psychodynamic approach

Question 1

define the unconscious

Answer 1

part of the mind that we are unaware of that directs behaviour

Question 2

what are the 3 structures of the personality

Answer 2

the Id
the Ego
the Superego

Question 3

explain the Id

Answer 3

primitive, pleasure principle, unconscious drives and instincts which are present at birth

selfish and aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification

Question 4

explain the ego

Answer 4

rational, reality principle, mediates between the Id and superego that develops at 2 years

Question 5

explain the superego

Answer 5

morality principle formed at the end of the phallic stage

moralistic part of personality which represents the ideal self: how we ought to be

Question 6

name the 5 psychosexual stages

Answer 6

oral
anal
phallic
latency
genital

Question 7

oral
1. what age does this occur at?
2. description of it
3. consequence of unresolved conflict

Answer 7

oral
1. 0-1
2. focus of pleasure of the mouth
3. oral fixation - smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical

Question 8

anal
1. what age does this occur at?
2. description of it
3. consequence of unresolved conflict

Answer 8

anal
1. 1-3
2. focus of the pleasure of the anus
gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces
3. anal retentive- perfectionist, obsessive
anal expulsive- thoughtless, messy

Question 9

phallic
1. what age does this occur at?
2. description of it
3. consequence of unresolved conflict

Answer 9

phallic
1. 3-6 years
2. focus of pleasure is the genital area
3. phallic personality - narcisstic, reckless

Question 10

description of the latency psychosexual stage

Answer 10

earlier conflicts are repressed

Question 11

genital
1. description of it
2. consequence of unresolved conflict

Answer 11

genital
1. sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty
2. difficult forming heterosexual relationships

Question 12

explain Freud’s case study on little Hans

Answer 12

Hans was a 5 year old boy who developed a phobia of horses after seeing one collapse in the street

Freud suggested his fear was due to displacement (his repressed fear for his father was displaced onto horses)

therefore horses are only a symbolic representation of Hans’ unconscious fear (the fear of castration experienced during the Oedipus complex)

Question 13

explain Freud’s Oedipus complex

Answer 13

1. during the phallic stage the penis becomes the focus of pleasure and develops sexual feelings towards their mother
2. see father as a rival due to their love for the boys mother
3. they fear their father will castrate him if he discovers the love he has for his mother
4. the boy gives up his love for his mother and begins to identify with his father
5. strong identity with father due to their fear of castration being strong
6. through the process of identification they become active and dominant and then develop a male identity

Question 14

explain the Electra complex

Answer 14

1. girls notice they don’t have a penis and experience penis envy
2. they believe they have been castrated by their mother so blame her for their lack of penis
3. they see their mother as a rival standing in the way of their father
4. they substitute their penis envy for the desire to have children so identify with their mothers
5. weaker sense of identification then men due to their fear of castration isn’t as strong
6. through the process of identification they become quiet and submissive and therefore develop a female identity

Question 15

what are the 3 defence mechanisms

Answer 15

repression
denial
displacement

Question 16

define repression

Answer 16

forcing a distressing/threatening memory out of your conscious mind

Question 17

define denial

Answer 17

failing/refusing to accept some aspect of reality

Question 18

define displacement

Answer 18

transferring feelings from the true object of anxiety onto a substitute target/object

Question 19

what do defence mechanisms protect you from

Answer 19

the reality principle (ego)