Assumptions

Question 1

What is the background of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

The psychodynamic approach explains behaviour in terms of forces that drive it.

Question 2

What are the key points about Freud?

Answer 2

Specialised in treating neurotic disorders.
He believed that personality and behaviour are determined by psychological factors.
He was one of the first people to challenge the view that mental disorders were caused by physical illness.
Freud’s theory and therapy are called psychoanalysis. Seeks to explain human behaviour as an interaction between innate drives and early experiences.

Question 3

What are the key points about the influence of childhood experiences assumption?

Answer 3

Childhood experiences shape our adult personality.
Freud proposed that psychological development in childhood takes place in a series of key stages.

Question 4

What are the key points about the psychosexual stages?

Answer 4

Each stage represents the fixation of libido on a different part of the body.
Successful completion of the psychosexual stages will enable an individual able to fully function within society.
If a child fails to progress through the particular stage, then the child will remain fixated at the body part associated with the stage.
This will lead to a long - lasting effect on their personality.
Fixation can occur at any stage.

Question 5

What is frustration in regard to the psychosexual stages?

Answer 5

When the stage has not been resolved because needs have not been met. (Child is under satisfied)

Question 6

What is overindulgence in regard to the psychosexual stages?

Answer 6

When the needs of the child have been over - satisfied.
As a result, the child feels too comfortable and reluctant to move onto the next stage.

Question 7

What age are individuals during the oral stage?

Answer 7

0 - 18 months.

Question 8

What is the origin of libido and the source of pleasure in the oral stage?

Answer 8

Mouth:
Sucking, chewing, swallowing, biting.

Question 9

What are the key events that take place during the oral stage?

Answer 9

Breast feeding, weaning onto solid food.

Question 10

What traits could occur due to needs not being met during the oral stage?

Answer 10

Pessimism, envy, sarcasm.

Question 11

What traits could occur due to needs being over satisfied during the oral stage?

Answer 11

Optimism gullibility, neediness.

Question 12

What age are individuals during the anal stage?

Answer 12

18 months - 3 years.

Question 13

What is the origin of libido and the source of pleasure in the anal stage?

Answer 13

Anus:
Withholding, expelling, playing with faeces.

Question 14

What are the key events that take place during the anal stage?

Answer 14

Potty training.

Question 15

What traits could occur due to needs not being met during the anal stage?

Answer 15

Stubborn, possessive, overly tidy.

Question 16

What traits could occur due to needs being over satisfied during the anal stage?

Answer 16

Messy, disorganised, reckless.

Question 17

What age are individuals during the phallic stage?

Answer 17

3 - 5 years.

Question 18

What is the origin of libido and the source of pleasure in the phallic stage?

Answer 18

Genitals:
Masturbation

Question 19

What are the key events that take place during the phallic stage?

Answer 19

Oedipus complex - leads to superego and gender identity

Question 20

What traits could occur due to the phallic stage?

Answer 20

Self-assured, vain, problems with sexuality and building and maintaining relationships in adulthood.

Question 21

What age are individuals during the latency stage?

Answer 21

5 years - puberty.

Question 22

What is the origin of libido and the source of pleasure in the latency stage?

Answer 22

Little/ no sexual motivation.

Question 23

What are the key events that take place during the latency stage?

Answer 23

Acquiring knowledge and understanding of the world.

Question 24

What could occur due to the latency stage?

Answer 24

No fixations as no pleasure focus.

Question 25

What age are individuals during the genital stage?

Answer 25

Puberty onwards.

Question 26

What is the origin of libido and the source of pleasure in the genital stage?

Answer 26

Genitals:
Heterosexual intercourse

Question 27

What could occur due to the genital stage?

Answer 27

Well-developed adult personality, well-adjusted if complexes are resolved during phallic stage.

Question 28

What are the key points about the oedipus complex?

Answer 28

The young boy focuses his sexual energy onto his mother.
He begins to see his father as a threat to the bond between him and his mother.
The boy is jealous as the father is able to possess the mother in a way which the boy is unable to.
The boy starts to fear his father.
He fears that if his father knew about his feelings, he would castrate him.
(Castrate anxiety)
The boy realises that one way to possess his mother is to become his father.
The Oedipus complex is resolved when the boy internalises his father.
The internal representation of his father becomes his superego.
Electra complex is the opposite.
(Young girls focus their sexual energy onto their father)

Question 29

What are the key points about the unconscious mind assumption?

Answer 29

The conscious mind is merely the tip of the iceberg.
Much of what happens in the mind is below the surface.
This is the preconscious and unconscious mind.
The conscious mind Is logical.
The unconscious mind is ruled by pleasure seeking.
It can’t be directly assessed but is likely to express itself indirectly - often through dreams.
The unconscious mind determines much of our behaviour, and we are motivated by unconscious and emotional drives.
It contains unresolved conflicts that have a powerful impact on behaviour and experience.
Conflicts show in our fantasies and dreams.
The conflicts are so threatening that they appear disguised, in the shape of symbols.

Question 30

What are the key points about defence mechanisms?

Answer 30

Conflicts between the Id, Ego and Superego create anxiety.
The ego protects itself using ego - defence mechanisms.
These defences can cause disturbed behaviour if overused.

Question 31

What is the definition of repression?

Answer 31

Unknowingly placing an unpleasant memory or thought in the unconscious.

Question 32

What is the definition of regression?

Answer 32

Reverting to immature behaviour from an earlier stage of development.

Question 33

What is the definition of displacement?

Answer 33

Redirecting unacceptable feelings from the original source to a safer, substitute target.

Question 34

What is the definition of sublimation?

Answer 34

Replacing socially unacceptable impulses with socially acceptable behaviour.

Question 35

What is the definition of reaction formation?

Answer 35

Acting in exactly the opposite way to one’s unacceptable impulses.

Question 36

What is the definition of projection?

Answer 36

Attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings and thoughts to others and not yourself.

Question 37

What is the definition of personalisation?

Answer 37

Creating false excuses for one’s unacceptable feelings, thoughts, or behaviour.

Question 38

What are the key points about the tripartite personality assumption?

Answer 38

Freud identified that the human psyche compromises of three elements:
The Id
The Ego
The Superego

Question 39

What are the key points about the id?

Answer 39

Instinctive and primitive.
Entirely unconscious.
Pleasure principle.
Centre of wants and primal desires.
Demands immediate satisfaction.
Born with it.
Located in subconscious.
Unconsciously tries to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives.

Question 40

What are the key points about the ego?

Answer 40

Rationality.
Ensures that Ids wants are acceptable in the ‘real world’.
Mostly located in the conscious part.
Moderator between ID and Superego.
Logical aspect of personality.
Conscious part of the personality with ‘executive powers’.
Reality principle.

Question 41

What are the key points about the superego?

Answer 41

Sense of right and wrong.
Both is conscious and unconscious.
Moral aspects of personality.
Represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgement.
The conscious.
(Prevents us from doing morally bad things.)
Ego ideal.
(Motivates us to do what is morally right.)