psychodynamic approach Flashcards
Assumptions
. behaviour due to unconscious motives *
. focuses on past experiences - especially relationships with parents and childhood conflict in creating behaviour/personality
. our understanding of ourselves changed by defence mechanisms
Feature 1: the role of the unconscious
. unconscious part of mind contains information not consciously aware of e.g. repressed memories
. unconscious protects conscious self from anxiety/fears
. unconscious drives most behaviour e.g. personality
Conscious
. part of mind we know about
. aware of
Preconscious
. part of mind just below conscious
. includes thoughts/ideas may become aware of
. during dreams or ‘slips of the tongue’
Unconscious
. part of mind unaware of
. biological drives, instincts, threatening/disturbing memories
. that have been repressed or forgotten
. but continue drive out behaviour
Feature 2: the structure of personality
. personality made up of three parts: id, ego, superego
. tripartite
Id
. pleasure principle
. unconscious part of mind
. present at brith
. focuses on self
. expects immediate gratification
. too overpowering for ego = selfish personality
Ego
. reality principle
. rational and conscious part of mind
. forms from 18 months to 3 years
. balances demands
. reduce conflict between id and superego
. using defence mechanisms
Superego
. morality principle
. forms between 3-6 years
. arises through identification same sex parent
. our internalised sense of right and wrong
. based on parental values
. too overpowering for ego = anxious personality (guilt)
Feature 3: defence mechanisms
. ego difficult job balancing conflicting demands id and superego
. uses defence mechanisms
. are unconscious
. stop ego becoming overwhelmed
. can distort person’s reality
. overuse can affect behaviour
. not a long term solution
. GIVE EXAMPLE
Describe what is meant by the term ‘defence mechanism’ (2m)
. unconscious strategies ego uses
. to manage conflict between id and superego
. e.g. repression - forcing distressing memory out of conscious mind
Repression
. forcing distressing memory
. out of conscious mind
. to unconscious
Denial
. refusing to acknowledge unpleasant aspect of reality
Displacement
. transferring feelings from true source
. of distressing emotions
. onto less threatening substitute target
Feature 4: the psychosexual stages
. Freud suggest born with id - has innate sex energy - wants satisfaction
. suggests all children progress through 5 developmental stages
. explain how id gets sexual satisfaction from birth
Conflict in each stage
. during most stages is a specific conflict
. outcome determines future development
. child must resolve conflict at each stage
. before progress onto next stage
. if not resolve conflict become fixated
. fixation lead to certain behaviours in adulthood
Oral: 0-1 years
DESCRIPTION - gratification for id gained from mouth
e.g. dummies, thumb
CONSEQUENCE - oral fixation e.g. smoking, biting nails, sarcastic
Anal: 1-3 years
DESCRIPTION - gratification for id gained from anus e.g. expulsion/withholding of poo
CONSEQUENCE - anal retentive personality = perfectionist OR anal expulsive personality = messy/thoughtless
Phallic: 3-5 years
DESCRIPTION - gratification for id gained from exploring own genitals - identify with same sex parent - take on their values/attitudes/behaviour - to resolve conflict
CONSEQUENCE - phallic personality = narcissistic, reckless, problems with authority
Latency: 6-12 years
DESCRIPTION - earlier conflicts repressed
Genital: 12 years
DESCRIPTION - sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty
CONSEQUENCE - difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
AO3 for psychodynamic: psychic determinism
AO3 for psychodynamic: practical applications
AO3 for psychodynamic: not use scientific methods
