psychodynamic approach

Question 1

Assumptions

Answer 1

. 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

Question 2

Feature 1: the role of the unconscious

Answer 2

. 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

Question 3

Conscious

Answer 3

. part of mind we know about
. aware of

Question 4

Preconscious

Answer 4

. part of mind just below conscious
. includes thoughts/ideas may become aware of
. during dreams or ‘slips of the tongue’

Question 5

Unconscious

Answer 5

. part of mind unaware of
. biological drives, instincts, threatening/disturbing memories
. that have been repressed or forgotten
. but continue drive out behaviour

Question 6

Feature 2: the structure of personality

Answer 6

. personality made up of three parts: id, ego, superego
. tripartite

Question 7

Id

Answer 7

. pleasure principle
. unconscious part of mind
. present at brith
. focuses on self
. expects immediate gratification
. too overpowering for ego = selfish personality

Question 8

Ego

Answer 8

. 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

Question 9

Superego

Answer 9

. 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)

Question 10

Feature 3: defence mechanisms

Answer 10

. 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

Question 11

Describe what is meant by the term ‘defence mechanism’ (2m)

Answer 11

. unconscious strategies ego uses
. to manage conflict between id and superego
. e.g. repression - forcing distressing memory out of conscious mind

Question 12

Repression

Answer 12

. forcing distressing memory
. out of conscious mind
. to unconscious

Question 13

Denial

Answer 13

. refusing to acknowledge unpleasant aspect of reality

Question 14

Displacement

Answer 14

. transferring feelings from true source
. of distressing emotions
. onto less threatening substitute target

Question 15

Feature 4: the psychosexual stages

Answer 15

. 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

Question 16

Conflict in each stage

Answer 16

. 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

Question 17

Oral: 0-1 years

Answer 17

DESCRIPTION - gratification for id gained from mouth
e.g. dummies, thumb
CONSEQUENCE - oral fixation e.g. smoking, biting nails, sarcastic

Question 18

Anal: 1-3 years

Answer 18

DESCRIPTION - gratification for id gained from anus e.g. expulsion/withholding of poo
CONSEQUENCE - anal retentive personality = perfectionist OR anal expulsive personality = messy/thoughtless

Question 19

Phallic: 3-5 years

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Latency: 6-12 years

Answer 20

DESCRIPTION - earlier conflicts repressed

Question 21

Genital: 12 years

Answer 21

DESCRIPTION - sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty
CONSEQUENCE - difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 22

AO3 for psychodynamic: psychic determinism

Question 23

AO3 for psychodynamic: practical applications

Question 24

AO3 for psychodynamic: not use scientific methods