Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What is the unconscious ?
The part of the mind we are unaware of and cannot access at will
What does tripartite mean?
Made up of three elements
What is the Id?
The primitive and instinctive component of personality that is unconscious and contains all the urges and impulses
What is the ego?
The conscious part of the personality that mediates between the demands of the id and superego
What is the superego ?
The ethical component of the personality and provides the moral standards and resides in the unconscious
What are defence mechanisms?
Strategies used by the unconscious to protect ourselves from anxiety
What is denial?
Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality
What is displacement?
Forcing an unpleasant memory out of the conscious mind
What is repression?
Transferring feelings from the true source of distress onto a substitute
What is psychic determinism?
Human behaviour is controlled by the unconscious
What do the id, ego and superego make up?
Tripartite personality
Characteristics of the id..
-Developed at birth
-pleasure principle
-demands instant gratification
-resides in the unconscious
Characteristics of the ego..
-Developed at 2 years old
-reality principles
-conflict reduced
-resides in the conscious
Characteristics of superego..
-developed at 5 years old
-morality principles
-demands good morals
-resides in the unconscious
Characteristics of superego..
-developed at 5 years old
-morality principles
-demands good morals
-resides in the unconscious
What is the role of defence mechanisms?
Reduces anxiety
What does fixation mean?
When one’s desire is tied to an object of desire connected to an earlier phase in one’s psychosexual development
Oral stage
-0-1years
-pleasure centre is the mouth
-consequence of unresolved conflict :smoking, biting nails
Anal stage
-1-3 years
-pleasure centre- anus
-consequence of unresolved conflict:anal retentive (perfectionist) or anal repulsive (messy)
Phallic stage
-3-5 years
-pleasure centre:genital area
-consequence of unresolved conflict:narcissistic,reckless,vanity
Latency stage
Earlier conflicts are repressed
Genitals stage
-puberty
-sexual desires become conscious
-consequence of unresolved conflict:struggle to form heterosexual relationships
What research method is most commonly used by Freud?
Case studies
Strengths of case studies
Rich in detail as it is an in depth look at one individual which is rich in validity
Weaknesses of case studies
Researches can be biased in their interpretations of reporting
What does gender bias refer to?
Bias in research that leads to one gender being treated less favourably than the other
What is the Oedipus complex?
A desire for sexual involvement with the parent of the opposite sex and a sense of rivalry with the parent of the same sex
