Psychodynamic approach

Question 1

Psychodynamic approach: Basic Assumptions

Answer 1

• A person’s unconscious determines their behaviour
• 3 levels of our personality: ID, Ego, and Superego
• Childhood experiences have a big impact on our adulthood

Question 2

5 psychosexual stages

Answer 2

1. Oral Stage
2. Anal Stage
3. Phallic Stage
4. Latency Stage
5. Genital Stage

Question 3

Id

Answer 3

Pleasure principle - driving us to satisfy selfish urges

Question 4

Ego

Answer 4

Reality principle - balances the Id and superego

Question 5

Superego

Answer 5

Morality principle - concerned with normal norms

Question 6

3 defense mechanisms

Answer 6

Repression
Denial
Displacement

Question 7

A03 - unfalsifiable

Answer 7

• Stated by Karl Popper
• As we cant do research on the unconscious mind, we can’t provide direct evidence for it
• Karl Popper famously argued that a theory is not scientific if it is not falsifiable.

Question 8

AO3 - subjective (case study)

Answer 8

• Based on little Hans who was a 5-year-old middle-class by
• less generalizable
• lacks scientific evidence

The theory has evidence to support its theoretical foundations. Case of little Hans supported Freud’s theory that his feat of horses was due to the oedipus conflict and his unconscious had displaced the dear of his father onto horses. This study showed how children use defence mechanisms and imitate and identify with the same sex parent during childhood. This helps back up some of Freud’s claims

Question 9

AO3 - Humanistic Approach

Answer 9

• humanistic approach makes the argument that the approach is too deterministic
• Freud suggests that all our thought behavior and emotions are from childhood experiences and unconscious mental processes
• This is a weakness as we have no free will over our actions

Question 10

AO3 - Real life application

Answer 10

• introduced a new form of therapy, psychoanalysis
• treats mental disorders psychologically rather than physically
• used to treat depression, social anxiety, eating disorders, problems with pain

The theory has good practical application, as it can be used successfully to treat people suffering from a wide variety of disorders. It was also the first theory to suggest that mental illnesses could be treated with a ‘talking cure’ rather than medical intervention. Psychoanalysis addressed neuroses through talking, whereas, previous treatments were barbaric. E.g. spinning chair and crib. The tavistock clinic is widely known for its therapies and psychoanalysis has been used worldwide to successfully treat many individuals through ‘talking therapy’. This is good because the talking cure can help people overcome their neuroses, return to work/live a normal life thus helping the economy and the individual.

Question 11

what is each psychosexual stage marked by?

Answer 11

a different conflict that they must overcome

Question 12

what does being stuck a stage lead to

Answer 12

fixation

Question 13

what does fixation led to

Answer 13

carrying certain behaviours associated with the stage through to adult life

Question 14

what does Freud describe personality as?

Answer 14

‘tripartite’ composed of 3 parts

Question 15

Ages 0-1: Oral - mouth

Answer 15

Focus of pleasure is the mouth, mothers breast can be the object of desire. Oral fixation. Area of personality deviation is trust, dependency.

Question 16

Ages 1-3: Anal - anus

Answer 16

Focus of pleasure is the anus. Child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces.

Question 17

Ages 3-6: Phallic - genitals

Answer 17

Focus of pleasure is the genital area.

Question 18

6-Puberty: Latency - libido

Answer 18

Much of the child’s energy is channelled into developing new skills and acquiring new knowledge and play becomes largely confined to other children of the same gender

Question 19

Puberty onward: Genital stage

Answer 19

Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty. Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships