Approaches : Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What is a Strength of the Psychodynamic approach?
It has been very influential. For example, Bowlby rejected much of the psychodynamic approach but was nonetheless inspired by its focus on early childhood experiences, leading him to develop the attachment theory. Similarly, as modern understanding of mental illness is arising, the traumatic early experiences are becoming prevalent, thus arguably owe a debt to Freud. Furthermore, Freud and his followers were the first to demonstrate the potential for talking therapies as a method for treating mental illness, meaning modern therapies like CBT also owe a debt to the psychodynamic approach. However, many of Freud ideas have not had a continuing influence. For example, ideas like the Oedipus complex have now been completely discarded even by psychologists who remain in the psychodynamic approach.
What is a Limitation of the Psychodynamic approach?
It’s lack of scientific credibility. Freud developed his theories by studying individuals and used methods such as dream analysis, in which he interpreted the meaning behind the dreams his patients told him. Freuds methods are generally not regarded as scientific today. It’s true that his research was empirical as it involved collecting evidence, such as patients telling him about their dreams. However, Freud relied on his ability to interpret evidence, therefore making his analysis highly subjective and unscientific. Moreover, many of Freuds ideas have been criticised for being unfalsifiable. For example, the idea that our behaviour is caused by unconscious motivations is impossible to test as these motivations cannot be identified until after the behaviour has occurred.
What has the Psychodynamic approach been criticised for?
It has been criticised for its deterministic account of human nature. Freuds theories explain human behaviour as being entirely determined by forces outside of our control. These forces are partly environmental (earthquakes experiences in psychosexual stages) but primarily unconscious. Since people don’t have direct access to their thoughts, feelings and drives within their unconscious, this means human behaviour is determined rather than being the product of our conscious choices. This is problematic for believers in free will as psychic determinism is an example of hard determination.
What THREE parts did Freud say the mind was composed of?
- CONSCIOUS : the part of the mind that contains through to and feelings that we are aware of.
- PRECONSCIOUS : the part of the mind that contains thoughts and feelings that are not currently conscious, but can easily be bought to consciousness.
- UNCONSCIOUS: the part of the mind that contains thoughts, feelings and drives we are largely unaware of.
What is the role of the Unconscious?
> To keep distressing thoughts, feelings and drives hidden from our conscious mind, to protect us from anxiety.
Contains distressing memories and drives that are deemed socially unacceptable (eg. Aggression and sex)
Freud developed the idea that the unconscious processes shape our personality.
Outline the Structure for the Personality.
- THE id : the passionate part of our personality that is concerned with satisfying our basic instincts.
- E.g Pleasure, Survival, Sex and aggressive instincts.
- Unconscious
- Present from Birth - THE superego : the moral part of our personality that is concerned with following moral rules. Tries to suppress desires of id and behave morally.
- Partially unconscious , partially conscious
- Develops at the end of the Phallic stage (age 5) when the child internalises the voice of their main parental figure. - THE ego : the rational part of our personality that is concerned with satisfying the demands of the id and the superego, in ways that are realistic/
- Partially conscious , partially unconscious
- Develops throughout the oral and anal stage (age 3)
Outline Defence Mechanisms.
> Defence Mechanisms are unconscious strategies that can help shield the unconscious from aspects of conscious reality which would make it hard to reconcile the competing demands of the id and the superego.
1. DISPLACEMENT : refers to the protection of the ego from anxiety by shifting the aggressive or sexual impulses of the id onto a more acceptable or less threatening target.
2. REPRESSION : refers to the protection of the ego from anxiety by locking a distressing thought , feeling or desire in the unconscious , so that it cannot be consciously accessed.
3. DENIAL : refers to the protection of the ego from anxiety by stopping us from consciously acknowledging some aspects of reality that is threatening.
Outline the Psychosexual Stages.
> Psychosexual stages explain how our personality is shaped by the interaction of the unconscious desires of the id and our early experiences.
First stage is the Oral Stage.
- The age range for this stage is Birth to 1 year
- The relevant erogenous zone for this stage is mouth (satisfied derived from feeding)
- A conflict, children at this stage experience is wearing away from the mother’s breast.
- Fixation at this stage can result in an adult experiencing issues with dependency or aggression. This may manifest in problematic behaviours like eating, drinking, smoking and nail biting.
The Second Stage is the Anal stage.
- The age range for this stage is 1-3 years
- The relevant erogenous zone for this stage is anus (satisfaction from derived from controlling bladder and bowel movement)
- A conflict, children at this experience toilet training
- Fixation at this stage can lead to development of an anal expulsive personality (messy, wasteful or destructive) or anal retentive (obsessed with order).
The Third stage is Phallic stage.
- The age range for this stage is 3-6 years
- The relevant erogenous for this stage is genitals
- A conflict, children at this stage experience different for boys and girls
Boys experience Oedipus complex —> this involves sexual feelings for mother and fear or hatred for fathers due to fear that is will castrate them
Girls experience the Electra Complex —> they desire their father and resent their mother, partly as she preserved a rival for the father’s affection but also because of penis envy.
- Fixation at this stage can result in negatively affecting self esteem.
The Fourth Psychosexual stage is the Latency stage,
- The age range for this is 6-11
- The relevant erogenous zone for this stage is sexual desire is dormant during this stage.
- There is no conflict as sexual energy is focussed away from body onto other pursuits ( eg intellectual development)
- Fixation can result in immaturity as an adult or difficulty forming relationships.
The Fifth stage is genital stage
- The age range is 12 - death
- The relevant erogenous zone for this stage is genitals.
- A conflict, children at this stage experience is societal expectations (eg forming a relationship).
