5. APPROACHES (The Psychodynamic Approach (Part 1))

Question 1

What is the main driving force behind human behaviour according to the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

The unconscious mind.

Question 2

What did Freud believe about early childhood experiences?

Answer 2

He believed that early childhood experiences determine our personality and adult behaviour.

Question 3

What is the psychodynamic definition of the unconscious mind?

Answer 3

A part of the mind that is not accessible to the individual, holding repressed thoughts, desires, and memories, which still influence behaviour.

Question 4

What analogy did Freud use to explain the unconscious mind?

Answer 4

The iceberg analogy—where the conscious mind is the tip above the surface and the unconscious mind is the larger, submerged part.

Question 5

What are the three components of Freud’s structure of personality?

Answer 5

The id, the ego, and the superego.

Question 6

What is the primary function of the id?

Answer 6

The id operates on the pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification of primal desires such as sexual and aggressive urges.

Question 7

What does the ego do in Freud’s model of the personality?

Answer 7

The ego operates on the reality principle, mediating between the desires of the id and the constraints of the superego.

Question 8

What role does the superego play in personality?

Answer 8

The superego represents our conscience and moral standards, guiding us to act according to learned rules and ideals.

Question 9

How does anxiety arise according to Freud?

Answer 9

Anxiety arises from unconscious conflict between the id and the superego.

Question 10

What are defence mechanisms in Freud’s theory?

Answer 10

Unconscious strategies used by the ego to reduce anxiety caused by conflict between the id and superego, such as repression, denial, and displacement.

Question 11

What is repression in Freud’s theory?

Answer 11

Repression is the unconscious blocking of painful or disturbing memories or thoughts from conscious awareness

Question 12

How does displacement function as a defence mechanism?

Answer 12

Displacement involves redirecting emotional impulses from the original target to a safer, neutral object or person (e.g., a phobia).

Question 13

What is Freud’s view on dreams?

Answer 13

Freud viewed dreams as the “royal road to the unconscious,” where repressed desires are expressed in a disguised, symbolic form.

Question 14

What is the primary goal of psychoanalysis?

Answer 14

The primary goal of psychoanalysis is to make the unconscious conscious to help resolve conflicts and strengthen the ego.

Question 15

What are some techniques used in classical psychoanalysis?

Answer 15

Techniques include free association, dream interpretation, and projective techniques like the Rorschach Inkblot Test.

Question 16

What is free association in psychoanalysis?

Answer 16

A technique where the patient speaks freely about whatever comes to mind, revealing unconscious thoughts without censorship.

Question 17

How does the psychodynamic approach explain phobias?

Answer 17

Phobias are explained as displacement of unconscious conflict onto a symbol, such as a fear of horses representing a fear of the father (in the case of Little Hans).

Question 18

What is resistance in psychoanalysis?

Answer 18

Resistance occurs when a patient unconsciously blocks the therapeutic process, such as refusing to speak or dismissing the therapy, indicating that unconscious conflicts are being uncovered.

Question 19

What are some strengths of Freud’s theory of defence mechanisms?

Answer 19

They provide a useful framework for understanding human behaviour and coping strategies, helping people understand their own behaviours.

Question 20

What is a limitation of Freud’s theory of defence mechanisms?

Answer 20

The theory lacks testability and falsifiability since defence mechanisms are unconscious and cannot be directly studied, making it difficult to gather scientific evidence.

Question 21

What does the term “neurotic symptoms” refer to in the context of psychoanalysis?

Answer 21

Neurotic symptoms are mental disorders (e.g., phobias) caused by unconscious conflict, often managed through defence mechanisms.

Question 22

What did Eysenck (1950) find about psychoanalysis?

Answer 22

Eysenck found that psychoanalysis was only as effective as a placebo, raising questions about its scientific validity.

Question 23

What is the main limitation of psychoanalysis in treating mental health disorders?

Answer 23

Psychoanalysis is time-consuming, expensive, and has limited use, as it is mainly effective for treating neuroses, not all mental health disorders.