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A Level Psychology: 3. Approaches > APPROACHES: Psychodynamic Theory > Flashcards

APPROACHES: Psychodynamic Theory Flashcards

1
Q

What is the psychodynamic approach about (overview)

A
  • The role of the unconscious
  • The structure of personality that is ID, Ego & Superego
  • Defence mechanisms including repression, denial & displacement
  • Psychosexual stages
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2
Q

What is the psychodynamic approach

A

A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind, direct human behaviour & experience

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3
Q

Assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

A
  1. States that unconscious forces in our mind determine our thoughts, feelings & behaviour (the term dynamic refers to the ongoing movement of these forces)
  2. Our behaviour as adults is strongly influenced by our childhood experiences
  3. Abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict
  4. The mind can be divided into 3 levels of consciousness, which can be illustrated by the iceberg analogy. The unconscious mind, which is hidden below the surface, has the most influence on our personality
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4
Q

What is the conscious mind

A

The small amount of mental activity we know about
(above surface on iceberg)

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5
Q

What is the preconscious mind

A

Things we could be aware of if we wanted or tired. eg. memories
(on surface on iceberg)

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6
Q

What is the unconscious mind

A

Things we are unaware of & can not become aware of. eg. instincts, deeply buried memories
(below surface on iceberg)

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7
Q

see slide 6 for dia of iceberg analogy

A
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8
Q

What is the Tripartite model of the mind

A

According to Freud, we all have these 3 characteristics (ID, Ego, Superego) in our mind at the same time

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9
Q

see slide 7 for dia of Tripartite model of the mind

A
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10
Q

What is the ID personality

A

(the ‘it’)
- Primitive part of our personality
- Operates on the pleasure principles (gets what it wants)
- ID is a mass of unconscious drives & instincts
- Only the ID is present at birth

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11
Q

What is the Ego personality

A

(the ‘I’)
- Develops around the age of 2yrs
- Works on the reality principle & is the mediator between the ID & SUPEREGO
- Makes the person aware of other ppls feelings & that they can’t always have their own way
- Its role is to reduce the conflict between the demands of the ID & the SUPEREGO
- It manages this by employing a no. of defence mechanisms

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12
Q

What happens if the ID, Ego, Superego do not work together: EGO IS WEAK

A

Allows ID and Superego to dominate

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13
Q

What is the Superego personality

A

(the ‘other I’)
- Formed around the age of 5
- It is our internalised sense of right & wrong
- Represents the moral standards of the child’s same-sex parent
- Punishes the ego for wrongdoing (through guilt)

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14
Q

What happens if the ID, Ego, Superego do not work together: ID TOO STRONG

A

Selfish, out of control, could become psychopathic

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15
Q

What happens if the ID, Ego, Superego do not work together: SUPEREGO TOO STRONG

A

Strict, anxious, obsessive - can lead to depression, anxiety, OCD

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16
Q

Who proposed the psychosexual stages

A

Sigmund Frued

17
Q

Assumptions of the psychosexual stages

A
  • Freud believed that children are born w a libido - a sexual (pleasure) urge
  • There are a no. of stages of childhood, during which the child seeks pleasure from a different ‘object’
  • To be psychologically healthy, we must successfully complete each stage
  • Mental abnormality can occur if a stage is not completed successfully- the persons becomes ‘fixated’
18
Q

What are the 5 stages of childhood

A
  1. The oral stage
  2. The anal stage
  3. The phallic stage
  4. The latency stage
  5. The genital stage
19
Q

What is the ORAL STAGE

A

From birth - 18months
- The mouth is the main focus of pleasure during this stage
- The child enjoys tasting & sucking
- The mother’s breast is the object of desire

20
Q

Successful completion of the ORAL STAGE

A
  • Successful competition of this stage is demonstrated by weaning - eating independently
21
Q

Consequences of unresolved conflict in the ORAL STAGE

A
  • Oral fixation - sarcastic, critical, sensitive to rejection, overeats & drinks, bites nails, may smoke
22
Q

What is the ANAL STAGE

A

From 18month - 3yrs
- Defecation is main source of pleasure

23
Q

Successful completion of the ANAL STAGE

A
  • Successful completion marked by potty training
24
Q

Consequences of unresolved conflict in the ANAL STAGE

A
  • Anally retentive - very tidy, stubborn, likes order & being in control, perfectionist, obsessive
  • Anally repulsive - thoughtless, messy
25
Q

What is the PHALLIC STAGE

A

Around age 3-5yrs
- Form of pleasure is the genital area
- Oedipus complex - boy wants his mother as his ‘primary love object’ & wants his father out of the way
- Electra complex - girls experience penis envy; they desire their father, as the penis is the primary love object & hate their mother

26
Q

Consequence of unresolved conflict in the PHALLIC STAGE

A
  • Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual
27
Q

What is the LATENCY STAGE

A

Age 5 to puberty
- Earlier conflicts are repressed
- Sexual urges sublimated into sports & other hobbies
- Focus on developing same-sex friendships
- Calm before the storm of puberty!

28
Q

Successful completion of the LATENCY STAGE

A
  • No particular requirements for successful completion
29
Q

What is the GENITAL STAGE

A

Puberty into adulthood
- Focus on genitals but not to same extent as PHALLIC STAGE
- Task is to develop healthy adult relationships
- This should happen if earlier stages have been negotiated successfully

30
Q

Consequence of unresolved conflict in the GENITAL STAGE

A
  • Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
31
Q

What was the study that Freud believed to support his theory of psychosexual stages (& oedipus complex in particular)

A

Little Hans,

A Level Psychology: 3. Approaches (7 decks)

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