Approaches - Psychodynamic approach Flashcards
The unconscious
Part of the mind that we are unaware of but continues to direct much of our behaviour
Id
Freud described personality as tripartite, 3 different parts
The id operates on the pleasure principle and is entirely unconscious. Made up of selfish and aggressive instincts. (Present at birth)
Ego
Ego works on the reality principle.
Balances the conflict between the id and the superego
the ego has defence mechanisms which are
Repression - Forcing a distressing memory out of the mind
Denial - Refusing to notice some aspects of reality
Displacement - Transferring feelings from a true source to a substitute target
(age of 2)
Superego
- Super ego is formed at the end of the phallic stage of the psychosexual stages
- Our internalised sense of right or wrong
- Moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self
Psychosexual stages
Five developmental stages all children go through. Each stage has a different conflict, the outcome which determines future development.
Oral 0-1 yrs - Focus of pleasure is around the mouth, mothers breast is object of desire
Anal 1-3 yrs - Focus of pleasure is the anus. Pleasure expelling faeces
Phallic 3-5 yrs - Focus of pleasure is the genitals
Oedipus complex - Boys have incestuous feelings towards their mother and rival their father
Electra complex - Girls suffer penis envy for their father and rival their mother.
Latency - Earlier conflicts are repressed.
Genital - Sexual desire become conscious alongside the start of puberty
Evaluation
Strength:
Even though the psychodynamic approach has been quite controversial, it has allowed the onset of many practical applications. Freud brought a form of therapy called psychoanalysis.
Limitation:
Philosopher of science Karl Popper argued that the psychodynamic approach is not open for empirical testing. Some of Freuds ideas were part of the unconscious meaning they are hard to prove and test.
