Question 1

During what stage did Freud believe the child represses sexual desires and focuses his or her energy on learning social and intellectual skills?

Accepted Answer

During the Latency stage, Freud believed that children repress their sexual desires and focus on developing social and intellectual skills.

Question 2

Adults in the environment teach the child to develop a conscience that restricts the satisfaction of desires and makes the child feel guilty for disobeying. What did Freud call this aspect of his theory?

Accepted Answer

The aspect of Freud's theory described in the question is the Superego. The Superego develops as a result of socialization and the internalization of societal norms and values, and it serves as a moral compass for the individual by regulating and restricting the impulses of the Id.

Question 3

What principle describes an individual's ability to seek satisfaction within the constraints imposed by the superego?

Accepted Answer

The reality principle describes an individual's ability to seek satisfaction within the constraints imposed by the superego. The superego represents an individual's internalized ideals and standards of behavior, which may conflict with the desires of the id (associated with the pleasure principle). The reality principle seeks to find a balance between these conflicting forces in order to achieve long-term satisfaction and success in society. The other answer choices (pleasure principle, libido principle, balancing principle) do not accurately describe this concept.

Question 4

According to Freud, what stage of development are infants in when sexual sensations are concentrated in the mouth?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, infants are in the oral stage of development when sexual sensations are concentrated in the mouth. This stage typically occurs from birth to 18 months old. During this stage, the primary source of pleasure and gratification is oral stimulation, such as sucking, biting, and chewing.

Question 5

Your roommate is a smoker. He really would like to quit and has been reading about Freudian theory. He thinks that he is fixated at the oral stage and that he should make an appointment with a clinician who specialises in psychosexual therapy. What would you tell him?

Accepted Answer

Despite its influence on the field of psychology, Freudian theory is largely outdated and unsupported by empirical evidence. Most modern clinicians do not adhere to it. Therefore, it is unlikely that your roommate will be able to find a clinician who specializes in psychosexual therapy based on Freudian theory. It would be wiser for him to seek other forms of therapy or support for quitting smoking.

Question 6

According to Freud, what balances the demands of the id and the superego?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the ego is the part of the personality that mediates between the demands of the id and the constraints of the superego. It operates based on the reality principle, making rational decisions to satisfy the id's desires in ways that are acceptable to the superego and the external world.

Question 7

Freud proposed that all children desired to replace their same-sex parent and enjoy sexual access to the other-sex parent. What was Freud's term for this concept?

Accepted Answer

Freud's term for the concept of children's desire to replace their same-sex parent and have sexual access to the other-sex parent is the Oedipus complex.

Question 8

Nisha constantly chews on pencils and straws. According to Freud, Nisha _____.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychosexual theory, the oral stage is the first stage of development, from birth to 18 months, where infants derive pleasure primarily from oral activities like sucking and chewing. Those who are fixated in this stage may show behaviors such as constantly chewing on pencils and straws. Therefore, the best choice is D - Nisha is fixated, or stuck, in the oral stage of development.

Question 9

Which of the following is a major criticism of Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of human development?

Accepted Answer

Freud's theory has been criticized for placing too much emphasis on sexual and aggressive drives as the primary motivations behind human behavior and development. Many scholars argue that this reductionist approach oversimplifies the complex nature of human development and neglects the role of other factors such as culture, socialization, and individual temperament.

Question 10

What operates on the pleasure principle and constantly seeks immediate and unrestrained satisfaction?

Accepted Answer

The pleasure principle is a concept in psychoanalytic theory, and the id is the part of the psyche that operates on this principle. The id is responsible for our primitive impulses and desires, and it seeks immediate gratification without regard for the consequences. It can be seen as the most basic and instinctual part of our personality.

Question 11

According to Freud, what is the most important stage in his theory?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, the most important stage in his theory is the phallic stage, which occurs between the ages of three and six. This is when children become aware of their genitals and develop a sense of sexual identity. It is also during this stage that the Oedipus and Electra complexes are believed to occur, which shape a child's relationships and personality for life.

