Origins And Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

What is psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions. In particular the functions that affect behaviour in a given context situation

Question 2

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 2

He opened the first ever lab dedicated to psychological enquiry in Leipzig 1879
‘Grandfather of psychology’

Question 3

Introspection

Answer 3

The examination of thoughts and Wundts colleagues were trained to examine their feelings, emotions and sensations
Introspection was difficult to replicate and very subjective

Question 4

Emergence of psychology as a science

Answer 4

John Watson claimed that for psychology to be scientific it had to focus on observable and measurable phenomena.
The behaviourist approach dominated psychology for 50 years, and focused on the processes by which we learn using carefully controlled lab experiments.

Question 5

Where are we now
- psychology as a science

Answer 5

Most dominant approach is cognitive approach
Due to emergence of cognitive neuroscience
Brain scanning techniques allow psychologists to study the brain in more scientific way
So psychology classes as science now

Question 6

Weaknesses of introspection

Answer 6

Behaviourist psychologists questioned the scientific status of introspection as it produced data based on opinions
Results vary from P to P as Ps were recalling their own thoughts
This was deemed non scientific
No cause and effect
Not reliable as difficult to replicate

Question 7

Psychodynamic approach
assumption 1

Answer 7

‘Behaviour is the result of the unconscious mind ‘
Iceberg analogy

Question 8

Freudian slip

Answer 8

When the unconscious slips out. it is verbal

Question 9

Dream analysis

Answer 9

When we are asleep, repressed ideas come to the surface, but what we might remember of the dream may be altered by our thought processes. Freud believed that the real meaning of a dream had a sexual significance.

Question 10

Tripartite personality - assumption 2

Answer 10

Freud believed there were three parts to every adult personality, and that each part develops at a different stage in a persons life

Question 11

Id

Answer 11

Selfish and impulsive part of our mind. Present from birth

Question 12

Ego

Answer 12

Rational
Functions to balance demands of id and superego. Develops age 2.

Question 13

Superego

Answer 13

Moralistic
learnt from parents
Develops age 4

Question 14

Defence mechanisms

Answer 14

Ego balances demands of id and superego - this creates anxiety
It protects itself with mechanisms

Question 15

Denial

Answer 15

Arguing against an anxiety provoking situation by stating it doesn’t exist. E.g. grief

Question 16

Displacement

Answer 16

Taking out impulses on a less threatening target, e.g. punching the wall

Question 17

Repression

Answer 17

Anxiety provoking thoughts are pushed into the unconscious mind e.g. bullying

Question 18

Little Hans

Answer 18

5 year old boy with phobia of horses
Freud believed that Hans had this fear because the horse unconsciously represented his father
Hans feared his father as he had castration anxiety and identified with is mother.

Question 19

Evaluation of psychodynamic approach AO3
strength

Answer 19

P:Useful in terms of developing treatment for mental health disorders.
E: developed psychoanalysis a form of talking therapy. Aim is to release repressed memories from the unconscious mind that are having a negative effect on the person
C: allows better quality of life, e.g. career/more social

Question 20

Evaluation of psychodynamic approach AO3
Limitation 1

Answer 20

P: Unscientific - pseudoscience
E: Only uses case studies eg. Little hans to support Oedipus complex
C: Case studies unreliable - only studies 1 person. Unrepresentative - can’t generalise

Question 21

Evaluation of psychodynamic approach AO3
Limitation 2

Answer 21

P: Reductionist. Reductionism, is when a theory/approach attempts to understand human behaviour by breaking behaviour down into smaller factors.
E: they reduce all behaviour down to the unconscious mind. They fail to consider any other cause the behaviour.
C: limited understanding of human behaviour. Understanding of depression limited, so it limits treatment.

Question 22

Evaluation of psychodynamic approach AO3
Limitation 3

Answer 22

P: determinist. Determinism is when an approach or theory argues that human behaviour is governed by factors that we cannot control
E: psychodynamic approach argues that our behaviour is governed by an internal fact that we cannot control. This is our unconscious mind.
C: limitation because it causes issues within legal system. No full control of their behaviour, can they be truly responsible for criminal behaviour. Also provides an excuse

Question 23

psychosexual stages - assumption 3

Answer 23

5 stages
at each stage child has conflict they need to resolve in order to progress to next stage
if unresolved, child becomes fixated in this stage + carries these behavioural characteristics with them through life

Question 24

Psychosexual stages
Oral stage (1)

Answer 24

0-1 year old
Children like to put things in their mouth
Conflict - weaning

Question 25

anal stage (2)

Answer 25

2-3 years old
children begin potty training

Question 26

phallic stage (3)

Answer 26

3-6 years old
boys more attached to mother. girls more attached to father

Question 27

latency stage (4)

Answer 27

6 to puberty
children spend more time with same sex peers

Question 28

genital stage

Answer 28

beyond puberty
individuals attracted to opposite sex peers