Tonya Wessman Case Study Extra Credit 1
Tonya Wessman
Professor Akiyama
Psych 220
3/1/15
Case Study #1: Sigmund Freud (Steve)
1. Does the Freudian perspective indicate that Steve’s relationships with women are internal or externally motivated? Who system of personality is most involved?
Steve’s actions are internally motivated by the id. Steve’s tendency fulfill his sexual desires is in accordance to the pleasure principle of the id. The id strives for immediate satisfaction of its needs and does not tolerate delay, thus Steve is driven to obtain instant gratification. The id propels us to achieve our own primitive desires without regard to anyone else; it’s a selfish force operating to obtain the most primal urge, sex.
5. At what Freudian stage is Steve fixated? Provide evidence for your answer. Describe the stage and how it contributed to the fixation. What would have caused this fixation?
Based on the Freudian perspective, Steve is likely fixated on the phallic stage. It’s mentioned in the case study that Steve had a strained relationship with his mother as a child, he lacked his mothers affection, yet he craved it. Now in adulthood, he tends to use women for sex and affection. On Freudian principles, the conflict Steve has with his mother would be attributed to the Oedipus complex, or the unconscious desire of a boy for his mother. At least Freud would see this as a sign that Steve has an unconscious desire for his mother in a sexual manner that has now affected his adult life. This unresolved conflict has left Steve unable to be have a successful relationship with the opposite sex. Instead he has become narcissistic, as he attempts to reassure himself through sex to avoid feeling inadequate and inferior.
6. Others might express their behavior differently than Steve if they were fixated at the same stage. Give some examples of how they might behave.
A women fixated on the phallic stage would be attributed to the Electra complex, the unconscious desire of a girl for her father,
Professor Akiyama
Psych 220
3/1/15
Case Study #1: Sigmund Freud (Steve)
1. Does the Freudian perspective indicate that Steve’s relationships with women are internal or externally motivated? Who system of personality is most involved?
Steve’s actions are internally motivated by the id. Steve’s tendency fulfill his sexual desires is in accordance to the pleasure principle of the id. The id strives for immediate satisfaction of its needs and does not tolerate delay, thus Steve is driven to obtain instant gratification. The id propels us to achieve our own primitive desires without regard to anyone else; it’s a selfish force operating to obtain the most primal urge, sex.
5. At what Freudian stage is Steve fixated? Provide evidence for your answer. Describe the stage and how it contributed to the fixation. What would have caused this fixation?
Based on the Freudian perspective, Steve is likely fixated on the phallic stage. It’s mentioned in the case study that Steve had a strained relationship with his mother as a child, he lacked his mothers affection, yet he craved it. Now in adulthood, he tends to use women for sex and affection. On Freudian principles, the conflict Steve has with his mother would be attributed to the Oedipus complex, or the unconscious desire of a boy for his mother. At least Freud would see this as a sign that Steve has an unconscious desire for his mother in a sexual manner that has now affected his adult life. This unresolved conflict has left Steve unable to be have a successful relationship with the opposite sex. Instead he has become narcissistic, as he attempts to reassure himself through sex to avoid feeling inadequate and inferior.
6. Others might express their behavior differently than Steve if they were fixated at the same stage. Give some examples of how they might behave.
A women fixated on the phallic stage would be attributed to the Electra complex, the unconscious desire of a girl for her father,