**L9 - Psychodynamic Approach (The Unconscious and Personality)

Question 1

what are the KEY ASSUMPTIONS of the PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH?

Answer 1

• the driving force behind our behaviour is the UNCONSCIOUS MIND
• INSTINCTS and DRIVES MOTIVATE our behaviour
• EARLY CHILDHOOD is PIVOTAL in making us the person we are

Question 2

how many levels of the mind are there according to FREUD and what are they?

Answer 2

FREUD believes that there are THREE LEVELS to the mind.

The CONSCIOUS MIND contains the THOUGHTS, FEELINGS and MEMORIES that person is currently aware of.

The PRECONSCIOUS MIND contains the thoughts, feelings and memories that a perosn COULD ACCESS IF THEY WANTED TO

However, FREUD argued that the LARGEST PART OF THE MIND is INACCESSIBLE. He referred to this as the UNCONSCIOUS MIND

Question 3

what did FREUD believe about our everyday actions?

Answer 3

FREUD believed that MOST of our EVERYDAY ACTIONS and BEHAVIOURS are NOT CONTROLLED CONSCIOUSLY but are the PRODUCT OF THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND, which reveals itself in SLIPS OF THE TONGUE (FREUDIAN SLIPS), in CREATIVITY and in NEUROTIC SYMPTOMS.

Question 4

what happens with TRAUMATIC THOUGHTS?

Answer 4

The mind ACTIVELY PREVENTS TRAUMATIC THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND MEMORIES in the mind from reaching the CONSCIOUS MIND because they would CAUSE ANXIETY if they did.

Question 5

what happens in PSYCHOANALYSIS?

Answer 5

During psychoanalysis, the THERAPIST (known as the PSYCHOANALYST) tries to ACCESS the UNCONSCIOUS MIND of their patients using FREE ASSOCIATION and DREAM INTERPRETATION.

Question 6

what is the structure of personality?

Answer 6

personality has a TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE (its made up of three parts) - the ID, the EGO, and the SUPEREGO. Experience and CONFLICTS IN CHILDHOOD SHAPE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE THREE PARTS of personality, affecting how a person behaves

Question 7

what is the Id?

Answer 7

the Id is formed BETWEEN BIRTH AND 18 MONTHS OF AGE. It is in the UNCONSCIOUS MIND. The id focuses on the SELF (selfish), it is IRRATIONAL and EMOTIONAL.

It deals with FEELINGS and NEEDS, and SEEKS PLEASURE. It operates on the PLEASURE PRINCIPLE

Question 8

What is the EGO?

Answer 8

the ego is formed from around 18 MONTHS UNTIL 3 YEARS OF AGE. It is in the CONSCIOUS MIND. It is RATIONAL and obtains a BALANCE between the id and the superego.

It operates on the REALITY PRINCIPLE

Question 9

what is the SUPEREGO?

Answer 9

the superego is formed between 3 AND 6 YEARS OF AGE. It is in the UNCONSCIOUS MIND. The superego ACTS AS A CONSCIENCE or MORAL GUIDE based on PARENTAL and SOCIETAL VALUES,.

It operates on the MORALITY PRINCIPLE