psychodynamic approach Flashcards
What is the role of the unconcious?
o Freud used the metaphor of an iceberg to describe the mind; the tip of the iceberg is the conscious mind, and this is the only visible part, but the largest part of the mind is underwater and therefore hidden, which here referred to as the unconscious mind
o Freud believed that most of our everyday actions and behaviours are not controlled consciously, but are a product of the unconscious mind
o This is revealed in slips of the tongue (Freudian slips), creativity and neurotic symptoms
Explain what is meant by the tripartite personality?
The Id is our pleasure principle
It requires immediate gratification
It contains our drives of Eros and Thanatos
The Id is the only part of our personality that is present at birth
The Ego is our reality principle
It mediates between the impulsive demands of the Id and the real world, and also between the Id and the Superego
The ego develops around the age of 2 years
It employs defence mechanisms to help it manage the conflict of the Id and Superego
The Superego is our morality principle
It determines which behaviours are permissible and causes feelings of guilt when rules are broken
It is formed at the end of the phallic stage (around age 5) through the process of the Oedipus conflict (Electra complex for girls)
What is the role of defence mechanisms
When managing the conflict between the Id and the Superego becomes too much, the Ego will employ the help of Defence Mechanisms
They work in the unconscious and often involve a distortion of reality
Outline the defence mechanisms
Repression
Repressions refers to the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and impulses
These continue to influence behaviours without the individual being aware of the reasons behind their behaviour
e.g. a child abused by a parent may have no recollection of these events, but has trouble forming relationships
Denial
Denial is the refusal to accept reality so as to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings that might be associated with that event
The person acts as if the traumatic event had not happened
e.g. an alcoholic will often deny they have a drinking problem even after being arrested several times for being drunk and disorderly
Displacement
Displacement involves the redirecting of thoughts or feelings in situations where the person feels unable to express them in the presence of the person, they should be directed towards
Instead they may ‘take it out’ on a helpless victim or object
What is meant by psychosexual stages of development
o Freud believed that personality developed through a sequence of five stage
o These are referred to as psychosexual stages of development because the driving force in development is the need to express sexual energy
o Unresolved psychosexual conflict leads to fixation when certain behaviours associated with the stage of development are carried on to adult life
Outline the psychosexual stages of development
- Oral - 0-1 - mouth, tongue, lips - weaning off breast feeding or formula - smoking/over eating
- Anal - 1-3 - anus - toilet training - orderliness - messiness
- Phallic - 3-6 - genitals - resolving oedipus/electra complex - deviancy/sexual dysfunction
- Latency - 6-12 - none - developing defence mechanisms - none
- Genital - 12+ - genitals - reaching full sexual maturity - if all stages successfully completed then person be sexually matured and mentally healthy
what is the oedipus conflict/complex
- Form romantic feelings for mother
- Recognise they don’t have the power of their father, and develop castration anxiety (fear that their father will castrate them)
- Identify with the father to overcome these negative feelings and emotions
- Internalise the behaviours and beliefs of the father
