Approaches Flashcards
Who is Wundt and why is he significant?
Wundt is known as the father of psychology.
He set up the first psychology lab in Germany in 1879.
Published one of the first books on psychology and helped to establish the subject as an independent branch of science.
What did Wundt do?
He used controlled environments to establish general theories about mental processes.
He used scientific methods to study the structure of sensation and perception using introspection.
Define introspection
‘Investigating internal events by examining conscious thoughts and feelings’
Describe introspection
Focuses on present experiences
Wundt- individual focuses on an object, whilst listening to a stimulus, looking inwards and noticing sensations, feelings and images.
One assumption of psychodynamic approach.
Behaviour is due to unconscious motives
Feature one of the psychodynamic approach
The role of the unconscious
Describe the role of the unconscious
Conscious- part of the mind we are aware of
Preconscious- below conscious, includes thoughts and ideas which maybe become aware during dreams and ‘slips of the tongue’
Unconscious- unaware of- biological drives and instincts and threatening and disturbing memories which have been repressed or forgotten but continue to drive out behaviour.
Feature 2 of psychodynamic approach
The structure of personality
Roles of the id
Id-pleasure principle
Unconscious part of mind
Only present at birth
Focus on self and expects immediate gratification
Too overpowering= selfish personality
Role of the ego
Reality principle
Rational and conscious part of mind
Forms from 18months to 3years
Balances demands and conflicts of ideas and superego by using defence mechanisms
Role of superego
Morality principle
Forms between 3-6years
Arises through identification with same sex parent
Internalised sense of right and wrong
Based on parental values
Too overpowering= anxious personality or guilt
Feature 3 of psychodynamic approach
Defence mechanisms
Role/ purpose of defence mechanisms
Ego has a difficult job balancing demands of superego and id, uses defence mechanisms
Unconscious and stop the ego becoming overwhelmed
Overuse can affect behaviour and distort reality
Definition/ role of repression
Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious to the unconscious
Eg forgetting trauma of pet dying
Definition/ role of denial
Refusing to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality
Eg , continuing to turn up to work after being sacked
Definition/ role of displacement
Transferring feelings from the true source of distressing emotion onto a less threatening substitute target
Eg slamming the door after an argument
Feature 4 of psychodynamic approach
Psychosexual stages
5 developmental stages (Freud)
Oral (0-1), Anal (1-3), Phallic (3-5), Latency (6-12), Genital (12)
Describe oral stage
0-1years
Gratification for id is gained from the mouth
Eg dummies, thumb sucking
Consequence of unresolved conflict at oral stage
Oral fixation- smoking, biting nails, sarcastic and critical in the future
Describe the anal stage
1-3 years
Gratification for the id is gained from the anus such as expulsion or withholding faeces
Consequence of unresolved conflict at anal stage
Anal retentive personality- perfectionist, obsessive
Anal expulsive personality- thoughtlessness, messy
Describe phallic stage
3-5years
Gratification for id is gained from exploring own genitals
Needs to identify with same sex parent and take on their values (if not become fixated)
Consequence of unresolved conflict at phallic stage
Phallic personality- narcissistic, reckless and problems with authority
Describe latency stage
6-12 years
Earlier conflicts are repressed
Describe genital stage
12 years
Sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty