egopszichológia

Ego psychology is a school of psychoanalytic thought that emerged in the mid-20th century. It shifted the focus from the id, the primal drives and instincts, to the ego and its functions. Key figures associated with ego psychology include Anna Freud, Heinz Hartmann, and Erik Erikson.

Ego psychology emphasizes the ego's role in mediating between the id's demands, the superego's moral constraints, and the realities of the external world. It posits that the ego is not merely a passive defense mechanism but possesses autonomous functions, such as perception, memory, thinking, and reality testing, which develop independently of conflict. The ego's primary goal is adaptation and maintaining psychological equilibrium.

Anna Freud elaborated on defense mechanisms, detailing how the ego uses them to manage anxiety and protect itself from overwhelming internal or external pressures. Heinz Hartmann introduced the concept of the "average expectable environment," suggesting that a nurturing environment allows for the development of the ego's conflict-free autonomous ego sphere. Erik Erikson expanded psychoanalytic theory by proposing a lifespan model of psychosocial development, where each stage presents a unique developmental crisis that the ego must resolve for healthy personality formation. Ego psychology views psychopathology as arising from an ego that is overwhelmed or unable to adapt effectively to its environment. Therapeutic interventions focus on strengthening the ego's adaptive capacities and improving its functioning.