AP - Psychodynamic approach Flashcards
What did Freud believe behaviour was determined by?
More psychological factors than by biological factors or environmental reinforcement. He assumed that people are born with basic instincts and needs and that behaviour is in large part controlled by the unconscious mind.
What metaphor did Freud use to describe the mind?
An iceberg.
Explain freud’s metaphor of an iceberg that he used to describe the mind.
The tip of the iceberg (representing the conscious mind) being visible, but the much larger part (representing the unconscious) being hidden under water.
When did the unconscious mind reveal itself?
In slips of the tongue (‘Freudian slips’), in creativity and in neurotic symptoms.
What did Freud believe that the mind actively prevents?
Traumatic memories from the unconscious from reaching conscious awareness and causing anxiety.
How did Freud believe that the mind actively prevents traumatic memories from the unconscious from reaching conscious awareness and causing anxiety?
By using defence mechanisms.
What were Freud’s three structures of personality?
The id, ego and superego.
Who developed the psychodynamic approach?
Freud.
What does the psychodynamic approach assume?
- That human behaviour has unconscious causes that we’re not aware of.
- From birth, humans have a need to fulfil basic biological motivations - for food, sleep, warmth, etc.
- Childhood experiences are a really important influence on the development of adult personality and psychological disorders.
What are the three levels of consciousness according to Freud?
Conscious
Preconscious
Unconscious
How many levels of consciousness are there according to Freud?
3
What is the conscious level of consciousness?
What we are aware of at any given time, e.g. what we are seeing, smelling, hearing or thinking.
What is the preconscious level of consciousness?
Made up of memories that we can recall when we want to, e.g. we can recall our address, phone number, childhood memories or what we did at the weekend.
What is the unconscious level of consciousness?
Made up of memories, desires and fears which cause us extreme anxiety and have therefore been ‘repressed’ or forced out of conscious awareness. However, the unconscious still influences behaviour, e.g. it causes Freudian slips and influences the content of our dreams. This part of our mind can be accessed with the help of a psychoanalyst, using methods the Freud developed.
Explain the id structure of personality
- Operates solely in the unconscious.
- Contains the libido, the biological energy created by the reproductive instincts - innate, aggressive and reproductive instincts.
- Operates according to the ‘pleasure principle’ - demands immediate gratification regardless of circumstances.
- Accounts for unreasonable behaviour and appears at birth.
How many structures of personality are there according to Freud?
3
Explain the ego structure of personality
- Mediates between the impulsive demands of the id and the reality of the external world - acts as a rational part known as the ‘reality principle’.
- Exists in both the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind.
- Develops in the first three years after birth and balances the impulsive demands of the id and the moralistic demands of the superego to keep our behaviour in line.
- For example, it may delay gratifying the id until there is a more appropriate opportunity to satisfy its demands.
Explain the superego structure of personality
- In both the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind.
- Takes our morals into consideration and is involved in making us feel guilty.
- Develops around 4-5 years of age.
- Includes ideas about how to behave that we adopt from our parents.
- Divided into the conscience (the internalisation of societal rules and determines which behaviours are permissible and causes feelings of guilt when rules are broken) and the ego-ideal (what a person strives towards, and is most probably determined by parental standards of good behaviour).
What did Freud believe could develop between parts of the personality and what does this cause?
Conflicts that lead to anxiety.
What level of personality has the job of reducing the anxiety caused by the conflicts developing between parts of the personality?
Ego - mediates between the id and superego.