Psychodynamic approach

Question 1

What is the iceberg metaphor?

Answer 1

Tip of the iceberg (visible)= the conscious mind

The underwater part of the iceberg (much bigger but not visible)= the unconscious mind

Question 2

What are the three structures of personality?

Answer 2

The id, the ego and the superego

Question 3

The id

Answer 3

Part of the unconscious mind, containing reproductive instincts.
It operates according to the pleasure principle, demands immediate gratification.

Question 4

The ego

Answer 4

Mediates the id and compromises between the id and the superego.

Question 5

The superego

Answer 5

Divided into two
The conscience- The internalisation of societal rules
The ego-ideal- What a person strives for (likely the parental idea of good behavior)

Question 6

Defence mechanisms (definition and examples)

Answer 6

Def- Unconscious strategies to protect the conscious mind from anxiety
E.g- Repression, denial, displacement

Question 7

Repression

Answer 7

The unconcious blocking of unnacceptable thoughts or impulses. These affect our behaviour without knowing the true cause of the behavior.
E.G- An abused child may have no recolection of it but struggles forming relationships.

Question 8

Denial

Answer 8

The refusal to accept reality, a person acts aas though a traumatic event never happened.
E.g- an alcoholic denying they are an alcoholic despite being arrested many times for it.

Question 9

Displacement

Answer 9

The redirecting of thoughts and feelings.

This leads to people directing these feelings towards someone/thing unrelated.

Question 10

What are the 5 psychosexual stages (+age)

Answer 10

Oral (0-2)
Anal (2-3)
Phallic (3-6)
Latent (6-12)
Genital (12+)

OAPs Like Grapes

Question 11

Oral

Answer 11

Expression sexual energy through mouth

Question 12

Anal

Answer 12

Child becomes aware of demands of reality.

Potty training is a major issue at this stage.

Question 13

Phallic

Answer 13

Sexual energy focused on genitals.

The Oedipus complex is a major issue at this stage.

Question 14

Latent

Answer 14

The child develops a mastery of the world around them and repress much of there early years memories.

Question 15

Genital

Answer 15

Sexual energy fixes to the genitals directing us towards sexual intercourse and later adult life.

Question 16

Strength 1 (pioneering approach)

Answer 16

• first method to use case studies and observations.
• first to demonstrate psychological treatments for mental disorders
• Maat et al (2009) concluded psychoanalysis to be a successful treatment.

Question 17

Strength 2 (scientific support)

Answer 17

• Fisher and Greenberg (1996) surmised from 2,500 studies of psychoanalysis that it “compares well to any other major area of psychology”.
• they found support for the existence of unconscious motivation and defense mechanisms.

Question 18

Weakness 1 (gender bias)

Answer 18

• Ignorant to women sexual differences
• problematic as he treated many women and his work is highly influential today.
• criticized by karen horney
• beta bias

Question 19

Weakness 2 (culture bias)

Answer 19

• Sue and Sue (2008) say little relevance to non-western cultures.
• unlocking unconscious thoughts through a supportive therapeutic environment is not valued in other cultures.
• e.g china views openly speaking on these thought cause distress.
• beta bias.