Approaches Key Terms

Question 1

psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

created by freud - claims that childhood experiences affect adult life & that abnormality is caused by trauma in childhood

eg. over use of defence mechanisms, fixation in one of the psychosexual stages or weak ego

Question 2

tri-partite personality

Answer 2

freud claimed that we have a tripartite personality, consisting of the id, ego, & superego - id and eho held in dynamic tension by the ego

a weak ego can result in an overwhelming id or superego

Question 3

defence mechanism

Answer 3

an unconscious act carried out by the ego to protect us when we feel threatened

eg. repression, denial, displacement

Question 4

unconscious

Answer 4

Freud claimed that we have an unconscious mind, much larger than our conscious mind - we have no conscious control over anything there

the id is purely unconscious, the ego & superego are both conscious and unconscious

Question 5

Psychoanalysis

Answer 5

the talking therapy that Freud claimed could deal with mental issues - free association is when

Question 6

humanistic approach

Answer 6

a holistic approach seeing Ps as unique individuals with an innate desire to self-actualise - Maslow’s hierarchy of needs & Rogers’ concept of unconditional positive regard & congruence

Question 7

congruence

Answer 7

Rogers’ concept that we have 3 selves - our percieved self, actual self, & ideal self - the closer these are to each other, the more congruent we are - a big gap between these leads to abnormality

Question 8

conditions of worth

Answer 8

when Ps absorb the message that they are “only good enough if…” ie there are conditions attached to their value as an individual - this leads to low self esteem

Question 9

hierarchy of needs

Answer 9

a pryamid of needs that needs to be ascended in order to self actualise - the base of the pyramid is physical needs & safety, self actualisation is at the peak, with psychological needs between eg feeling of belonging

Question 10

self actualisation

Answer 10

both Maslow and Rogers believe we have an innate drive to self improve and actualise - this is a life long journey to achieve contentment , to be non judgemental & to reach your ideal self

Question 11

psychosexual stage theory

Answer 11

5 stages all Ps must navigate successfully to become healthy adults - fixation at a stage can occur, with effects of adult life - stages are oral, phallic, latent, & genital

eg fixation at phallic leads to homosexuality according to Freud

Question 12

id

Answer 12

part of the tripartite personality - the only one present from birth - totally unconscious - ruled by pleasure principle & seeks instant gratification

Question 13

incongruence

Answer 13

the state of having a large gap between the percieved self, the actual self, & the ideal self - often occurs due to conditions of worth being learned as a child - treatment is by giving unconditional positive regard so that the person can close this gap

Question 14

ego

Answer 14

part of the tripartite personality - it develops in response to the needs of the environment - operates on the reality principle & maintains balance between the id & superego

Question 15

superego

Answer 15

part of the tripartite personality - operates on the morality principle & develops from parental / cultural expectations - concerned with “should” so is often in conflict with the id - it is normally present by 3 year olds

Question 16

superego

Answer 16

part of the tripartite personality - operates on the morality principle & develops from parental / cultural expectations - concerned woth “should

Question 17

unconditional positive regard

Answer 17

this is when someone is accepted as they are, with no reservations or conditions attached - behaviour is separated from person, so that behaviours may be seen as unacceptable, to be dealt with, but the person is never seen this way