DenialDenial is the defense mechanism in which a painful internal or external reality is denied. Weak-willed or pure person easily use denial to escape reality.

RepressionThis is the primary defense mechanism in which a thought, idea, or wish is dismissed from consciousness. It is so traumatic and threatening to the self that it is buried in unconscious, stored away in the depths of the mind.

SublimationIt is a defense mechanism in which the original expression of the instinct is replaced by a higher cultural goal. Their behavior is accepted by society.

These are a set of mental strategies developed by an

individual to reduce anxiety from the

conflicts between the id, ego and superego. In order to protect self-esteem, they function

to exclude the individual from awareness of

thought, wish or feeling.

ProjectionProjection is attributing own’s thoughts, motives or feelings to another person.

Reaction Formation Reaction Formation is the defense mechanism which the opposite of an unacceptable impulse is expressed. It is evident in socially desirable behavior that is rigid and exaggerated. Person who uses reaction formation cannot admit to other feelings.

DisplacementDiverting emotional feelings (usually negative feelings like anger) from their original source and then express those negative feelings to person or object that poses no threat.

RationalisationRationalisation is explaining unacceptable behavior with rational reason. People tend to attribute successful achievement to their own qualities and skills and blame failures on other people or outside forces.

RegressionRegression is a reversion to immature patterns of behavior. They abandon using the coping strategies available at present and revert to the patterns of behavior they used in their earlier development which may result in childish behavior and mannerisms

Oral Stage

‧The primary source of interaction occurs through the mouth.

‧Infants get satisfaction from putting things in their mouths, to satisfy Id demands.

‧The infant shows behaviors such as sucking and biting and is dependent upon their caretaker’s responsibility for feeding them.

‧Conflict

‧Weaning process refers to the decrease of dependence upon caretakers.

‧If fixation occurs, individuals would have issues with dependency or aggression.

‧Oral fixation often results in the development of oral personalities, and is seen in behaviors like smoking and nail biting when under stress.

‧Infants who over-indulge at this stage show oral receptive characteristics in adulthood, associated with traits such as being trustworthy and gullible.

‧Adults who did not engage in enough oral activities as an infant show signs of an oral aggressive personality type and traits like having exploitative attitudes towards others.

‧Freud argues that an infant who has received sufficient oral stimulation will continue into the next stage.

Anal Stage

‧The Superego begins to develop. This occurs as the caregivers help children to establish self-control through toilet training.

‧Freud said, children can find pleasure from the retention and expulsion of feces.

‧Conflicts

‧The conflict at this stage depends on the way the child control their anus.

‧Depending on the fixation at this stage, one of two different personality types can arise.

‧The anal-retentive type personality type, which has characteristic traits such as being stubborn, mean, perfectionist, tidy and punctual. This is referred to as ‘collector’ behaviour.

‧The anal-expulsive personality type is thought to be due to strict parenting. Characteristics of this personality are being destructive, disorganized and valuing oneself over others. When in love, this personality type may cause the individual to see others as objects to be possessed.

‧This stage is important to determine the personality of an adult, however if the children can overcome the conflicts, they can grow to be competent, productive and creative adults.

Phallic Stage

The most crucial sexual conflict occurs in this stage as children become more interested in genitals where the libido is now centred.

‧Phallic fixation develops characteristics of being reckless, self-assured, and narcissistic as well as excessively vain and proud.

‧The failure to resolve the conflict can lead to a development of homosexuality, and make a person afraid or incapable of close love.

‧It is suggested that fixation could be a root cause of homosexuality.

‧To eventually resolute the conflict, young males and young females have to pass into the latency period, a period of libidinal dormancy.

Latency Stage

‧The latency phase is the most stable phase, and is able to address the balance of morals as the Superego fully develops.

‧Libido deactivates and children devote their energy to learning social communication techniques (Etchegoyen, 1993).

‧Superego provides guideline to what is morally right or wrong, as a result, it becomes the resolution of Phallic fixation.

‧Conflicts

‧Anna Freud (1965, as cited in Midgley, 2011) stated that developmental problems such as trouble adjusting to their social group (for example, School Phobia) would occur, if the Phallic fixation remains in this stage.

‧However, alternative problem arises after fixation is resolved. For example, males are more likely to display anti-social behaviours.

Genital Stage

‧The Libido reactivates during this stage as the hormones increase.

‧As the genitals fully develop, adolescents show more rational and mature form of love and sexual interests, and begin to communicate with opposite sex peers.

‧The more energy the individuals contribute to the libido in their genitals, the greater their capacity is to achieve heterosexual love.

‧With completion of the other psychosexual stages, an individual is more likely to become a well-balanced, warm and caring adult. Whereas in the earlier stage the focus was exclusively on individual needs, the genital stage demonstrates interests in the welfare of others.

‧Conflicts

‧If the person remains fixated on the phallic stage, this can cause repression to occur. Resolution of the genital stage, depends on the resolution of the phallic stage.

Young Males Young Females

• The Oedipus conflict occurs when the libido energy transfers from the anus to the genitals.Naturally, the young male develops sexual feelings for their mother.

• The child acknowledges that their mother has no penis and believes that their father will remove theirs.

• This castration fear outstrips their desires for their mother. The young male will resolve to possess their mother vicariously by identifying and imitating the father: this identification indoctrinates the young males into the appropriate sexual role for their gender.

• The Electra complex occurs when young female discover that they do not have penis, resulting in an envious love for their father as they desire penis for their own.

•Believing they have been castrated, they blame their mother for the perceived castration, and develop penis envy.

• Although Freud was unclear on this point, he believed they learn their gender role by identifying with the mothers in an attempt topossess their father vicariously.

By, Louise Brown, Hiu Fung Kelvin Chow, Jess Delaney, Choi Wah Karen Kan, Ka Chun Denis Kwok, Yuen Ting Joyce Lam, Ka Yin Eddie Lai, Jiang Jauris Li, Matthew

Lomas, Sen Hin Edgar Tse