Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What is the role of the unconscious?
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
What are the three parts of the tripartite personality?
Id
Ego
Superego
What is the Id?
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)
What is the Ego?
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
What is the Superego?
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
What are defence mechanisms?
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
What are the three Defence Mechanisms?
Repression
Denial
Replacement
Defence mechanism : Repression
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
Defence mechanism : Repression
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
Defence mechanisms : Displacement
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)
What are the 5 psychosexual stages and the ages they take place?
Oral - 0-2 years
Anal - 2-3 years
Phallic - 3-6 years
Latent - 6-12 years
Genital - 12+ years
What is the conflict/ major development that takes place in each psychosexual stage?
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
What is the adult fixation for each psychosexual stage if it is not completed?
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
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Scientific support for psychoanalysis
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
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Problems measuring the unconscious
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
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Gender Bias
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
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Culture Bias
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
