aggression: psychodynamic Flashcards
who created psychodynamic theory
freud
what is the conscious mind and give an example of what would take place in it
the mental activity which we are aware of
* thoughts and perceptions
what is the subconscious mind and give an example of something that would take place there
the mental activity we can be made aware of if we tried
* memories and stored knowledge
what is the unconscious mind and give an example of what would take place there
the mental activity which we are unaware of and cannot become aware of
* instincts and deeply buried memories
what is thanatos and how is it related to aggression
- the death instinct and our unconscious desire to die
- high levels of thanatos lead to negative emotions such as fear, hate and anger, which can express itself in aggression
what is eros and how does it link to aggression
- our life instinct and the preservation of it, including procreation
- low levels of eros can lead to aggression- less positive outlook on life
what is the id
- pleasure principle
- driven by biological needs
- most basic, primitive part of personality
- exists from birth
- concerned with things that ensure the individual survives such as food
- demands to be satisified
- irrational
what is the ego
- second part to develop- for first year of life the id dominates
- in touch with the real world
- aims to gratify the demands of the id by working on the reality principle of what is possible in that environment
- defends conscious mind against pain by using defense mechanisms
what is the superego
- develops last
- intneralised representation of the value and morals of society by working on the morality principle
- aims to satisfy id by working out what is right and wrong to do
- fully formed at age 5
how can these explain aggression
- id seeks satisifaction- when does not happen- aggressive urges emerge
- ego aims to channel urges within the constraint set by superego
- until superego is fully formed at the age of 5, children have no internalised moral standard= aggression
what are defence mechanisms
uncoonscious mental processes used to protect ourselves from unacceptable feelings, and channel urges away from the id
what is repression and give an example of it
pushing bad experiences to the back of your mind to forget about it
* someone you love was injured so you dont think about it
what is regression and give an example of it
reverting back to a child like state because you cant get what you want
* stamping your feet because your parents wont let you stay out
what is projection and give an example of it
unacceptable thoughts are dealt with by saying they are someone elses
* having an irrational fear
what is displacement and give an example of it
transferring your feelings onto something else
* slamming a door instead of punching someone
describe what happens in the oedipus complex
- develops sexual drive for mother
- rejects the father and may behvae aggressively towards him as he sees him as a rival
- begins to fear father as assumes that he will castrate him if he is found out
- to resolve this the boy takes on the fathers superego
describe what happens during the electra complex
- due to girls not having a penis they cant develop a conscience through castration anxiety
- therefore they develop penis envy and show anger twards the mother for not giving her one
- as a result of this the superegos of females are weaker than males and so are morally inferior
causes of a weak superego and how this may lead to aggression
- deviant father whose morals are inferior
- girl- unresolved superego
- oedipus complex unresolved due to having no father for it to develop properly
- individual is selfish or uncaring
- leads to aggression as uncaring of others feelings/doesn’t care about the impact of their actions
how can a harsh superego develop and how can it lead to aggression
- through identifying with a strict parent
- results in feelings of guilt and obsession when the id attempts to get any satisfaction
- can either lead to abiding by the law or defying it in an attempt to seek punishment for feelings of guilt
what did freud suggest as a solution to aggression
carthasis= an emotional release of unconscious conflicts
* watching aggressive behaviour on TV
* when repressed ideas are brought into the conscious mind the feelings are released- releases the energy that was being used up
* person is freed from these emotions
summary of freuds expalantion of aggression
- frustration from not receiving gratification of the id
- weak superego= lack of discipline of the urges of the id, no conscience
- strong id= seeks gratification regardless of the possibility of punishment
- displacing hostility towards parents onto inferior groups- easier target
- feeling hostile towards father= oedipus
- hostile towards mother = electra complex
- weak superego from deviant/ lack of father- lack of moral discipline on aggresisve urges for violent crime
- unconscious emotions continually repressed without any energetic release of it through catharsis
supporting evidence - catharsis
a strength of this theory is the supporting evidence for evidence from Feshback and Singer, who found that out of 652 boys aged 8-18, the boys who watched non-violent media showed more aggression than those who didn’t. this supports the idea of catharsis releasing emotions in a safe way.
supporting evidence for behaviour as a result of childhood
Brown et al can be used as support for this theory. Brown identified that experiencing the death of a mother particularly before the age of 11 was at least partly responsible for later adult depression. Therefore, this shows how early experiences can influence later adult psychological problems- showing how later behaviour is a result of childhood experiences.
positive applications
there has been effective treatment for curing mental illness- psychoanalysis can help treat aggression by exploring the unconscious causes of aggression. the psychoanalyst will help the client explore their own dreams and childhood memories and work out what they mean- allowing to learn about their defence mechanisms they are using, and so they may come to self knowledge. this has recently beem used in prisons with violent female offenders to help them deal with their past trauma in the hope that it will reduce their violent outbursts.
