freud psychodynamic theory

Question 1

give an overview of the theory

Answer 1

• freud suggests that are unconscious mind drives a lot of out behaviour, including aggression
• he suggests there humans are born with 2 innate drives which lie deep within the unconscious: the eros and the thanatos
• we have a tripartite personality

Question 2

id

Answer 2

• the id operates on the pleasure principle
• it doesn’t understand logic
• if it doesn’t get its pleasure, it becomes frustrated which leads to aggression

Question 3

ego

Answer 3

• the ego operates on the reality principle and understands that the world has no desires of its own and it understands punishment
• it tries to avoid punishment but feels no guilt
• the ego uses aggression to get the id what it wants as long as it thinks it will win

Question 4

superego

Answer 4

• the superego punishes the ids demands
• it operates on the morality principle and holds us to our highest standards which can cause feelings of guilt and shame and therefore may restrict the ego from using aggression to get what the id wants
• the superego only develops after age 6 after the oedipus complex has been resolved by males in the phallic stage by identifying with the father
• if this doesn’t happen some people may develop an inadequate superego, e.g a weak or excessively strong deviant superego

Question 5

strengths

Answer 5

This theory can explain the difference between hot blooded and cold blooded aggression. Hot blooded is impulsive and angry and has no purpose other than its own satisfaction as it is caused by the id. It represents failure of the egos normal function of redirecting the ids impulses. Cold blooded is deliberate, rational and instrumental as it has a purpose. It is the outcome of the egos success in controlling the ids impulses. Therefore, showing how the id and ego can explain aggression.

High application to society as if we know the cause of aggression we can reduce it, For example, Feshback and Singer found that boys observing violence decreased violence, as those who watched more violent TV were less violent than the boys who watched non-violent. Therefore, suggesting catharsis can be used to reduce aggression as it satisfies aggressive urges.

Question 6

weaknesses

Answer 6

the theory is unfalsifiable, meaning you cannot prove the existence of the id, ego and superego. freud suggests that aggression is due to a dominant id (when people act on aggressive urges) or a weak superego (no moral compass is present due to failure to identify with the same sex parent). there is no way of proving it wrong, meaning it is highly subjective and cannot be scientifically tested, decreasing reliability and credibility.

slt bandura alt explantion