Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

What are the principles of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

• bhv is due to unconscious motives
• focuses on past exp like rs with parents or childhood conflicts in creating bhv + personality
• (our understanding of ourselves is distorted by defence mechanisms)

Question 2

What does the psychodynamic approach focus on?

Answer 2

• the unconscious mind
• indv past exp NOT present

Question 3

What are the 4 features of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 3

• role of the unconscious
• structure of personality (id, ego , superego)
• defence mechanisms (repression, denial, displacement)
• psychosexual stages

Question 4

What are the the three parts of “ the role of the unconscious” ?

Answer 4

• the conscious
• preconscious
• unconscious

Question 5

Define the conscious

Answer 5

The part of the mind that we know about and aware of

Question 6

Define the preconscious

Answer 6

• part of the mind that includes thoughts and ideas
• that we may become aware of during dreams or slips of the tongue
• just below conscious mind

Question 7

Define the unconscious

Answer 7

• part of the mind we are unaware of that drives much of our personality and bhv
• such as biological drives , instincts and even threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed or forgotten
• unconscious protects our conscious self from anx or fears

Question 8

What are the 3 parts of the structure of personality?

Answer 8

• id
• ego
  -superego

Question 9

What type of principle is the id?

Answer 9

Pleasure principle

Question 10

What type of principle is the ego?

Answer 10

Reality principle

Question 11

What type of principle is the superego?

Answer 11

Morality principle

Question 12

Describe the id (pleasure principle)

Answer 12

• unconscious part of mind
• present at birth
• focus is selfish + expects immediate gratification
• too overpowering = selfish personality

Question 13

Describe the ego (reality principle)

Answer 13

• rational + conscious part of mind
• forms from 18 months to 3 years
• balances demands to reduce conflict between id and superego by using defence mechanisms

Question 14

Describe the superego (morality principle)

Answer 14

• internalised sense of right and wrong
• arises thru identification with same sex parent
• forms between 3 - 6 years
• too overpowering = anxious personality + feelings of guilt

Question 15

Define the term “defence mechanisms” (2)

Answer 15

• unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage conflict between id and superego
• e.g. repression = forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind to unconscious mind

Question 16

Describe defence mechanisms

Answer 16

• D.M are unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage conflict between id and superego
• defence mechanisms are unconscious - we dont choose to use em
• can distort a indv reality + overuse over a long time can affect bhv

Question 17

What are the 3 defence mechanisms?

Answer 17

• repression
• denial
• displacement

Question 18

Define repression

Answer 18

Forcing a distressed memory out of conscious mind to unconscious

E.g. forgettng trauma of cat dying

Question 19

Define denial

Answer 19

Refusing to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality

E.g. continuing to speak to your friend even though they said they dont want to talk to u

Question 20

Define displacement

Answer 20

Transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a less threatening substitute target

E.g. punching wall after argument with mum

Question 21

Describe the psychosexual stages

Answer 21

• during most of the stages there is a specific conflict, the outcome of these determines future development
• child must resolve conflict at each stage before they can progress to next stage
• if not then they can become fixated, leading to certain bhvs in adulthood

Question 22

What are the five psychosexual stages and what years are they present in?

Answer 22

Oral : 0-1 years
Anal : 1-3 years
Phallic : 3-5 years
Latency : 6 - 12 years
Genital : 12 years

Question 23

Describe the oral stage and its fixation

Answer 23

• 0-1 years
  Gratification for id is gained from the mouth such as dummies, thumb sucking and mothers breast
• the consequence of unresolved conflict is an oral fixation, so smoking, biting nails, sarcastic and critical in the future

Question 24

Describe the anal stage and its fixation

Answer 24

• 1-3 years
  Gratification for id is gained from the anus such as:
• expulsion
• withholding of faeces

Anal fixation =
- anal retentive personality - perfectionist + obsessive
- anal expulsive personality - thoughtless + messy

Question 25

Describe the phallic stage and its fixation

Answer 25

• 3-5 years
  Gratification from the id is gained through exploring their own genitals
  To resolve conflict at this stage, child needs to identify with same sex parent and take on their attitudes + bhvs

Phallic fixation =
Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless, problems with authority

Question 26

Describe the latency stage

Answer 26

• 6-12 years
• earlier conflicts are repressed

Question 27

Describe the genital stage and its fixation

Answer 27

• 12 years
• sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty

Fixation = difficulty forming hetrosexual relationships

Question 28

What are the three peels to evaluate psychodynamic approach?

Answer 28

• psychic determinism - controlled by fixations
• prac apps - psychoanalysis
• weakness - doesnt use scientific methods