psychodynamic approach Flashcards
What is the role of the unconscious?
The mind is split into three parts: the conscious, preconscious ( This consists of thoughts and ideas that we can become aware of if we try (such as through remembering)) , and unconscious.
Most of what drives our human behaviour is our unconscious.
What is the structure of our personality?
The id is the primitive part of our personality, driving unconscious behaviour, it demands immediate gratification. The superego is our sense of what is right and wrong. It acts according to the ‘morality principle’ representing the moral standards of their same sex parent and controls the ID with feelings of guilt.
The ego works on the reality principle, which reduces the conflict between the demands of the ID and the superego, so that the ID can be satisfied in a way that is acceptable by society.
What are the psychosexual stages?
Sexual energy drives development and moves to different body areas, causing conflict between the child’s desires and societal expectations. If unresolved, it results in fixation.
For example, if the oral stage is not appropriately addressed, it could lead to over-dependence on others.
What are ego defence mechanisms?
Ego defence mechanisms are strategies used by the ego to manage conflict between the id and superego, allowing us to alter or forget memories to prevent being overwhelmed by traumas.
One example is repression, where a distressing memory is forced out of the conscious mind.
What is the Oedipus Complex?
The Oedipus complex is a theory of Freud, and occurs during the Phallic stage of psychosexual development.
It involves a boy, aged between 3 and 6, becoming unconsciously sexually attached to his mother, and hostile towards his father (who he views as a rival).
In the young boy, the Oedipus complex or more correctly, conflict, arises because the boy develops unconscious sexual (pleasurable) desires for his mother.
Envy and Jealous are aimed at the father, the object of the mother’s affection and attention. These feelings for the mother and rivalry toward the father lead to fantasies of getting rid of his father and taking his place with the mother.
The hostile feelings towards the father lead to castration anxiety, an irrational fear that the father will castrate (remove his penis) him as punishment.
The resolution of the Oedipus complex typically occurs through the process of identification with the same-sex parent.
Boys identify with their fathers and internalize their values, attitudes, and behaviours, leading to the development of masculine gender identity and the eventual resolution of the complex.
The father becomes a role model rather than a rival. Through this identification with the aggressor, boys acquire their superego and the male sex role.
The boy substitutes his desire for his mother with his desire for other women.
What is the Electra Complex?
The Electra complex describes the female version of the Oedipus complex. It involves a girl, aged between 3 and 6, becoming unconsciously sexually attached to her father and increasingly hostile toward her mother.
For girls, the Electra complex begins with the belief that she’s already been castrated. She blames her mother for this and experiences penis envy.
For girls to develop their superego and female sex role, they need to identify with the mother.
What were Freudian Slips?
Freud believed that slips of the tongue provided an insight into the unconscious mind as it we reveal what is really on our minds by saying something we didn’t mean to.
This means according to Freud there are no accidents and every behaviour (including slips of the tongue) was significant
