Approaches: Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
1
Q
Psychodynamic Approach Overview.
A
- Freud was the founder of the psychodynamic approach.
- Psychodynamic means any theory that emphasises individual change and development.
- Freud argued that behaviour is due to psychological factors (the mind). No behaviour is random there is a psychological reasoning behind it.
- Developed psychoanalysis - talking therapy which deals with conflicts in the mind. Once the conflict is resolved the individual is ‘mentally healthy’ again.
2
Q
Psychodynamic Basic Assumptions.
A
- The unconscious mind is thought to drive behaviour so if there is any issues with an individual’s behaviour, their unconscious mind must be accessed in order to rectify the behaviour.
- Instincts are thought to motivate behaviour this means we go through stages within development as there is an innate drive that helps to form our behaviour and personality.
- Early childhood experiences are important in making us who we are, meaning that certain experiences at a particular time can be reflected in our adult behaviour.
3
Q
Role Of The Unconscious: Iceberg Model.
A
- The unconscious mind is explained with the iceberg model:
Conscious Mind - the tip of the iceberg that we can see.
Preconscious Mind - look into water, you can see some of the iceberg.
Unconscious Mind - the part of the iceberg that we are unable to see, unless we are submerged in the water.
4
Q
Role Of The Unconscious Mind.
A
- The part of the mind that we are unaware of, our but every day action is thought to be controlled by unconscious mind.
- Our unconscious mind is thought to show our behaviour through: Freudian slips.
- The unconscious also contains threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed - forgotten about.
5
Q
Structure Of Personality.
A
- There are three parts to personality known as tripartite system.
- Early experiences are thought to be vital in shaping our personality and this affects how someone behaves.
- All three parts demand gratification, but are frequently in contact with each other.
- The three parts which make up personality is the Id, the ego, the superego.
6
Q
Describe The Id.
A
- Present at birth and forms up until about 18 months.
- Operates on pleasure principle - the id gets what it wants.
- It is entirely selfish and demands instant gratification of its needs.
7
Q
Describe The Ego.
A
- Develops between 18 months and 3 years.
- It operates on the reality principle and is the mediator between the id and the superego.
- Its role is to reduce the conflict between the demands of the id and the superego.
- Does this through defence mechanism which offers the ego protection to ensure that neither ‘force’ is dominant.
8
Q
Describe The Superego.
A
- Develops between 3 and 6 years and formed at the end of phallic stage.
- It is our internalised sense of right and wrong.
- It operates on the morality principle which represents the moral standards of society and parents values.
- It strives for you to be the best person you can be.
9
Q
Describe The Defence Mechanisms.
A
- They distort reality to reduce anxiety.
- This is because anxiety weakens the ego and means it cannot mediate between the ID and superego.
- Repression: Blocking of an unpleasant memory.
- Denial: Refusal to accept reality.
- Displacement: Redirecting of emotions onto other objects or people.
10
Q
Psychosexual Stages Overview.
A
- Instincts drive our unconscious mind dictate the stages.
- Underlying drive is sexual-pleasure which comes from the release of the tension due to the build up of sexual energy.
- Each stage is marked by a different conflict that the child must resolve in order to progress successfully into the next stage
- Strict parenting vs overindulgence in each stage can cause fixation.
- Conflict unresolved which leads the child becoming ‘stuck’ and carry certain behaviours and conflicts from that stage into adult life.
11
Q
Stage 1: Oral
A
- 0-1 years.
- Focus of pleasure is the mouth, mother’s breast is object of desire.
- Consequence of unresolved conflict: oral fixation - smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical.
12
Q
Stage 2: Anal
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- 1-3 years.
- Focus on pleasure is the anus. Child gains pleasure from withhold and expelling faeces.
- Consequences of unresolved conflict: Anal retentive - perfectionists, obsessives. Anal expulsive - thoughtless, messy.
13
Q
Stage 3: Phallic
A
- 3-5 years.
- Focus of pleasure is the genital area. Child experiences the Oedipus or Electra complex.
- Consequences of unresolved conflict: Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless, possibility homosexual.
14
Q
Stage 4: Latency
A
- Earlier conflicts are repressed.
15
Q
Stage 5: Genital
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- Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty.
- Consequence of unresolved conflict: difficulty forming heterosexual relationships.
16
Q
What Is Oedipus Complex?
A
- In phallic stage little boys develop incestuous feelings towards their mother and murderous hatred for their mother’s rival in love - their father.
- Fearing that their father will castrate them they repress their feelings for their mother and identify with their gender, taking on gender role and moral values.
17
Q
What Is Electra Complex?
A
- Girls experience penis envy - they desire their father, as the penis is primary love object and they hate their mother.
- Although Freud was less clear on the process in girls, they thought to give up the desire for their father over time and replace with desire for wanting a baby. Therefore identifying with their mother in the process.
18
Q
Strength: Evaluation - Influential Approach.
A
- The psychodynamic approach had a huge influence on psychology.
- It has been used to explain a wide range of phenomena including personality development, abnormal behaviour, moral development and gender.
- This shows how important Freud’s ideas have been in the development of psychology as a discipline.
- This suggests that the approach has a place in explaining human behaviour.
19
Q
Weakness: Evaluation - Case Study Limitation.
A
- The research methods used in psychodynamic approach have been criticised .
- Freud’s theory is based on the intensive study of single individuals such as Little Hans who were often in therapy.
- This questions the accuracy of the theory and approach as the findings from the case studies may not true for everyone.
- This limits how useful the psychodynamic approach is when trying to explain behaviour.
20
Q
Weakness: Evaluation - Unfalsifiable.
A
- The psychodynamic approach cannot be falsified (does not have the potential to be disapproved).
- For example, the id and Oedipus complex are said to occur at an unconscious level meaning that they are difficult, if not impossible to test.
- This means that the psychodynamic approach is classed as pseudoscience.
- This reduces its credibility in explaining human behaviour.
21
Q
Strength: Evaluation - Practical Application.
A
- The psychodynamic approach has practical application.
- Freud developed psychoanalysis which involves a range of techniques designed to access the unconscious.
- Psychoanalysis is used to treat many patients with mental health problems.
- The fact that the approach has led to the development of a therapy which is effective for some individuals suggests that the unconscious is involved in our thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
22
Q
Limitation: Evaluation - Physic Determinism.
A
- The psychodynamic approach is deterministic.
- It suggests that all human behaviour is caused by unconscious conflicts that we cannot control.
- This removes the notion of free will as it suggests that people do not have a choice over their behaviour.
- This goes against the beliefs that a lot of us hold the decisions that we make and may mean that people are not as accountable for their behaviour as society would like them to be.