Lesson 7 - Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Psychodynamic approach assumptions

Answer 1

Adult behaviour reflects complex dynamic interactions between conscious/unconscious

Emphasises importance of childhood processes

Question 2

What are the three levels to the mind

Answer 2

Conscious mind

Preconscious mind

Unconscious mind

Question 3

What is the conscious mind

Answer 3

Thoughts, feelings, memories person is Currently aware of

Question 4

What is the preconscious mind

Answer 4

Thoughts, feelings, memories person Could access

Question 5

What is the unconscious mind

Answer 5

Biological drives/instincts, inaccessible, largest store of info

Question 6

What are Freudian slips

aka paraphraxes

Answer 6

Slips of the tongue

product of unconscious mind

Question 7

What is the role of the unconscious mind

Answer 7

Prevents traumatic thoughts, feelings, memories from reaching conscious mind
-Could cause anxiety

Question 8

How is the unconscious mind accessed

Answer 8

Dream interpretation via psychoanalysis

Question 9

What is psychoanalysis

Answer 9

Therapist (psychoanalyst) uses free association & dream interpretation & inkblot tests

Question 10

What are the two drives we are born with

Answer 10

Eros (sex)
Represents life instinct, has its own psychic energy (libido)

Thanatos (aggression)
Represents death instinct

Question 11

What is the tripartite personality

Answer 11

3 parts: id, ego, superego

Question 12

What is the id

Answer 12

Formed between 0-18months

Unconscious mind

Irrational, emotional, deals with feelings/needs. Selfish

Operates on pleasure principle

Question 13

What is the ego

Answer 13

Formed between 18months-3years

Conscious mind

Rational, balance between id & superego

Operates on reality principle

Question 14

What is the superego

Answer 14

Formed between 3-6years

Unconscious mind

Conscience, moral guide based on parental/societal values

Operates on morality principle

Question 15

What are defence mechanisms

Answer 15

Ego’s compromise solutions to manage conflict between id and superego

Question 16

What is repression

Answer 16

Unconscious blocking of thoughts

Thoughts continue to influence behaviour

Question 17

What is denial

Answer 17

Refusal to accept reality

Avoids dealing with painful feelings associated with trauma

Question 18

What is displacement

Answer 18

Focus of strong emotion is expressed on alternative person/object

Question 19

What are the five psychosexual stages

Answer 19

Oral 0-2 years

Anal 2-3 years

Phallic 3-6 years

Latent 6-12 years

Genital 12+ years

Question 20

What is the oral stage

Answer 20

0-2 years

Focus of pleasure is mouth

Resolution: Trusting able to give/receive affection

Fixation: Smoking, sarcastic, critical

Question 21

What is the anal stage

Answer 21

2-3 years

Focus of pleasure is anus

Resolution: Can deal with authority figures

Retentive: Perfectionist & obsessive

Expulsive: Thoughtless & messy

Question 22

What is the phallic stage

Answer 22

3-6 years

Focus of pleasure is genital area

Resolution: Adapts traits of same sex

Unresolved: narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual

Question 23

What is the latent stage

Answer 23

6-12 years

Focus of pleasure is on mastery of world and social relationships

Earlier conflicts are repressed

Question 24

What is the genital stage

Answer 24

12+ years

Focus of pleasure on genital areas

Resolution: Well-adjusted adult

Unresolved: Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 25

What is the Oedipus complex

Answer 25

During phallic stage boys develop incestuous feelings to mother and hatred for father Castration anxiety from father, repress feelings for mother and identify with father Internalise gender role and moral values (superego)

Question 26

What is the electra complex

Answer 26

During phallic stage girls having penis envy and desire father Believe they were castrated and blame mother Desire for father replaced by desire for baby Internalise mum gender role and moral values (superego)

Question 27

+ Defence mechanisms are intuitive

Answer 27

Denial, repression, and displacement are ideas that can be appreciated by most people

Question 28

+ Practical applications of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 28

Development of psychoanalysis -therapy for treatment of anxiety disorders Foundation for psychotherapy in modern psychiatry

Question 29

+ Little Hans case study psychodynamic approach

Answer 29

Supports Oedipus complex Case study rich in detail and in-depth data Although can only be inferred, so subjective to investigator bias

Question 30

(-) Psychodynamic approach lacks falsifiability

Answer 30

Concepts such as unconscious mind, defence mechanisms etc lack falsifiability Cannot be tested, not scientific

Question 31

(-) Small samples, psychodynamic approach

Answer 31

Mostly case studies (Little Hans) Lacks generalisability since not representative

Question 32

(-) Psychodynamic approach based on psychic determinism

Answer 32

Everything based on unconscious mind and not accidents States there is no free will