Individual Differences Explanation - Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Explain fixation…

Answer 1

Oral stage of psychosexual development satisfies the libido through breast feeding, where too much or too little stimulation during this stage may result in fixation

Individuals with schizophrenia become fixated during the first two moths of this stage

Question 2

Explain regression…

Answer 2

Adults satisfy oral desires through kissing, smoking, etc, where excessive amounts of stress may result in regression, causing the ego to regress to the oral stage, which may be temporary or continue over a long period of time

Question 3

Explain losing touch with reality…

Answer 3

During the oral stage the ego isn’t well developed therefore, if regression occurs nothing is stopping the id from operating completely unimpeded, which is represented by symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions

Person may then begin to lose touch with reality and be typified by the primary narcissism seen in infants

Question 4

Explain schizophrenogenic mothers…

Answer 4

Theorists consider the mother-child relationship to be one of the crucial factors in the development of schizophrenia

Fromm-Reichmann (1948) stated that distrust and resentment seen in schizophrenics is the result of sever early warp and rejection encountered in important people during early stages of development

Suggests that mothers of schizophrenics are overprotective and controlling, and distant and rejecting, stifling the child’s emotional development