Approaches- Psychodynamic approach Flashcards
Psychodynamic approach
describes different dynamics (forces) that are unconscious that operate on the mind and direct behaviour
assumptions
adults behaviours are influenced by childhood experiences
abnormal behaviours the result of mental conflicts
the minds made up of the conscious and unconscious
structure of the personality- TRIPARTE
triparte is the model of the mind that is made up of 3 characteristics in the mind at all times- the Id, Ego, and SuperEgo
Id
primitive part of personality
operates on pleasure principle
present at birth
made up of mass of unconscious drives and instincts
Ego (the ‘I’)
develops at 2 years old
reality principle- makes them aware of others feelings
is the mediator between 2 other parts of the personality- it reduces conflict through defence mechanisms
it must balance the demands of the Id and SuperEgo and if failed, it results in conflict and psychological disorders
Super Ego
formed at 5 years old
is the internalised sense of right and wrong
it represents the moral standards of the same sex parent
it punishes the ego for wrong doings through guilt
intra-psychic conflict
conflict between the components of the psyche which leads to anxiety. The ego tries to avoid this anxiety through defence mechanisms
repression- defence mechanisms
forcing a distressing memory from the conscious mind
denial- defence mechanisms
refusing to believe something as its too painful
displacement- defence mechanisms
transfers feelings from the true source of the distressing emotion onto a substitute target
what does an excessive use of defence mechanisms result in?
the ego becomes detached from reality which can cause psychological disorders
Personality development
Successful development through psychosexual stages are needed for a health personality.
each stage has a different conflict and if its unresolved, it leads to fixation- child becomes stuck and carries certain behaviours into adulthood
how does fixation occur?
trauma, change in environment etc
psychosexual development
kids are born with a libido (sexual urge)
ORAL STAGE- psychosexual development
- 0 to 1
- the mouth is the main focal point of pleasure and the breast is the object of desire
- successful completion of stage is shown through weaning (eating independently)
- consequence of unresolved conflict: oral fixation- sarcasm, smoke
ANAL STAGE- psychosexual development
- 1 to 3
- defecation is the main source of pleasure
- successful completion of stage shown by potty training
- consequence of unresolved conflict:
- -> anally retentive- tidy, stubborn
- -> anally expulsive- messy, thoughtless
PHALLIC STAGE- psychosexual development
- 3 to 5
- the genital area is the main source of pleasure
- consequence of unresolved conflict: phallic personality- narcissistic and reckless
PHALLIC STAGE- Oedipus complex
boys develop incentuos feelings towards mother and develops hatred for father
because boys fear their father they repress their feelings and later identify with the dad and take on his gender roles and morals
PHALLIC STAGE- electra complex
girls develop penis envy- they desire their father and hate their mother.
overtime the desire of the father is replaced with the desire of a baby (displacement) and then begin to identify with their mum
LATENCY STAGE- psychosexual development
- 6 to puberty
- earlier conflicts are repressed and the sexual urges are sublimated to hobbies
- focus is on developing same sex friendships
- people dont fixate at this stage
GENITAL STAGE- psychosexual development
- puberty onwards
- focus is on the genitals
- task is to develop healthy relationships which would occur if the other stages were negotiated properly
- consequence of unresolved conflict: difficultly forming relationships
advantages of the psychodynamic approach
- emphasises the importance of unconscious factors in determining behaviour
- shows the importance of childhood experiences
- useful applications: therapy, psychoanalysis
disadvantages of the psychodynamic approach
- this theory’s derived from the study of adults with emotional disorders- an unrepresentative sample so it cant make universal claims about human nature
- based on subjective case studies- open to bias
- unfalsifiable
- deterministic and pessimistic- says there’s no free will and behaviour based on unconscious conflict
