psychodynamic approach Flashcards
the role of the unconscious, the structure of personality, that is Id, Ego and Superego, defence mechanisms including repression, denial and displacement, psychosexual stages.
what is the psychodynamic approach?
the study of the unconscious mind and mental drives that develop in childhood, their interactions and how these forces influence behaviour, personality and mental states
name a significant psychodynamic psychologist
Freud
assumptions of the psychodynamic approach
- our behaviour as adults is strongly influenced by childhood experiences
- abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict
- iceberg analogy
what 3 parts did Freud break the psyche (mind) into?
the conscious mind - conscious thoughts, ideas, decisions, emotions
the preconscious - thoughts not immediately accessible but can be brought into awareness
the unconscious - unconscious thoughts, repressed memories, desires, impulses which can all influence our behaviour and feelings - largest part
what is the role of the unconscious?
according to psychic determinism our behaviours are shaped by unresolved unconscious conflicts among different parts of our personality as well as by experiences in early development stages called the psychosexual stages
problems during these stages can result in fixation where an individual remains stuck in a stage and expresses certain negative personality traits
the unconscious protects the conscious from harmful thoughts e.g. traumatic memories, fears and intense desires to reduce anxiety
it does this by using defence mechanisms
what are the 3 parts of personality?
id
ego
superego
what is the id?
birth –> death
pleasure principle
selfish aspect of the mind
focuses on only satisfying personal needs and desires and seeks immediate gratification for its wants
associated with hedonism
what is the ego?
18months –> death
reality principle
conscious component of personality
uses rational thinking to manage the id’s demands
acts as a mediator between id and superego
aids in individual’s ability to interact with the world in a more balanced manner
what is the superego?
age 3 –> death
morality principle
unconscious component of personality
child internalises the values and norms of their parents and society
influences behaviour by inducing guilt when an individual’s actions conflict with strict standards - moderating behaviour according to moral and societal expectations
how did Freud explain the structure of personality?
suggested criminal behaviour could be due to an imbalance in the superego’s strength relative to the id
weak superego –> id’s desires dominant
deviant superego –> adopts criminal values to justify extreme guilt imposed by superego’s rigid moral standards
explain the iceberg metaphor for the structure of personality
Freud’s iceberg theory metaphorically represents the mind’s three levels: the conscious (visible tip of the iceberg), the preconscious (just below the surface), and the unconscious (vast submerged portion).
While we’re aware of the conscious, the preconscious contains easily accessible memories, and the unconscious houses deep-seated desires and memories, influencing behavior despite being largely inaccessible.
what are Freud’s 5 psychosexual stages
oral
anal
phallic
latency
genital
what is the oral stage?
0-18months
main focus of pleasure: mouth
child enjoys tasting and sucking
mother’s breast is object of desire
completion: weaning + independent eating
unresolved: oral fixation - sarcasm, sensitive to rejection, critical, overeating, drinking, nail biting, smoking
what is the anal stage?
18months-3years
main focus of pleasure: defecation
completion: potty training
unresolved: anally retentive (very tidy, stubborn, likes order, control, obsessive, perfectionism) or anally expulsive (thoughtless, messy)
what is the phallic stage?
3-5years
main focus of pleasure: genitals
oedipus complex - boys experience castration anxiety, desire mother as ‘primary love object’, hate father
electra complex - girls experience penis envy, desire father, hate mother
unresolved: narcissistic, reckless, homosexual
what is the latency stage?
5-puberty
earlier conflicts are repressed
sexual urges sublimated into sports and other hobbies
develops same-sex friendships
completion: no requirements
unresolved: n/a
what is the genital stage?
puberty-adulthood
main focus of pleasure: genitals and developing healthy relationships
unresolved: difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
what are defence mechanisms
defence mechanisms are strategies involving the unconscious mind that the ego uses to manage unresolvable conflicts to reduce the anxiety felt by the conflict between the id and superego
what are the 3 defence mechanisms?
denial
displacement
repression
what is denial?
a refusal to accept the reality of a situation
what is displacement?
when a strong emotion is moved from the source of that emotion and placed onto a substitute target
what is repression?
an unpleasant memory or painful emotion is placed into the unconscious mind and is no longer accessible to the conscious mind
strengths of the psychodynamic approach
+ Freud’s theories had a significant influence on modern scientific psychological theories as he emphasised the importance of early childhood experience and lasting impact of trauma on adulthood
+ Freud influenced Bowlby to develop his attachment theories
+ Freud first to develop a concept of the unconscious mind now used by cognitive theorists when talking about perception, memory and language
+ ideas have face validity - boys have a stronger attachment to mother, early trauma influences anxiety, defence mechanisms can be seen through behaviour
+ practical application in psychoanalytic therapy (talking therapy) - successful treatment
limitations of the psychodynamic approach
- considered outdated - boys loving their mothers, girls loving their fathers
- lack scientific credibility due to reliance on case studies and interpretation of memories and dreams (Little Hans) - potentially biased
- falsifiability is the ability to demonstrate a theory is wrong through empirical testing but Freud’s theories are untestable as they lack adaptability
