Psychology: More Freud; Maslow & Others; Character Questionnaire

Activity: Let's recap some key concepts on Freud. Call off a number 1-3. Get into your group's number and discuss the key information you learned about Freud (& the other psychologists). Now is the time to test what you remember, what you learned, etc. If your group has questions--answer them.

If everyone knows and remembers everything fine, but together come up with a discussion question--perhaps linking Freud to your own lives or our culture--then use the notecard to ask an intelligent discussion question about the material for the class to discuss next time--we'll cover these questions next class. Turn in your index card.

More Freudian Theory

Here's a bit more information about Freud's theories. Feel free to research this as much as you'd like.
To learn more about Freud as a person and historical figure, click there.

Mental Defenses

Repression: When painful memories or anxiety or negative thoughts occur, repression is the process of pushing or keeping them out of the mind. Be aware a person is not AWARE of Repression, as it is a subconscious event. The goal in psychoanalysis is that these repressed memories or thoughts break through to the conscious level where they can be worked on and resolved.

Suppression: Similar to repression, except that this is in the conscious mind. A person chooses not to think about a desire, wish, etc. instead of seeking for it. (Puts it out of the mind). We do this often when we want to change the subject of a conversation because its too difficult to bear, or if the topic makes us uncomfortable.

Projection: when someone consciously experiences an unconscious drive, wish, or feeling as though it belongs to someone else. A person with intense unconscious anger may project that anger onto her friend and think it is her friend who is angry, for example.

Rationalization: to explain away anxiety provoking thoughts or feelings. Usually a person who cannot face an aspect of himself, may rationalize his actions as being normal  or okay.

Reaction Formation: A person says or does the exact opposite of how he or she really feels. A desire or wish may be unacceptable, so this is turned into its exact opposite. We see a lot of this sort of thing when evangelists or preachers go on about hating homosexuality, then later are caught engaging in that sort of behavior. Before the psyche breaks down, the individual is using reaction formation to keep unwanted desires at bay.

Displacement: When an unacceptable desire is redirected toward a more acceptable alternative. Instead of unconsciously desiring sex, a woman might buy a warehouse full of shoes. Shoes are, of course, a symbol for a vagina (something that allows something else to fit into it...)

Sublimation: Like displacement, when you sublimate a desire you turn unacceptable urges into their opposites - an acceptable outlet for ones feelings/desires. Artists often do this when they channel their rage or anger into their art or music. Sylvia Plath is a good example of how her disturbed subconscious bubbled up into her poetry. In sublimation, for example, sexual frustration might end up as an angry heavy-metal album...what might we say about Lady Gaga or Marilyn Manson?

Need a little motivation this morning?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the concept of self-actualization

Please read and examine the psychologists and theories in the packet provided for you. See HOMEWORK below.

IN THE LAB:

1. Take a personality test for yourself--OR...take a personality test for one of your characters in a story you are writing or have written. Pretend to be that character and answer as your character would answer. You might get to know her or him better. This can be helpful in fleshing out your character's backstory. Go ahead and try it!

2. Watch the psychology videos and take some notes if you care to remember any of this. Perhaps it was all a dream anyway. What does that say about you?

3. After taking your personality test, work on revising a story or creating a new one about yourself (using the test to reflect). Use some of what you learned today in a short story, poem, essay, or play/scene. Use your time in the lab (whatever we have left today) to write. [If you have drafts for me from last week, please turn those in!] The Standard Creative Writing Rubric applies to the drafts you create.

Personality tests
Personality test #1
Personality test #2
Jungian Personality Test

Psychology videos:
Rorschach & Freudians
Consciousness
Cognition
The Chemical Mind
Meet Your Master: Getting to Know Your Brain
How to Train Your Brain: Behavioral Psychology
The Power of Motivation

After clicking these links and reading your packet a bit, and/or taking notes, please read the handout on Maslow, Klein, and then cheer yourself up by knowing you are a good person by reading Dorothy Rowe. Self actualize your writing and get something written.

Turn in any drafts you wrote from the last few weeks by the end of class.

HOMEWORK: Complete the packet by reading and studying it. Keep writing. Use various theories to create stories, plays, scenes, poems, essays, etc.

By the way, Geva's Young Playwright Contest is due March 9th. Please submit 10-minute scripts to Geva. You know what would make a cool 10-minute play? Two characters talkin' about psychology. Use what you learned today to write a 10-minute play for Geva's contest. You have until the 9th to complete it and submit it! (or submit one you've already written...!)