Approaches - Psychodynamic Flashcards
What are the main assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?
- Believes all human behaviour is controlled by the unconscious mind
- Most of our mind is made up of the unconscious (the part we are unaware of) The unconscious factors are largely unknown to us and beyond our control.
- The unconscious extends its influence into every part of our waking and sleeping lives.
- Events in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives, shaping your personality as they remain in the unconscious and influence adult behaviour.
- Stresses the importance of relationships. Parent and child relationship is particularly important.
What are the four key aspects of the Psychodynamic approach?
The role of the unconscious
The tripartite structure of the personality
Defence mechanisms
Psychosexual stages of development
What metaphor did Freud use to describe the conscious and unconscious mind?
Iceberg metaphor
Tip above the surface = conscious mind
Much larger part hidden underwater = unconscious mind
According to Freud, what part of our mind controls our actions and behaviours?
The unconscious mind
What does the unconscious contain? What does this influence?
Repressed ideas and memories, and primitive desires, drives, impulses and instincts. These then influence most of our everyday thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
What are the strengths of the Psychodynamic approach?
Freud’s theory was a major contribution to psychological thinking. The use of case studies provided a new way of gathering empirical evidence with observations of behaviour, rather than introspection, playing a key role in developing the approach. The approach was the first to demonstrate the potential of psychological treatments for disorders such as depression and anxiety, rather than using biological treatments.
How many parts did Freud believe personality was made up of? What were the parts called?
3 parts, the id, the ego and the superego
What does each part of the personality all demand? What does this cause?
They all demand gratification which means that each part of the personality is in conflict with the other parts.
What shapes the development of the different parts? What does this affect?
Experiences/ conflicts in childhood shape the development which affects how a person behaves.
What part of our personality is the id? When is it formed?
The primitive part. Formed from birth to 18 months.
What is the id a source of?
our unconscious desires, impulses, drives and instincts.
What principle does the id operate on? What is this?
Pleasure principle - the id demands immediate gratification of its needs regardless of circumstances (it gets what it wants) .
Examples of the id’s needs:
Hunger, thirst, sex
What does the id focus on? What does it deal with?
On the self, it is irrational and emotional. It deals with feelings and needs.
What does the id contain?
The libido - the biological energy created by reproductive instincts
What part of our mind is the ego? What is it’s main role?
The rational part - it mediates between the id and superego
When is the ego formed?
18 months to 3 years
What principle does the ego operate on?
The reality principle - it mediates between the impulsive demands on the id and the reality of the external world.
In what way does the ego try to satisfy the id? Unconscious or conscious?
In socially acceptable ways - it is conscious.
What is the main role of the ego?
To reduce the conflict between the demands of the id and superego
What part of our mind is the superego?
Our internalised sense of right or wrong based on societal and parental values. it acts as our conscience or moral guide.
When is the superego formed? Unconscious or conscious?
3-6 years It is around this age that parents start to demand that the child acts in more socially acceptable ways. The superego usually takes over this parental role and tells us inside our own head how we should behave. It is conscious.
What principle does the superego operate on?
The morality principle, it is our internal representation of the moral standards of the child’s same sex parent and causes feelings of guilt when rules are broken.
Why are defence mechanisms triggered?
If an individual is faced with a situation they are unable to deal with rationally.
How do defence mechanisms work?
Unconsciously, by distorting reality so that anxiety is reduced. They ensure that the ego is not overwhelmed by temporary threats or traumas.
By using defence mechanisms, the individual stops themselves becoming aware of any unpleasant thoughts and feelings associated with the situation .
Long term solution = psychologically unhealthy