Approaches - The psychodynamic approach Flashcards
What are the main discoveries of the psychodynamic approach
Role of the unconscious, ID, Ego, superego, Psychosexual stages and defense mechanisms
What is the psychodynamic approach?
A perspective that describes the different forces, most of which are unconscious that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
What did Sigmund Freud suggest?
That the part of our mind that we know about and are aware of is merely the “tip of the iceberg”
What is most of our mind made up of?
The unconscious - a vast storehouse of biological drives and instincts that has a significant influence on our behaviour and personality
What does the unconscious also contain?
Threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed
How can repressed memories be accessed?
Through dreams or parapraxes
What is the preconscious?
Contains thoughts and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if desired
What is the structure of personality also known as?
Tripartite
What is the ID?
Entirely unconscious, it is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification
What is the Ego?
The reality check that balances the conflicting demands of the ID and Superego
What is the Superego?
The moralistic part of our personality which represents our ideal self
What principle is the ID?
Pleasure principle
What principle is the Ego?
Reality principle
What principle is the Superego?
Morality principle
What age is the oral stage?
0-1 years
What is the focus of pleasure in the oral stage?
The mouth, the mother’s breast can be the object of pleasure
What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the oral stage?
Smoking and critical
What age is the anal stage?
1-3 years
What is the focus of pleasure in the anal stage?
The anus. Child gains pleasure for withholding and expelling faeces
What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the anal stage?
Rententive: perfectionist and obsessive
Explusive: thoughtless and messy
What age is the phallic stage?
3-6 years
What is the focus of pleasure in the phallic stage?
The genitals
What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the phallic stage?
Narcissistic and reckless
What is latency?
Earlier conflicts are repressed
What is the genital stage?
Where sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty
What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the genital stage?
Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
What is one strength of the psychodynamic approach?
Real world application
What is the evaluation of the psychodynamic approach having real world application?
P: Introduced the idea of psychotherapy
E: First attempt to treat disorders psychologically rather than physically
E: Psychoanalysis is the forerunner for talking therapies
L: Shows the value in creating a new approach to treatment
What is one limitation of the psychodynamic approach?
Untestable concepts
What is the evaluation of the psychodynamic approach having untestable concepts?
P: Untestable
E: Does not meet the scientifc criterion of falsification
E: Not open to empirical testing
E: Ideas were based on the subjective study of single individuals, so hard to make universal claims
L: Pseudoscientific
What is another strength of the psychodynamic approach?
Explanatory power
What is the evaluation of the psychodynamic approach having explanatory powers?
P: Ability to explain human behaviour
E: Been used to explain a wide range of phenomena including personality development
E: Significant in drawing attention to the connection of experiences and childhood
L: Has had a positive impact of psychology and literature
