Psychoanalytic v Dispositional Theory Flashcards
What is subjectivity?
Inner world of subjective experience, thoughts and feelings
What is the id?
> Infantile desires
Pleasure principle
Primary process
What is the ego?
> Mediate to reality
Reality principle
Secondary process
What is the super-ego?
> Agent of societal-moralistic demands
What are the drives according to the psychodynamic theory?
> Life drive (libido / sexual drive)
Death drive (destruction)
Cathexes (investing ‘objects’ with libidinal or aggressive energy)
What are the main techniques used to explore unconscious motivations?
> Free associations
> Dream analysis
What are the potential causes for fixation in the psychodynamic theory?
> Overindulgence resulting in reluctance to abandon a stage
> Over-frustration resulting in not enough gratification
What is transference?
Emotional responses generated in childhood relationships may influence how we respond to new people
What are the stages of the psychodynamic theory?
> Oral (0-18months) > Anal (18m-3y) > Phallic (3-6y) > Latency (6-11y) > Genital (11+y)
What is the oral stage?
> 0-18 months
Pleasure found through the mouth
Fixation can lead to preoccupation with food and drink
What is the phallic stage?
> 3 - 6 years
Pleasure found through genitals
Oedipus / Electra complex
What are the defensive devices described by Freud?
> Repression > Displacement > Sublimation > Projection > Denial
What are the features of repression?
> Self-deceptive individuals
High social-desirability
Lower recall of short term negative information
Increased recall of positive information
Short term coping
Immunosuppression
What are the common themes of the humanists?
> Existential Psychology
Phenomenological emphasis on conscious experience
Drive to self actualisation
Emphasis on responsibility and choice
What are the features of Maslow’s Humanistic Theory?
> Neurosis due to lack of personal growth
> Conflict is a reflection of mental health
What is the hierarchy of needs in Maslow’s humanistic theory?
> Physiological needs > Safety needs > Belonging and Love needs > Esteem needs > Growth needs
What did Bailey and McLaren (2005) demonstrate?
Need to belong predicted greater mental health among retirees
Who predicted that need to belong predicted greater mental health in retirees?
Bailey and McLaren (2005)
What is self-actualisation?
An episode in which a person experiences intense enjoyment and a sense of being fully functioning and integrated
What did Flet (2007) find?
People who self-actualise are low in anxiety and high in self-acceptance
Who find that people who self-actualise are high in self acceptance and low in anxiety?
Flet (2007)
What did Flett et al (1991) find?
Striving for perfection in related to low levels of self-actualisation
Who found that striving for perfection leads to low levels of self-actualisation?
Flett et al (1991)
What did Kasser and Ryan (1993; 1996) find?
Negative relationship between self-actualisation and the pursuit of extrinsic goals
Who demonstrated a negative relationship between self-actualisation and the pursuit of extrinsic goals?
Kasser and Ryan (1993; 1996)
What did Carver and Baird (1998) demonstrate?
In terms of self actualisation, it’s not what you want that’s important, but why you want it
Who demonstrated that a major factor for achieving self actualisation is not what you want, but why you want it?
Carver and Baird (1998)
What are the critiques of Maslow’s Humanistic Theory?
> Order of the stages debatable
Role of altruism
Abstract nature of self-actualisation
What are the key concepts underlying Rogers’ work?
> Fundamental predominance of the subjective
Dynamic goal-directed character of our behaviour
Sense of self
What two needs were described by Rogers as essential to well being?
> Need for (positive) self-regard
> Need for self-actualisation
What contemporary research reflects Rogers’ Theory?
> Flett et al (1998)
> Elevated score on the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory associated with perfectionism and anxiety
What is the role of empathy according to Rogers’ Theory?
> Crocker et al (2003)
> Assor, Roth and Deci (2004)
What did Crocker et al (2003) identify?
Six factors connected to self-worth contingencies
What did Assor, Roth and Deci (2004) suggest?
An intergenerational transmission of condition of worth
What is Rogers’ Theory?
Personality change and client-centred therapy
What are the features of Rogers’ Theory?
> Client-centred
Process of self-discovery
Focus on trust and empathy
What are the practical applications for Rogers’ Theory?
> Treating BPD
Treating sex offenders
Possible extension to educational settings
What are the criticisms of Rogers’ Theory?
> Naive
Lacks cross-cultural applicability
Principles lack cross-cultural validity
Requires verbal self-expression from patient
