PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH

Question 1

The psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

The psychodynamic approach (PDA) proposed by Freud, argues all human behaviour is shaped by unconscious thoughts through the tripartite personality model and childhood experiences.

Question 2

The role of unconscious

Answer 2

• consious, preconsious (e.g dreams)
• unconsious - (beyond awareness)

Question 3

Structure of personality

Answer 3

1. ID
   2.EGO
2. SUPEREGO

Question 4

ID

Answer 4

• if the id is dominant people will develop a psychotic personality as the id wants immediate gratification, causing behaviours such as crime and lack of remorse.

Question 5

Superego

Answer 5

• A dominant superego would result in a neurotic personality as it is our morality principle which can explain why people are overly anxious.

Question 6

EGO

Answer 6

• works on the reality principle. Mediator between id and superego.
• If the conflict between the id and superego are successfully mediated the ego will be dominant because of what is referred to as a healthy psyche.
• The ego will use defence mechanisms to help resolve the conflict(e.g. displacement, repression and denial).
• An over use of defence mechanisms can result in psychological disorders such as schizophrenia as it distorts reality

Question 7

Repression

Answer 7

• forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind

Question 8

Denial

Answer 8

• Refusing to acknowledge some aspects of reality

Question 9

Displacement

Answer 9

• transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target

Question 10

psychosexual stages

Answer 10

• child must resolve conflict to progress, or have fixation that affects adult behaviour

Question 11

outline the psychosexual stages and their consequences

Answer 11

• oral (0-1 years) - pleasure focus = the mothers breast is the object of desire
• anal (1-3 years) - pleasure focusing = the anus (child gains pleasure from faeces
• phallic (3-6 years) pleasure focus = genital area.
• latency - earlier conflicts are repressed.
• gential (puberty) sexual desire becomes consious.

Question 12

oedipus complex

Answer 12

• The boy develops incestuous feelings for their mother hate father
• castrate anxiety causes, the boy represses their feelings for their mother and identifies with their father.
• Taking on his gender roles and moral values.

Question 13

defence mechanisms

Answer 13

• used to protect the ego from trauma

Question 14

Influenced western contemporary thought and psychology.

Answer 14

• Psychodynamic approach remained the dominant force in psychology for the first half of the 20th century and has been used to explain a wide range of phenomena inc personality development and abnormal behaviour.
• Also made a significant contribute in understanding the connection between experiences in childhood e.g. relationships with parents and later development of adulthood
• This is an advantage as Freud’s theory led to the development of a new therapy. Psychoanalysis employs a range of techniques designed to test the unconscious.
• This has influenced many of today’s psychotherapies.
• This helps us to understand the unconscious and study it in greater depth.

Question 15

Practical applications.

Answer 15

• Development of psychoanalysis. Which focuses on techniques such as hypnosis and dream analysis, designed to access the unconscious – these psychoanalytic methods are the basis of many modern psychotherapies such as CBT.
• briggs et al finding that pp receiving psychoanalysis saw a significant reduction in on suicidal and self-harm behaviour.
• this helps us understand that conflicts in the unconscious may cause mental illnesses
• However, while many therapists claim success with conditions like neuroses, it is questionable in treating psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.

Question 16

Untestable concepts

Answer 16

• Karl Popper argues that the psychodynamic approach does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification – therefore not open to empirical testing and possibility of being disproved.
• Many of Freuds concepts such as the ID, Oedipus complex occur in the unconscious, making it basically impossible to test.

Question 17

Flawed methodology.

Answer 17

• Research is based on clinical case studies of single individuals that were often in therapy such as little Hans.
• This means its difficult to generalise results of such a small sample to the wider population.
• Furthermore, Freuds interpretations are highly subjective which is unlikely to be matched by a second therapist which therefore means any claims may lack reliability and validity.