freuds psychodynamic explanation of aggression

Question 1

what is your ego

Answer 1

reality

the conscious small amounts of mental activity that we know about. made of thoughts and perceptions

Question 2

what is your super ego

Answer 2

morality
the preconscious - things we could be aware of, holds thoughts and ideas that can be accessed and are ready to be known about. memories and stored knowledge

Question 3

what is your ID

Answer 3

instincts
the unconscious and main part where all thoughts originate. made up of fears, unacceptable sexual desires, violent motives and irrational wishes

Question 4

what did Freud believe about personality

Answer 4

made up of the three aspects and develop in the first 5 years of life

Question 5

what are defence mechanisms

Answer 5

what the ego uses to help balance the conflicting demands of the id and superego

• DISPLACEMENT unconscious defence mechanisms whereby the mind substitutes either a new aim or object for goals felt in their original form to be dangerous or unacceptable
• SUBLIMATION mature type - unacceptable impulses are unconsciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behaviour

Question 6

what are the two life forces

Answer 6

EROS = libido, focusses on the preservation and enjoyment of life
the eros has to balance out the thanatos which is a drive towards self destruction
human behaviour is seen as an interaction between these two forces and to prevent us from hurting ourselves, the thanatos will be redirected away from ourselves resulting in aggression

Question 7

what is catharsis

Answer 7

way of satisfying our urges without resorting to violent impulses by watching violence or taking part in minor aggression such as playing sport or video games
emotional release

Question 8

what issues can occur if any of these don’t develop properly

Answer 8

arise if the ego or superego don’t develop properly
the ego tries to keep aggression/unacceptable desires in the unconscious. these thoughts can leak out in dreams/defense mechanisms

Question 9

compare the biological explanation with psychodynamic explanation

Answer 9

biological = genes and hormones 
scientific 
nature 
basis on physical structures 
experimental data 

psychodynamic = eros and thanatos 
catharsis 
unscientific 
nature and nurture 
based on a model of the mind 
case studies

Question 10

evaluation of psychodynamic theory

Answer 10

• BANDURA goes against the theory of catharsis as he showed that watching aggression causes more aggression and doesnt release it
  + VERONA AND SULLIVAN lab experiment - frustrating situation see if pressing shock button (acting aggressively) would lead to reduction of aggression - heart rate decrease after pressing button
  + HOLKALSON found physiological evidence for aggression reduction which is evidence for catharsis
  + FREUD’s idea of using this theory to treat mental health