Lecture 6: Psychodynamic

Question 1

Define Psychic Determinism

Answer 1

the theory that everything that humans think, do and feel has a specific underlying cause

Question 2

What does Freud argue humans are primarily shaped by?

Answer 2

Interaction between their biological instincts and family relations growing up

Question 3

Define compromise formation in Freud’s theory of thought

Answer 3

the main job of the ego is to find a compromise among the different structures of the mind. What the mind actually thinks and does is the result of this compromise

Question 4

What are Freud’s three distinct and independent parts of the mind’s internal structure

Answer 4

Id: irrational and emotional part of mind, biological aspect of personality, ruled by the pleasure principle
Ego: rational part of the mind, accommodates reality
Superego: moral part of the mind, internalises societal pressures and norms

Question 5

Define libido according to Freud

Answer 5

A fixed and finite amount of energy available at any given time that can be used for mental processing

Question 6

What are the two unconscious major instincts according to Freud?

Answer 6

Eros: libido, sexual drive, love. Directed towards self-preservation and species preservation
Thanatos: death, aggression. Directed towards the destruction of the self and others

Question 7

Define secondary process thinking in Freud’s theory of thought

Answer 7

the rational and conscious processes of ordinary thought

Question 8

Define primary process thinking in Freud’s theory of thought

Answer 8

the strange and primitive style of unconscious thinking manifested by the Id

Question 9

Define condensation in Freud’s theory of thought

Answer 9

displacement in the primary process thinking that can compress several ideas, consolidate, for example, a complex of memories, thoughts or emotions

Question 10

Define symbolisation in Freud’s theory of thought

Answer 10

displacement in the primary process thinking where, mentally, one thing may stand in for another

Question 11

Early in life, narcissism and self-preservation are the same, but over time they differentiate into…

Answer 11

self-preservation and the libido

Question 12

Define the Freudian slip (parapraxis)

Answer 12

A leakage from the unconscious mind manifesting as a mistake, accident, omissions or memory lapse

Question 13

According to Horney, what are the two precursors to neurotic needs?

Answer 13

Basic hostility and basic anxiety
(hostility -> anxiety -> neuroticism)

Question 14

Describe the compliance coping strategy for neurotic needs

Answer 14

Compliance (moving towards): receiving help from others due to the neurotic need to be wanted, helped and accepted

Question 15

Describe the aggression coping strategy for neurotic needs

Answer 15

Aggression (moving against): attempting to dominate or achieve mastery over others due to neurotic need to exploit, to be perfect or to achieve

Question 16

Describe the withdrawal coping strategy for neurotic needs

Answer 16

Withdrawal (moving away): withdrawing from others as not wanting to depend on them due to neurotic needs for emotional, social and superior distance from others

Question 17

Describe Horney’s expansive solution to neurotic conflict

Answer 17

Manifesting power over others to limit disapproval due to need for social/personal recognition, perfection and exploitation
Identification with the ideal self

Question 17

Describe Horney’s self-effacing solution to neurotic conflict

Answer 17

Manifesting love to try to limit disapproval from others due to need for affection and approval
Identification with the despised real self

Question 18

Describe Horney’s resignation solution to neurotic conflict

Answer 18

Withdrawing to limit disapproval from others due to need for self-sufficiency, perfection and unassailability
Dissonance between despised real self and ideal self

Question 19

What is a brief description of object relations theory?

Answer 19

Study of interpersonal relations including the unconscious images and feelings associated with important people in one’s life.
Every relationship has elements of satisfaction/frustration; love/hate; parts/whole, which lead to contradictions in feelings towards an object.

Question 20

Define collective unconscious

Answer 20

Jung: all people share certain unconscious ideas because of evolutionary roots

Question 21

Define persona

Answer 21

Jung: the social mask one wears in public dealings which does not advertise all components of the self (private life)

Question 22

Define anima

Answer 22

Jung: the idea of the typical female as held by males

Question 23

Define animus

Answer 23

Jung: the idea of the typical male as held by females