Assumptions

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

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

Question 2

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

Influence of childhood experiences

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

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

Frustration

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Overindulgence

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

Oral - age

Answer 7

0 - 18 months.

Question 8

Oral - origin of libido and source of pleasure

Answer 8

Mouth:
Sucking, chewing, swallowing, biting.

Question 9

Oral - key events

Answer 9

Breast feeding, weaning onto solid food.

Question 10

Oral - outcome of function (frustration)

Answer 10

Pessimism, envy, sarcasm.

Question 11

Oral - outcome of function (overindulgence)

Answer 11

Optimism gullibility, neediness.

Question 12

Anal - age

Answer 12

18 months - 3 years.

Question 13

Anal - origin of libido and source of pleasure

Answer 13

Anus:
Withholding, expelling, playing with faeces.

Question 14

Anal - key events

Answer 14

Potty training.

Question 15

Anal - outcome of function (frustration)

Answer 15

Stubborn, possessive, overly tidy.

Question 16

Anal - outcome of function (overindulgence)

Answer 16

Messy, disorganised, reckless.

Question 17

Phallic - age

Answer 17

3 - 5 years.

Question 18

Phallic - origin of libido and source of pleasure

Answer 18

Genitals:
Masturbation

Question 19

Phallic - key events

Answer 19

Oedipus complex - leads to superego and gender identity

Question 20

Phallic - outcome of function

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Latency - age

Answer 21

5 years - puberty.

Question 22

Latency - origin of libido and source of pleasure

Answer 22

Little/ no sexual motivation.

Question 23

Latency - key events

Answer 23

Acquiring knowledge and understanding of the world.

Question 24

Latency - outcome of function

Answer 24

No fixations as no pleasure focus.

Question 25

Genital - age

Answer 25

Puberty onwards.

Question 26

Genital - origin of libido and source of pleasure

Answer 26

Genitals:
Heterosexual intercourse

Question 27

Genital - outcome of function

Answer 27

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

Question 28

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

The unconscious mind

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

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

Repression

Answer 31

Unknowingly placing an unpleasant memory or thought in the unconscious.

Question 32

Regression

Answer 32

Reverting to immature behaviour from an earlier stage of development.

Question 33

Displacement

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Sublimation

Answer 34

Replacing socially unacceptable impulses with socially acceptable behaviour.

Question 35

Reaction formation

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Projection

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Personalisation

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Tripartite personality

Answer 38

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

Question 39

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

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

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.)