Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

What is the role of the unconscious?

Answer 1

We are unaware of our unconscious

It stores our innate biological drives and instincts (hunger, thirst, sex)

-Also stores upsetting and disturbing thoughts which are suppressed by the defense mechanisms (conscious) to prevent anxiety

-The unconscious reveals itself in slips of tongue

Question 2

What are the three parts of the tripartite personality?

Answer 2

Id

Ego

Superego

Question 3

What is the Id?

Answer 3

The ID is solely unconscious

-It is innate, and works on the Pleasure Principle

-It constantly demands instant gratification to resolve innate instincts (Hunger, Thirst, Sex etc)

-It is in constant conflict with the superego, which works on the morality principle (what’s right and wrong)

Question 4

What is the Ego?

Answer 4

It is both conscious and unconscious, and forms in the first 3 years of life

-Works on the Reality Principle

-Resolves conflicts between the Id and Superego through defense mechanisms

-It mediates between impulsive demands of the Id, and the reality of the world

Question 5

What is the Superego?

Answer 5

The superego forms at the end of the phallic stage (6 years)

-Works on the Morality Principle

-It contains the childs internalised sense of right and wrong (based on the views of their same-sex parent)

-Constantly in conflict with the Id

Question 6

What are defence mechanisms?

Answer 6

They are triggered when a person is faced with a situation they are unable to rationally deal with

-They are unconscious, and work by distorting reality to reduce anxiety

-The individual is therefore stopped of being aware of unpleasant thoughts

Question 7

What are the three Defence Mechanisms?

Answer 7

Repression

Denial

Replacement

Question 8

Defence mechanism : Repression

Answer 8

Unconscious blocking of unnacceptable thoughts and impulses

-These repressed thoughts continue to influence behaviour without the individual being aware of why the behaviour is occuring

-E.G an abused child may struggle to from adult relationships but not know why

Question 9

Defence mechanism : Repression

Answer 9

Refusal to accept reality, in order to avoid painful feelings associated with an event

-The person acts like the event never happened

-E.G an alcoholic may deny having a drinking problem, even after being arrested multiple times for antisocial drunk behaviour

Question 10

Defence mechanisms : Displacement

Answer 10

Feelings are redirected when they cannot be directed at the source of the feelings

-E.G hostile thoughts due to an event, can’t get angry at what caused it for whatever reason

-The anger may be taken out on a helpless person or object

This gives the feelings a route to be expressed to reach catharsis (in the case of aggression)

Question 11

What are the 5 psychosexual stages and the ages they take place?

Answer 11

Oral - 0-2 years

Anal - 2-3 years

Phallic - 3-6 years

Latent - 6-12 years

Genital - 12+ years

Question 12

What is the conflict/ major development that takes place in each psychosexual stage?

Answer 12

Anal: Weaning off breastfeeding

Anal: Toilet training

Phallic: Resolving the Oedipus/ Electra complex

Latent: Mastery of the world around them. Defence mechanisms formed

Genital: Sexual maturity, this directs us towards intercourse

Question 13

What is the adult fixation for each psychosexual stage if it is not completed?

Answer 13

Oral: Smoking, overeating

Anal: Orderliness or messiness

Phallic: Deviancy, sexual dysfunction

Latent: None

Genital: If all stages are completed the person should be mentally and sexually healthy and mature

Question 14

AO3 +

Scientific support for psychoanalysis

Answer 14

Fisher and Greenberg

-studied 2000 psychoanalysis studies

-concluded that experimental studies of psychoanalysis are similar to scientific studies in other relevant areas of psychology

This adds credibility to psychoanalysis as an explanation of human behaviour

Question 15

AO3 -

Problems measuring the unconscious

Answer 15

Since we are unaware of the unconscious it is not possible to objectively and systematically measure it

-It is therefore not falsifiable (Not scientific)

-Therefore it is by definition a pseudoscience

This makes psychoanalysis and psychology as a whole appear as a non-scientific discipline

Question 16

AO3 -

Gender Bias

Answer 16

Freuds views of female sexuality are less developed than his views of male sexuality

-Freud failed to consider how female sexuality may differ from male sexuality, this is known as androcentrism

This is a problem as Freud’s theories were and still are influential in todays world

-This has negative impacts on womens’ sexuality as it is not always seen in its own right

Question 17

AO3 -

Culture Bias

Answer 17

Sue and Sue (2008)

-Argue that psychoanalysis has limited relevance to Non-Western cultures

Western psychoanalysis believes that mental disorders stem from traumatic memories being ‘locked in’ in the unconscious

-They believe that therapy through opening up and discussion can help to cure the disorder

However, Non-Western cultures often do not believe this

-E.G China, a depressed/ anxious person avoids these thoughts rather than being willing to discuss them

This contrasts the Western opinion that open discussion is helpful, and cannot be applied to all cultures