Freud's psychodynamic explanation of aggression (pack 3)

Question 1

what does psychodynamic psychology refer to?

Answer 1

the psychological forces that underline human behaviour
feelings, emotions and how they may relate to an earlier experience

Question 2

what are two key assumption of this approach

Answer 2

our awareness is in layers, so much of what we think and motivates us is in our unconscious mind
mental processes drive our behaviour

sex is a motivating force in human behaviour

Question 3

what are the 3 main important areas of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 3

1. structure of the mind
2. structure of personality (Id, Ego, Superego)
3. defence mechanisms

Question 4

what does Freud say something happens when we are upset or find something distasteful

Answer 4

are repressed and hidden in our unconscious but may still cause dysfunctional behaviours

Question 5

what are the 3 levels of consciousness

Answer 5

Ego
superego
ID

Question 6

what is the ego in terms of structure

Answer 6

smallest part in mind and only bit your aware of and you can talk about it in logical fashion

Question 7

what is the superego in terms of structure

Answer 7

things stored here but are not in conscious, they can be readily brought to consciousness
gatekeeper between conscious and unconscious

Question 8

what is the ID in terms of structure?

Answer 8

biggest area of mind
but not directly accessible
storage area for urges feelings and ideas that are tied to conflict and pain

they exert influence on actions and conscious awareness

where most of our personality is made up

Question 9

ID in terms of personality

Answer 9

born with it
pleasure seeking desires
want immediate desires

Question 10

EGO in terms of personality

Answer 10

operates on reality principles
controls the desires of the ID
maintains balance between ID and superego

Question 11

Superego in terms of personality

Answer 11

takes on ethics of other people, inc. parents and operates on the morality principle
it provides us with a conscience

Question 12

what are the 5 main types of defence mechanisms and what do they mean?

Answer 12

displacement- divert emotions from original target to a more acceptable one

denial- completely reject painful thoughts or feelings

repression- push info out of consciousness, preventing unacceptable desires or emotions or traumatic memories from becoming conscious, but they are still expressed through dreams or neurotic behaviours

projection- attribute your own unacceptable faults or wishes to someone else

regression- engage in behaviour characteristic of an earlier stage of development

Question 13

What is ID born with?

Answer 13

Eros and Thanatos

Question 14

what are our two innate drives that are seen as forming the first part in our personality (ID)

Answer 14

Eros and Thanatos

Question 15

what is Eros and what is it in conflict with

Answer 15

positive and creative
in direct conflict with ‘the death drive’ (thanatos)

Question 16

what is Thanatos and what is it in conflict with?

Answer 16

the death drive
eros

Question 17

What happens when tensions rise between Thanatos and Eros

Answer 17

tension builds until we cannot control it, resulting in aggressive behaviour
aggression is innate

Question 18

what happens around age 2

Answer 18

ego develops, where social norms of parents have been learned and a limited understanding that aggression is only appropriate sometimes

Question 19

at two what does the ego now control

Answer 19

it controls the ID and makes sure that unacceptable thoughts such as too much aggression are kept in the unconscious mind using certain mechanisms

displacement
sublimation
repression

Question 20

how do we control our aggression

Answer 20

catharsis

Question 21

what is catharsis

Answer 21

process of releasing negative energy from the mind

Question 22

when does the superego develop and why

Answer 22

during the first 5 years of life in response to parental punishment and approval

Question 23

what causes problem aggressive behaviour

Answer 23

if there has been an issue in the development of either the ego and superego as they keep unacceptable aggressive urges under control

Question 24

what is an example of when catharsis may happen

Answer 24

when we watch aggressive behaviour on television or in a boxing match

Question 25

what is sublimation

Answer 25

channelling aggressive behaviour into a more acceptable activity such as football

Question 26

what are two pieces of evidence that support the explanation of catharsis for controlling aggression and what did they find

Answer 26

Megargee and Mendelsohn-
looked into the link between aggression and personality types…if people do not let aggression instinct, they will not be able to control it

Verona and Sullivan-
reacted in an aggressive way to being frustrated in a task had a reduced heart rate compared to those who did not react aggressively

Question 27

what is the evidence that challenges catharsis and what did they find

Answer 27

Bushman
ppt who did catharsis were more aggressive than those who did nothing

Question 28

what did Freud suggest about the 5 stages of psychosexual development

Answer 28

as children pass through various stages of psycho-sexual development the libido focuses on different parts of the body

Question 29

what needs to be achieved during childhood

Answer 29

various parenting tasks must be achieved and experiences during these stages will shape their personality later in life

Question 30

what are the five stages of psychosexual development

Answer 30

1. oral stage
2. anal stage
3. phallic stage
4. latency stage
5. Genital stage

Question 31

when is the anal stage and what happens

Answer 31

1-3 years
ego develops
children gain pleasure from taking control of their own bodies
toilet training
overindulgence- messy people
underindulgence- overly tidy

Question 31

when is the oral stage and what happens

Answer 31

0-15 months
ID present at birth
focused on the mouth, pleasure from sucking and biting
must achieve weaning
OR
can lead to smoking, over eating

Question 32

when is the phallic stage and what happens

Answer 32

3-5 years
focused on genitals…and playing
take interest in differences between men and women and a strong attachment to other sex parent
must have successful resolution of son to mother etc.
allows development of superego
can cause repression of sexuality

Question 33

when is the latency stage and what happens

Answer 33

5 years to puberty
sexual feeling supressed allows for children to focus energy on other aspects of life

Question 34

when is the genital stage and what happens

Answer 34

puberty onwards
renewed focus on genitals, sexual interest, desire and pursuit of sexual relationships

Question 35

two strengths of Freud’s approach

Answer 35

1. some evidence to support - case studies used to develop theories, huge amounts of qualitative data, in depth analysis (LITTLE HANS) aggressive nature towards father was due to jealousy of intimate relationship with mother
2. usefulness- lead to practical applications such as talking cures like psychotherapy (catharsis)
   BUT
   BUSHMAN- ppt who engaged in aggressive behaviour more angry still

Question 36

3 weaknesses of Freud’s theory

Answer 36

1. scientific credibility low- due to case studies, data collected from the patients themselves
   a) subjective interp. so limited validity
   b) ungeneralizable as it is only on one person so not representative
2. not falsifiable cannot directly observe the ID etc. so is not scientific
   lacks empiricism needed for scientific status
3. deterministic- caused by innate drives so the unconscious mind has not control…saying that aggressiveness does not come from free-will- which implies convicts should not be held liable for behaviour