Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What is fixation?
When an infant receives too much/little oral stimulation during the oral stage - during the first 1-2 months
What happens if an adult regresses to the oral stage?
Regression is an ego defence mechanism. They regress at times of stress, leading to schizophrenic behaviours.
What is the role of the ego during the oral stage?
The ego is not developed at this stage and cannot control the id’s impulses. During regression, the id operates without limits, leading to hallucinations.
How does this explain the loss of touch with reality?
The id leads to symptoms like hallucinations and are driven by narcissism like newborn infants.
What is the schizophrogenic mother concept?
Frieda Fromm-Reichmann said schizophrenics had a mother who was overprotective and distant, creating insecurity and contributing to the development of schizophrenia.
How does the schizophrogenic mother impact the child’s development?
Mother’s over protectiveness stifles emotional development, while her rejection creates insecurity. This makes the child vulnerable, leading to resentment and contributing to schizophrenia.
Why are Freudian concepts out of date?
Unscientific and unfalsifiable. Struggle to produce testable hypotheses, making them unreliable.
Freud (1911)
The future might reveal more delusion in his theory, indicating certainty about the approach.
Why is psychoanalysis not suitable?
Freud believed schizophrenics lacked the insight needed. Research found it could cause distress.
What does the failure of psychoanalytic therapy suggest?
Underlying explanation lacks merit.
What is the problem with the concept of schizophrogenic mother?
Research supporting it is inconsistent and lacks objectivity and evidence was unconvincing.
How does this overlook the role of genetics?
Focuses on early experiences (nurture) but strong evidence shows biological factors and genetics play a significant role.
What did Leondard Heston (1966) find?
10.6% of adoptees with a biological mother with schizophrenia were also diagnosed, compared to none in the control, suggesting shared genetics being more impactful than upbringing.
