Approaches - Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What is the psychodynamic approach?
The psychodynamic approach is a perspective developed by Freud, focusing on the role of the unconscious mind, the structure of personality (id, ego, superego), and defense mechanisms. It emphasizes that much of our behavior is driven by unconscious motives, and childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping personality.
What is the role of the unconscious in the psychodynamic approach?
Freud described the unconscious as a storehouse of biological drives, instincts, and memories we are unaware of. These influence behavior and personality. It includes repressed memories that are not easily accessed but can manifest through dreams or Freudian slips. The unconscious protects us from distressing thoughts by keeping them hidden.
What is the structure of personality according to Freud?
Freud divided personality into three parts:
Id: Operates on the pleasure principle, seeking instant gratification of instincts.
Ego: Operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id and superego, balancing demands in realistic ways.
Superego: Operates on the morality principle, representing societal values and ideals, striving for perfection and often in conflict with the id.
What are defense mechanisms in the psychodynamic approach?
Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies used by the ego to manage conflicts between the id and superego, preventing anxiety. Examples include:
Repression: Forcing distressing memories out of the conscious mind.
Denial: Refusing to acknowledge reality.
Displacement: Redirecting emotions to a safer substitute target.
What are Freud’s psychosexual stages?
Freud proposed five stages of child developmental stages where unresolved conflicts can lead to fixations that influence adult personality and behaviour.
Oral (0-1 years): Focus on the mouth; unresolved conflict leads to oral fixation (e.g., smoking).
Anal (1-3 years): Focus on the anus; unresolved conflict leads to obsessiveness or messiness.
Phallic (3-5 years): Focus on the genitals; unresolved conflict can cause a phallic personality.
Latency: Sexual urges are dormant.
Genital: Sexual desires reawaken; unresolved conflict leads to difficulty forming relationships.
What is one evaluation point for the psychodynamic approach about its impact?
Freud’s theory has had great explanatory power, influencing psychology and Western thought. It explains childhood’s impact on development, drawing attention to the parent-child relationship’s effect on later attachment and behavior.
What is one evaluation point for the psychodynamic approach about its methods?
Freud’s case study method relied on studying individuals like Little Hans in detail. However, these studies lack generalizability as they are based on small samples, and Freud’s interpretations were subjective, making his findings less scientifically reliable.
What is one evaluation point for the psychodynamic approach about its scientific validity?
The psychodynamic approach has been criticized for lacking falsifiability, as concepts like the id or Oedipus complex cannot be empirically tested. Karl Popper argued this makes it pseudoscientific rather than based on real science.
What is one evaluation point for the psychodynamic approach about its applications?
Psychoanalysis, derived from Freud’s work, is still used today to treat mental disorders through techniques like dream analysis. While it has been criticized for its suitability for severe disorders, it has been successful with patients suffering mild neuroses.
