PSYCHODYNAMIC

Question 1

Assumption of psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

all behaviour is driven from the unconscious mind

Question 2

what are the three key features of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 2

psychosexual stages
parts of the personality
levels of the mind

Question 3

what are Freud parts of the personality

Answer 3

Id
Ego
Superego

Question 4

what are the levels of the mind and explain them

Answer 4

unconscious mind - repressed desires/ trauma
preconscious mind - thoughts that are just beyond awareness - emerge in dreams
conscious mind - thoughts we are aware of

Question 5

what are the psychosexual stages and the ages

Answer 5

oral: 0-1
anal: 1-3
phallic: 3-6
latency: 6-12
genital: puberty onwards

Question 6

the principles of each of the 3 parts of the personality

Answer 6

Id - pleasure principle
Ego - reality principle
Superego - morality principle

Question 7

what is the id and when does it develop

Answer 7

present from birth
it is responsible for peoples selfishness as it demands instant gratification for anything it wants or desires

Question 8

what is the ego and when does it develop

Answer 8

develops at around 2 years old
uses defence mechanisms to try and balance the wants of the id and superego - mediator between the two

Question 9

what are defence mechanisms

Answer 9

help the ego to prevent us from being overwhelmed in situations and often involves a distortion of reality

Question 10

what is the superego and when does it develop

Answer 10

develops around 5 years old
responsible for feelings of guilt and is our internalised sense of right and wrong

Question 11

weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 11

unfalsifiable
unscientific
based on case studies that are on individuals

Question 12

strength of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 12

many practical applications
long term application - start of recognising mental health which developed into therapy/ counselling

Question 13

explanation of psychodynamic approach being unfalsifiable

Answer 13

we cannot prove the theory wrong, and discard it, but we cannot prove it right and accept it
most concepts in approach are abstract and untestable so the approach isn’t open to empirical testing
Popper argued that the approach doesn’t meet the criteria for falsification

Question 14

examples of concepts of the approach that are abstract and untestable

Answer 14

Oedipus complex
Parts of the personality
Unconscious thoughts

Question 15

practical applications of the approach

Answer 15

introduced the first idea of psychology
freud first person to recognise mental health importance
he introduced a new form of therapy - psychoanalysis which is considered a forerunner to many modern day therapies e.g. counselling