Freud’s psychodynamic explanation

Question 1

What is the conscious mind?

Answer 1

Thoughts and perceptions we are aware of and have control over - what we are currently thinking

Question 2

What is the preconscious mind? (2 points)

Answer 2

Thoughts and perceptions we are occasionally aware of - memories which can be recalled

Question 3

What is the unconscious mind?

Answer 3

The majority of our mind which we are completely unaware of, including:
+ Repressed childhood memories
+ Instincts
+ Desires
+ Fears
+ Dreams

Question 4

Explain Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory of Personality. (4 points)

Answer 4

Proposes that the mind ‘psyche’ consists of a tripartite system: the ID, Ego and Superego

Personality is believed to develop from the interactions between these 3 structures

Ego Strength - the ability to function normally despite the conflict between the 3 systems

Healthy personality types are maintained by a balance between the ID, Ego and Superego

Question 5

What is the ID (‘the pleasure principle’)? (4 points)

Answer 5

The first part to develop at birth

Exists in the unconscious mind only, involving 2 main components:
+ Eros - energy of the libido
+ Thanatos - the death instinct

Involves instant gratification through urges and instincts

Blocking these desires results in frustration, anger and the onset of aggressive behaviour

Question 6

What is the Superego (‘the morality principle’)? (4 points)

Answer 6

The last to develop at age 3-5 years

Exists in the conscious and unconscious mind

Challenges the ID - involves our moral values including:
+ Conscience - causes feelings of guilt
+ Ego-ideal - causes feelings of pride when acting as a ‘good’ member of society

Question 7

What is the Ego (‘the reality principle’)? (3 points)

Answer 7

Second to develop at the age of 2 years old

Exists in conscious mind - mediator between ID and superego

Prioritises logic, decision-making, and self-control

Question 8

Explain Freud’s Psychodynamic Theory of Aggression. (3 points)

Answer 8

1. Aggressive behaviour develops as the ID is dominant over the Ego and Superego, driving impulses to be satisfied
2. The Ego is caught in the middle of a conflict between the ID and Superego
3. In order to restrict the ID’s demands and reduce offence to the Superego, the Ego triggers defence mechanisms to protect itself, including repression and sublimation

Question 9

Define “repression”.

Answer 9

When the ID demands are repressed back into the unconscious mind

Question 10

Define “sublimation”.

Answer 10

When the ID’s instincts are satisfied, but are transformed into something socially acceptable (e.g. boxing) to relieve aggression

Question 11

What are the supporting and refuting arguments of Freud’s psychodynamic explanation of aggression?

Answer 11

Supporting:
S - Verona & Sullivan (2008)
A - Psychoanalysis

Refuting:
C - Case studies and unfalsifiability
O - F&G and Bushman
D - SLT as an alternate explanation

Question 12

What is catharsis? (2 points)

Answer 12

The process of releasing negative energy in the mind through methods like sports, art, music, psychotherapy

Important to relieve the conflicts of the unconscious mind and symptoms of distress, anger and anxiety

Question 13

What is the strength of Freud’s Theory? (4 points)

Answer 13

Verona & Sullivan (2008) investigated how participants would react to a frustrating situation

Participants were observed to see whether acting aggressively by pressing a ‘shock button’ would lead to reduced aggression measured by heart rate

Results showed that people who reacted aggressively had reduced heart rate and reduced tension

Supports Freud’s concept of catharsis - could be beneficial for humans when managing their aggression

Question 14

How credible is Freud’s Theory?

Answer 14

Freud’s psychodynamic theory is not entirely falsifiable due to his use of case studies to support it, decreasing the credibility of this explanation

Question 15

How is Freud’s theory unfalsifiable? (4 points)

Answer 15

Popper (1995) argued that to be scientific, research must use falsifiability through systematic investigation

Freud’s use of questionable methodologies (case studies) don’t fulfil this criteria - criticised for being unfalsifiable and unscientific because it can neither be proven true nor refuted

Decreased internal validity:
Libido is difficult to test and measure objectively - cause and effect between the tripartite system and aggressive human behaviour can’t be established

‘He’s more of a pseudoscientist than a scientist,’ (Thornton 2001)

Question 16

How do Freud’s case studies reduce the credibility of his theory? (3 points)

Answer 16

Freud relied on idiographic case studies to support his psychodynamic theory

This includes his subjective interpretations of Wolf Man, Anna O and Little Hans, the last of which he never actually met in person

Freud relied on letters written by Little Han’s father which is subject to bias as important information could have been omitted or exaggerated

Question 17

What are the objections against Freud’s Theory? (4 points)

Answer 17

Critics argue that Freud should be evaluated in terms of specific hypotheses rather than as a whole

Fisher & Greenberg (1996) concluded that there is no evidence to support Freud’s concepts of oral and anal personalities

Bushman (2002) carried out a study involving hitting a punching bag and thinking about the person who had made someone angry

Found that it in fact led to more aggression, suggesting the concept of catharsis is false

Question 18

Is there room for debate on Freud’s Theory? (4 points)

Answer 18

It could be argued that the psychodynamic explanation is reductionist - only focuses on experiences and ignores the role of the environment

SLT suggests that aggressive behaviour is learned through the observation and imitation of same-sex role models

Bandura’s findings showed that boys copied an average of 25.8 aggressive acts from a male role model whilst girls copied 5.5 aggressive acts from a female role model

Freud’s theory remains incomplete - does not fully account for gender differences

Question 19

What is ‘psychoanalysis’? (2 points)

Answer 19

A technique Freud created where a trained psychoanalyst helps a client explore their dreams and childhood memories

Enables a client to learn about the defence mechanisms they are using to deal with the unresolved conflicts in their unconscious mind

Question 20

How applicable to real life is Freud’s Theory? (3 points)

Answer 20

Freud’s theory has important practical applications and have been very influential in the development of modern-day therapy

Has led to the development of psychoanalysis - has helped in the treatment of human aggression as patients explore their unresolved conflicts of the unconscious mind

Supported by Bresin et al (2013) - found that adaptive forms of aggression could create a calming effect and empower participants with the skills to regulate anger in the future