approaches - psychodynamic approach

Question 1

assumptions

Answer 1

1. behaviour is due to unconscious motives
2. focuses on PAST experiences (relationships with parents during childhood which conflicts in creating behaviour and personality)
3. understanding of ourselves = distorted by defence mechanisms

Question 2

psychodynamic approach focuses on…

Answer 2

UNCONSCIOUS mind and PAST experiences

Question 3

feature 1

Answer 3

role of the unconscious

including
1. conscious
2. preconscious
3. unconscious

Question 4

the role of the unconscious
intro - AO1

Answer 4

• part of our mind that contains info we are not consciously aware of e.g. REPRESSED MEMORIES
• protects our conscious self from fears/anxiety
• drives behaviour e.g. personality/behaviours

Question 5

conscious

Answer 5

• part of the mind we are AWARE of
• ‘tip of the iceberg’

Question 6

preconscious

Answer 6

• just below our conscious mind
• includes thoughts/ideas we MAY become aware of during dreams/freudian ‘slip of the tongue’

Question 7

unconscious

Answer 7

• part of the mind we are UNAWARE of
• e.g. biological drives/instincts
• threatening/disturbing memories that have been repressed/locked away/forgotten
• but they continue to drive our behaviour

Question 8

feature 2

Answer 8

structure of personality

including
1. ID - pleasure principle
2. EGO - reality principle
3. SUPEREGO - morality principle

Question 9

ID - pleasure principle

Answer 9

• UNCONSCIOUS part of the mind
• only the ID present at birth
• expects immediate gratification
• focuses on self (selfish)
• too overpowering for ego = selfish personality

Question 10

EGO - reality principle

Answer 10

• RATIONAL and CONSCIOUS part of the mind
• forms between 18 months - 3 years
• balances demands between superego and id by using DEFENCE MECHANISMS
• to REDUCE CONFLICT

Question 11

SUPEREGO - morality principle

Answer 11

• forms between 3-6 years
• arises from identification with same sex parent
• internalised sense of right/wrong (conscience) based on parental values
• too overpowering for ego = anxious personality, feelings of guilt

Question 12

feature 3

Answer 12

defence mechanisms

including
1. repression
2. denial
3. displacement

Question 13

describe what is meant by the term defence mechanism

Answer 13

• UNCONSCIOUS strategies that the ego uses to balance conflict between id and superego
• e.g. repression = forcing a distressing memory out of the mind

Question 14

defence mechanisms AO1

Answer 14

• defence mechanisms are used as the ego has a difficult time balancing conflict between id and superego
• UNCONSCIOUS strategies that reduces conflict in the ego
• can distort persons reality
• overuse = affects behaviour
• so not a long term solution

Question 15

define repression

Answer 15

• forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind to the unconscious
• e.g. forgetting memory of pet dying

Question 16

define denial

Answer 16

• refusing to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality
• e.g. turning up to work when sacked

Question 17

define displacement

Answer 17

• transferring feelings from a true source of distressing emotion
• onto a less threatening substitute target
• e.g. slamming door shut after argument

Question 18

feature 4

Answer 18

psychosexual stages

including
1. ORAL - 0-1 years
2. ANAL - 1-3 years
3. PHALLIC - 3-5 years
4. LATENCY - 6-12 years
5. GENITAL - 12 years

Question 19

acronym for psychosexual stages

Answer 19

Old
Age
Pensioners
Like
Gossiping

Question 20

psychosexual stages - AO1
intro

Answer 20

• frued suggests we are born with an id which has innate sex energy that wants satisfaction
• he suggests all children go through the 5 psychosexual stages
• to get sexual satisfaction from birth
• child must resolve conflict at each stage otherwise will become fixated
• leading to certain adulthood behaviours

Question 21

oral stage 0-1 years

Answer 21

description
- mouth gratification for id
- e.g. sucking/dummies/mothers breast

consequence of fixation/unresolved conflict
- oral fixation
- e.g. smoking/biting nails
- sarcastic and critical in future

Question 22

anal stage 1-3 years

Answer 22

description
- gratification for id gained from anus
- expulsion/withholding faeces

consequence of fixation
- anal retentive personality e.g. perfectionist/obsessive
- anal expulsive personality e.g. messy/thoughtless

Question 23

phallic stage 3-5 years

Answer 23

description
- gratification of id comes from exploring own genitals
- to resolve conflict child must identify with same sex parent and take on same attitudes/behaviours/values

consequence of fixation
- phallic personality e.g. narcissistic, reckless, problems with authority

Question 24

latency 6-12 years

Answer 24

earlier problems repressed

Question 25

genital 12 years

Answer 25

description - sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty consequence of fixation - difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 26

criticism of psychosexual stages - AO3 psychic determinism

Answer 26

P - PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES can be criticised for psychic determinism E - suggests that human behaviour is controlled by internal/external factors - such as (fixations at a specific stage leading to inevitable behaviours - e.g. oral fixation = biting nails/smoking) AO1 SPECIFIC E - neglects role of free will - suggesting free will is an illusion - individuals may feel as if they have no control over their behaviour L - limits appropriateness of PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES when explaining human behaviour

Question 27

strength of psychodynamic approach - AO3

Answer 27

P - strength is practical applications E - principle of theory: behaviour is due to the unconscious mind - led to development of psychoanalysis E - psychoanalysis helps treat disorders such as depression/anxiety - by resolving hidden conflicts in unconscious mind L - important part of applied psychology - helps treat people in the real world

Question 28

limitation of structure of personality - AO3

Answer 28

P - structure of personality does not use scientific techniques - lacks scientific rigour E - concepts of id/ego/superego = abstract concepts - cannot be tested objectively/empirically and falsified E - cannot be observed and measured objectively L - decreases internal validity of structure of personality and psychodynamic approach as explanation - decreases scientific status of psych

Question 29

weakness of psychodynamic approach - AO3

Answer 29

P - although freud provided a detailed explanation lacks population validity E - often based research around case studies on individuals in therapy E - difficult to generalise findings and create laws of human behaviour L - limiting psychodynamic approach

Question 30

criticism of structure of personality - AO3 psychic determinism

Answer 30

P - STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY can be criticised for psychic determinism E - suggests that human behaviour is due to internal factors - e.g. having a selfish personality due to overpowering id OR having anxious personality due to overpowering superego E - neglects the role of free will - suggesting free will is an illusion - individuals may feel they have no control over their behaviour L - limiting appropriateness of STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY when explaining human behaviour

Question 31

criticism of defence mechanisms - AO3 psychic determinism

Answer 31

P - DEFENCE MECHANISMS can be criticised for psychic determinism E - suggests that human behaviour is due to internal factors - e.g. overuse of defence mechanisms such as repression - leads to distorted sense of reality - leads to mental health disorders E - neglects the role of free will - suggesting free will is an illusion - individuals may feel they have no control over their behaviour L - limiting appropriateness of DEFENCE MECHANISMS when explaining human behaviour