Harriet Has Many Interests, Shifted College Majors Several Times, and Ended

question 23

Multiple Choice

Harriet has many interests, shifted college majors several times, and ended up with a sociology degree. Now, at age 23, she is selling cologne in a department store and trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. Today, Harriet's life path is:

• A) abnormal.
• B) fairly normal.
• C) a sign of immaturity.
• D) condemned by our culture.

---

Definitions:

Psychosexual Stage

A concept in Freudian psychology that describes five stages of child development, each characterized by a different focus of libido (sexual drive).

Superego

In psychoanalytic theory, the part of the personality that acts as a moral center, enforcing ethical conduct and striving for perfection.

Psychological Development

The changes in cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities and behaviors across the lifespan, influenced by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.

Defense Mechanism

Psychological strategies used unconsciously by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety and to manage emotional conflict and internal or external stressors.