Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Who was Sigmund Freud?

Answer 1

Specialised in treating neurotic disorders which had no physical cause. This lead him to believe in psychic determinism- behaviour is determined by psychological factors than biological conditions.

Question 2

What are the 3 assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 2

-Influence of childhood experiences
-The unconscious mind
-Tripartite personality

Question 3

What is the assumption tripartite personality?

Answer 3

Freud believed that the adult personality is structured into three parts ( ID, EGO, SUPEREGO ) that develop at different ages in our lives.

Question 4

What is ID?

Answer 4

The unconscious part of our personality that is present at birth.
Impulsive, demands immediate gratification
Driven by pleasure principle
Aims to gain pleasure at any cost

Question 5

What is EGO?

Answer 5

Develops around two years old
Conscious part of the personality
Rational and logical
Balances the demands of the ID and SUPEREGO
Driven by the reality principle

Question 6

What is SUPEREGO?

Answer 6

Develops around the age of 4
Embodies child sense of right and wrong
Moral part of the mind
Seeks to perfect and civilise one’s behaviour
Learned through identification with same sex parent

Question 7

What is the example used for the tripartite personality assumption?

Answer 7

Example: Criminal Behaviour
Freud uses the tripartite personality to offer
2 explanations for criminal behaviour:
Children who did not make the transition
from being ID-dominant to being EGO-
dominant
OR
Internalising the values of a criminal parent
would result in a weak SUPEREGO