Question 12

Which of the following is the correct order of Erik Erikson's third, fourth and fifth stages of psychosocial development?

Accepted Answer

The correct order of Erik Erikson's third, fourth and fifth stages of psychosocial development is initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. identity confusion. Option A is incorrect as it includes generativity vs. stagnation which is the seventh stage of psychosocial development. Option B includes ego integrity vs. despair which is the eighth and final stage of psychosocial development. Option C includes trust vs. mistrust and autonomy vs. shame and doubt which are the first and second stages of psychosocial development respectively.

Question 13

According to Freud, what stage of development are infants in when sexual sensations are concentrated in the anus?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, the stage when sexual sensations are concentrated in the anus is the anal stage. This typically begins around 18 months and lasts until about 3 years of age. During this stage, children may experience pleasure from holding in or releasing feces, and parents' attitudes towards potty training may influence their personality development.

Question 14

Freud proposed that all children experience a(n) ____ in which they desire to displace their ____ parent and enjoy sexual access to the ____ parent.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's theory of psychosexual development, the Oedipus complex occurs during the phallic stage (ages 3-6) in which children go through a process of identifying with the same-sex parent and developing sexual feelings towards the opposite-sex parent. The desire to displace the same-sex parent and have sexual access to the opposite-sex parent is known as the Oedipus complex. Option A is incorrect because Thanatos drive refers to the death instinct, which is not directly related to Freud's theory of the Oedipus complex. Option C is incorrect because catharsis refers to the release of emotions or tension, and is not specific to Freud's theory of psychosexual development. Option D is incorrect because a Freudian slip refers to an unintentional error or mistake that reveals an unconscious thought, and is not related to the Oedipus complex.

Question 15

Unlike Freud, Erikson proposed that human development continues ____ and is not solely determined by the years of childhood.

Accepted Answer

Erikson's theory of psychosocial development includes eight stages that span the entire lifespan, from infancy to old age. Each stage is characterized by a unique psychological crisis or challenge that must be resolved in order for an individual to successfully progress to the next stage of development. Therefore, Erikson proposed that human development continues throughout the lifespan and is not solely determined by the years of childhood, which sets him apart from Freud's belief in fixed developmental stages that end in childhood.

Question 16

According to Freud, when did everything important to development occur?

Accepted Answer

According to Freud, everything important to development occurs before adulthood, specifically during the early stages of childhood (oral, anal, and phallic stages) and before the latency stage.

Question 17

During which stage did Freud believe that the individual's sexual drive re-emerges, but this time in a way approved by the superego and directed towards persons outside the family?

Accepted Answer

During the Genital stage, Freud believed that the individual's sexual drive re-emerges and is directed towards persons outside the family, but this time it is approved by the superego. This is considered to be the final stage of psychosexual development.

Question 18

Today, what is the status of Freud's stages of psychosexual stages in explaining human development?

Accepted Answer

While Freud's stages of psychosexual development were influential in the field of psychology, contemporary research and theories have led to a shift away from this particular theory as the definitive explanation for human development.

Question 19

Daquon, who is 4 years old, at times notices that his penis becomes erect and is fascinated by this 'strange' phenomenon. According to Freud, Daquon is in the ____ stage of psychosexual development.

Accepted Answer

According to Freud's psychosexual stages of development, the phallic stage (ages 3-6 years) is characterized by a child's interest and fascination with their genitalia, becoming aware of the differences between male and female anatomy, and developing a sexual attraction towards the parent of the opposite sex (Oedipus complex for boys and Electra complex for girls). Therefore, Daquon's fascination with his erect penis indicates that he is in the phallic stage.

Question 20

Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory comprises ______ stages.

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson's psychosocial theory comprises eight psychosocial stages.

Quiz 1: A Cultural Approach to Human Development