A01 psychodynamic approach to psychopathology

Question 1

Outline the psychodynamic appraoch5

Answer 1

And indvs abnormal behaviour is determines by underlying psychological conflicts of which they aren’t aware

It focuses mainly on past xps (parents child reks) cz they believe the majority of psychological conflicts are rooted in these rels

Question 2

4 sections for the outline of approach

Answer 2

Mental disorder results form psychological rather than physical causes, unlike bio approach

Unresolved conflicts cause mental disorder

Early xps cause mental disorder

Unconscious motivations cause mental disorder

Question 3

Talk about unresolved conflicts as a cause

Answer 3

Conflicts between id, ego and superego create anxiety

The go protects it’s with many mechanisms (ego defences)

If these defences are overused they can cause disturbed behaviour

E.g. boy feeling rejected when baby born makes him regress to an earlier dev stage and makes him worse

Question 4

Talk about early experiences

Answer 4

Early xps (trauma)can lead to later disorders (depression etc)

This is cz the ego isn’t developed enough to deal with traumas and therefore they’re repressed

Question 5

Talk about unconscious motivations

Answer 5

Behaviour is unconsciously motivated
The unconscious consists of memories ad other info that is hard to bring into conscious awareness
But due to its powerful effect on behaviour, it frequently leads to distress cz the person doesn’t understand why they are acting in this way

Underlying problem can’t be controlled until brought into conscious awareness

Question 6

What are the 2 sections for methods of investigating

Answer 6

Experiments

Case studies

Question 7

Who tested about experiments

Answer 7

Fisher and greenberg

Question 8

What did gusher and greenberg find

Answer 8

Meta analysis of studies

Many studies recieved experimental support

Question 9

Problem with experimental support

Answer 9

Positive results may be taken as supporting the hypothesis, but negative ones may be taken as indicating the action of a defence mechanism which disguises the real underlying conflict

Question 10

Talk about case studies

Answer 10

Case studies such as little hands or Anna o

Offer in depth data insight into behaviour
But due to fact it’s usually just one person being studied it’s difficult to generalise