Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

What is the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

A perspective that describes the different forces, most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience.

Question 2

Unconscious:

Answer 2

The part of the mind that we are unaware of but which continues to direct much of our behaviour.

Question 3

Id:

Answer 3

The innate part of the personality and operates on the pleasure principle. Constantly demands instant gratification. In conflict with the superego.

Question 4

Ego:

Answer 4

1.Formed during the first 3 years of life and operates on the reality principle.
2. Helps to resolve the conflict between the id and superego through defence mechanisms.
3. The strength of the unconscious depends on how efficiently the ego resolves this conflict.

Question 5

Superego:

Answer 5

1. Formed at the end of the phallic stage, and operates on the morality principle.
2. This contains the child’s internalised sense of right and wrong, based upon their same sex parent.
3. In conflict with the Id.

Question 6

Defence mechanisms:

Answer 6

Unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and the superego.

Question 7

Psychosexual stages: (def)

Answer 7

A series of developmental stages through which all children progress, and in the same order.
* Each stage is characterised by a conflict, which must be resolved to pass to the next stage, apart from latency.
* Failure to do so results in ‘fixation’ at that stage, where dysfunctional behaviours associated with that stage are carried forwards to adulthood.

Question 8

Oral: 1

Answer 8

1. 0-1 years old
2. Focus of the pleasure is the mouth
3. Mother’s breast is the object of desire.
4. Development is weaning off of breast milk or formula
5. Oral fixation- smoking and biting nails.

Question 9

2, Anal

Answer 9

1. 1-3 years
2. Focus of pleasure is the anus.
3. Child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces.
4. Anal retentive- perfectionist, obsessive
5. Anal expulsive- thoughtless and messy

Question 10

3, Phallic

Answer 10

1. 3-5 years.
2. Focus of pleasure is the genital area.
3. Child experiences the Oedipus or Electra complex.
4. Phallic personality- narcissistic, reckless and possibly homosexual
5. Deviancy and sexual dysfunction

Question 11

4, Latency

Answer 11

1. 6-12
2. Earlier conflicts are suppressed
3. Developing defence mechanisms.

Question 12

5, Genital

Answer 12

1. 12+
2. Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty
3. Reaches full sexual maturity
4. If all the stages were successfully completed the person should be sexually matured and mentally healthy.
5. If not can have difficulties having heterosexual relationships.

Question 13

Aim of Little Hans:

Answer 13

1. Understand the origin of his phobia of horses.
2. Use the case to explore the Oedipus complex
3. Children have unconscious sexual desires for their opposite-sex parent and feelings of rivalry with their same-sex parent

Question 14

Procedure of LH:

Answer 14

1. The study was based on qualitative date and observations made by his father, who was a follow of Freud.
2. Freud never directly observed Little Hans until he was five, instead analysing the data.
3. Developed a phobia of horses after seeing one collapse.
4. At 3, he developed an “interest in his widdler” and began to masturbate.
5. Mother threatened him with castrations.
6. Resented his little sister and wished she would drown.

Question 15

Findings LH:

Answer 15

1. Fear of horses was symbolic of his fear of his father, fear of being bitten was his fear of being castrated if his incestuous desires were exposed.
2. Freud believed that Hans was in the phallic stage.
3. Fear of horses displaced fear of father.
4. Experienced repression due to his mother’s threats.

Question 16

Conclusion LH:

Answer 16

1. Phobia was a manifestation of the unconscious desires and conflicts that exist in humans.
2. Mainly relied on second hand information.

Question 17

Evaluation: Unconscious Concepts

Answer 17

1. We are unaware of the unconscious, we cannot objectively and systematically test it.
2. According to Karl Popper, it does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification
3. Suggests that it is unfalsifiable and a psuedoscience.
4. Does not improve the credibility of psychology.

Question 18

Evaluation: Case Studies

Answer 18

1. Based on data from individual case studies.
2. Individuals selected in case studies are often of some special psychological interest and cannot represent the experiences if the general population.
3. Qualitative data is collected, which means that the researcher draws their own subjective conclusions.
4. If they know the aims of the investigation, it can lead to researcher bias.

Question 19

Evaluation: Psychic Determinism:

Answer 19

1. All behaviour is the product of unconscious conflicts between the Id and superego, over which we have no control.
2. Every action , even accidents, has some deep symbolic meaning and is driven by unconscious forces.
3. This can give insight into the unconscious and free will is an illusion.
4. Adds to subjectivity of interpretations of these meanings.
5. Not in line with the scientific methods.

Question 20

Evaluation: Practical Applications

Answer 20

1. Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are both rooted in this approach. Helps people to understand how their unconscious and past experiences shape them.
2. These employ techniques to access to unconscious like hypnosis and dream analysis
3. Made long-lasting contribution towards treatment of various mental disorders.
4. Is not appropriate for schizophrenia, because of symptoms like paranoia and delusional thinking.
5. Do not have a grasp on reality and cannot articulate their thoughts in the way that is required.