Approaches: The psychodynamic approach

Question 1

Who is the face of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

Sigmund Freud

Question 2

What is the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 2

The psychodynamic approach to psychology explains behaviour as a result of unconscious processes.

Question 3

What are the main assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 3

• The mind consists of multiple parts: The conscious mind, the pre-conscious mind, and the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind includes biological instincts that cannot consciously be accessed but that have a significant influence on behaviour.
• Behaviour is explained as a result of conflicts between these different aspects of the mind.
• Early childhood experiences shape us as adults. Failure to resolve conflicts (e.g. not properly progressing through the five psychosexual stages) in childhood can lead to psychological problems as an adult.

Question 4

What is psychoanalysis?

Answer 4

A term used to describe the personality theory and therapy associated with Sigmund Freud.

Question 5

What is the unconscious?

Answer 5

The part of the human mind that contains repressed ideas and memories, as well as primitive desires and impulses that I’ve never been allowed to enter the conscious mind.

Question 6

What is the role of the unconscious?

Answer 6

Freud believed in the existence of a part of the mind that was inaccessible to conscious thought. He referred to this as the unconscious mind. He is the metaphor of an iceberg to describe the mind, the tip of the iceberg (representing the conscious mind) being visible but the larger part (representing the unconscious) being hidden underwater. Freud believed that most of our everyday actions and behaviours are not controlled consciously but other products of the unconscious mind which reveal themselves in slips of the tongue in creativity and in neurotic symptoms. Believe the mind actively prevents traumatic memories from the unconscious from reaching conscious awareness. These memories might cause anxiety therefore the mind’s use of defence mechanisms to prevent the person from becoming aware of them.

Question 7

What is the structure of personality?

Answer 7

Freud divided the mind into three structures - the id, the ego, and the superego -each of which demands gratification but is frequently in conflict with other parts.

Question 8

What is the id?

Answer 8

Solely operates in the unconscious. It contains the libido, the biological energy created by reproductive instincts. The ID operates according to the pleasure principle and demands immediate gratification regardless of circumstances. For example, if a person is hungry that demands that they eat there and then.

Question 9

What is the ego?

Answer 9

Can mediate between impulsive demands of the head and the reality of the external world. For example, it may delay gratifying it until there are more appropriate opportunities to satisfy its demands. It must also compromise between impulsive demands of the moralistic demands of the superego.

Question 10

What is the superego?

Answer 10

This is divided into the conscience and the ego ideal. The conscience is the internalisation of a societal rule. It determines which behaviours are permissible and causes feelings of guilt when roles are broken. The ego ideal is what a person strives towards, and is most probably determined by parental standards of good behaviour.

Question 11

What are defence mechanisms?

Answer 11

Unconscious strategies protect our conscious mind from anxiety. Defence mechanisms involve a distortion of reality in someway so that we are better able to cope in a situation.

Question 12

What is repression?

Answer 12

Refers to the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and impulses. Rather than staying quietly in the unconscious, these repressed thoughts and impulses continue to influence behaviour without the individual being aware of the reasons behind her behaviour. For example, a child who was abused by a parent they have no recollection of these events, but has trouble forming relationships.

Question 13

What is denial?

Answer 13

Denial is their refusal to accept reality so as to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings that might be associated with that event. The person acts as if the traumatic event has not happened, something that those around them find to be quite bizarre.

Question 14

What is dispalcement?

Answer 14

Involves redirecting thoughts of feelings in situations where a person feels unable to express them in the presence of the person they should be directed towards. Instead, they may take it out on a helpless victim or object.

Question 15

What are psychosexual stages?

Answer 15

Believe that personality develops in a sequence of five stages these are referred to as the psychosexual stage emphasises the most important driving force in development is the need to express sexual energy. Freud believed that the individual experiences tension due to the buildup of sexual energy and that pleasure comes from its just charge. In each stage, the energy is expressed in different ways and through different parts of the body.

Question 16

What are the five psychosexual stages?

Answer 16

Oral: 0-2 years: The mouth is a focal point of sensation and is the way in which the child expresses early sexual energy through sucking and biting.

Anal: 2-3 years: the beginnings of ego development, as a child becomes aware of the demands of reality and they need to conform to the demands of others. The major issue at this stage is toilet training as a child learns to control the expulsion of bodily waste.

Phallic: 3-6 years: sexual energy is now focused on the gentles. The major conflict of the stage is the Oedipus complex in which the male child unconsciously wishes to possess their mother and get rid of their father. As a result of this desire the boy experiences castration anxiety and in an attempt to resolve this problem the child identifies with their father.

Latent: 6-12 years: the child develops their mastery of the world around them. During this stage, the conflicts and issues of the previous stages are oppressed with the consequence that the children are unable to remember much of their early years.

Genital: 12+: accumulation of psychosexual development and the fixing of sexual energy in the genitals. This energy eventually directs toward sexual intercourse and the feeling of adult life.

Question 17

A03: Psychodynamic approach

Answer 17

+ Practical application
+ Comprehensive nature
- Psychoanalysis is a gender-biased approach
- Ignores other factors

Question 18

A03: Practical application

Answer 18

The psychodynamic approach can be praised for having practical applications. For example, the psychodynamic approach brought with it a new dynamic type of therapy, psychoanalysis. Freudian therapists have claimed success with many patients. This is a strength because it provides individuals and therapists with alternative options to consider when attempting to treat a patient, which might mean a greater chance of recovery.

Question 19

A03: Comprehensive nature

Answer 19

One of the main strengths of psychoanalysis is the comprehensive nature of the theory. As well as its therapeutic applications, psychoanalysis can be used to explain many other aspects of human behaviour outside the realm of psychology. For example, psychoanalysis has been used as a form of literary criticism. Works of literature such as Shakespeare’s plays Hamlet have repressed messages hidden beneath the surface of the text – Many aspects of Hamlet’s psyche are seen as a projection of Shakespeare’s own mind. As a result, we are able to interpret these words using psycho-analytic concepts, delving into the mind of the author of a fictional character and so enrich our understanding of the psychological state.

Question 20

A03: Psychoanalysis is a gender-biased approach

Answer 20

Freud’s views of women and female sexuality were less developed than his views on male sexuality. Despite the fact that his theories were focused on sexual development, Freud seemed content to remain ignorant of female sexuality and how it may differ from male sexuality. This led to psychoanalytic such as Karen Horney who broke away from the Freudian theory to criticise his work, particularly his views on women and their development. Dismissing women and their sexuality in such a way is problematic, not only because Freud treated many female patients, but also because his theories are so still influential today.

Question 21

A03: Ignores other factors

Answer 21

The psychodynamic approach explains mental disorders as a result of conflict between different aspects of the mind but this ignores other explanations (e.g. biological). For example, there are physical differences in both the neurochemistry and biological structures of people with OCD and without. Treating these physical causes is likely to be more effective for many psychological disorders. Thus, we should take an interactionist approach when explaining the causes of our behaviour.