), which prioritizes immediate gratification regardless of consequences, and with revealing unconscious motivations (choice C) which is more in line with psychoanalytic theory rather than the reality principle. Perfect accomplishments (choice B) may be a goal, but it is not necessarily the primary focus of the reality principle.

Question 5

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual stages focus on several parts of the body, identified as _______zones, each of which is responsible for providing pleasurable feelings.

Accepted Answer

Freud's psychosexual stages are based on erogenous zones, which are areas of the body that become the primary focus of a child's pleasurable sensations during different stages of development. The stages include the oral stage, anal stage, phallic stage, latency stage, and genital stage, each of which is associated with a different erogenous zone.

Question 6

According to Freud, the result of conflict between the id and superego is ___________.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the conflict between the pleasure-seeking id and the moralistic superego can result in psychological tension and anxiety. This occurs when the individual's unconscious desires and impulses (id) clash with their sense of right and wrong (superego). The resulting anxiety serves as a signal to the conscious mind that a conflict exists, and it often prompts the individual to repress or suppress their impulses in order to avoid discomfort or guilt.

Question 7

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

The superego represents our internalized sense of morality and the standards of behavior that we have learned from our parents, culture, and society. It is responsible for feelings of guilt or shame when we violate these standards. Carolyn's feeling of guilt suggests that her superego was influencing her behavior, prompting her to make amends for her actions.

Question 8

According to Freud, the reality principle is the way in which ______.

Accepted Answer

The reality principle is one of the three key elements in Freud's model of personality. It refers to the way in which the ego tries to delay satisfying the id's desires until it can do so safely and successfully. This is in contrast to the pleasure principle, which refers to the id's instinctive drive to obtain immediate gratification and avoid pain. The ego operates on the reality principle by seeking to balance the desires of the id with the constraints of the external world.

Question 9

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 using sublimation, as she is channeling her anger into physical exercise rather than acting out in a destructive or aggressive way.

Question 10

In the metaphor of the angel, the devil, and me, the angel is the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The angel in this metaphor represents the superego, which is the part of the psyche that strives for moral and ethical behavior. It is the opposite of the devil, which represents the id, or the primal, instinctual part of the psyche. The "me" or "I" in the metaphor represents the ego, which strives to balance the demands of the id and the superego in a realistic and socially acceptable way.

Question 11

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 superego is in control here, as it represents the moral standards and ideals we acquire from both parents and society, driving us to adhere to societal norms and expectations, much like Anthony's self-discipline to achieve his goals.

Question 12

According to Freud, the second part of the personality is the ego, which gets its name from the Latin word for __________.

Accepted Answer

The ego is responsible for conscious decision-making and operates on the reality principle, trying to satisfy the id's desires in a way that is socially acceptable and realistic. Thus, it is appropriate that the ego gets its name from the Latin word for "I".

Question 13

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, blaming her instead of taking responsibility for his own actions. Projection is a defense mechanism where a person attributes their own unwanted or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or behaviors onto someone else.

Question 14

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 to justify her indulgence in a high-calorie dessert by convincing herself that the diet soda somehow negates the calories from the ice cream.

Question 15

The superego develops ____________.

Accepted Answer

The superego is the last of the three components of the psychic apparatus to develop (the other two being the id and the ego). It develops during the preschool years, typically between the ages of three and five, as children begin to internalize the moral and ethical standards of their parents and society.

Question 16

From what Latin phrase is the term superego derived?

Accepted Answer

The term "superego" is derived from the Latin phrase "over the self," which reflects its role in psychoanalytic theory as the part of the personality that holds internalized moral standards and ideals that we acquire from our parents and society.

Question 17

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 an individual refuses to acknowledge or accept the reality of a situation. In this case, Mahmoud's initial response of thinking there must be a mistake and insisting the doctor repeat the tests suggests that he is in a state of denial about his father's cancer diagnosis.

Question 18

What is Freud's term for the unconscious efforts by the ego to deny or distort reality for the purpose of protecting itself when conflict becomes too intense?

Accepted Answer

Freud's term for the unconscious efforts by the ego to deny or distort reality for the purpose of protecting itself when conflict becomes too intense is psychological defense mechanisms.

Question 19

When anxiety provoking memories are prevented from reaching conscious awareness, such as not remembering lying to parents, it is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Repression is the defense mechanism by which anxiety provoking memories or thoughts are pushed out of the conscious mind and prevented from reaching awareness. This can lead to forgetting or not remembering certain events.

Question 20

The ego operates according to the ______.

Accepted Answer

The ego operates according to the reality principle, which means it tries to satisfy the id's impulses in a way that is realistic and socially acceptable. It takes into account the external world and tries to balance the desires of the id with the constraints of the superego and the demands of reality.

Quiz 11: Theories of Personality