Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
Main assumptions
-unconscious forces in our mind determine our thoughts, feelings and behaviour
-Our behaviour as adults is strongly influenced by our childhood experiences
-Abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict
-The mind can be divided into 3 levels of consciousness
3 levels of consciousness
-Conscious
-Preconscious
-Unconscious
Conscious mind
The small amount of mental activity we know about. It is responsible for dealing with our everyday actions of the present
Preconscious mind
Things we could be aware of if we tried or wanted to. Responsible for storing easily accessible memory and past events
Unconscious mind
-Things we are unaware of and can not become aware of. Stores all our experiences, especially those of a traumatic or unpleasant nature
(This is where Freud said our conflicts and issue arise which results in abnormal behaviour)
Tripartite model of the personality- Key components
-The ID
-The Ego
-The Superego
When does the ID develop
-Present from birth
When does the Ego develop
- 2-3 years old
When does the Superego develop
-4-5 yearsold
ID
The impulsive and unconcious part of the personality, that demands immediate satisfaction , referred to as the pleasure principle.
It’s motivated to satisfy the following instinctual pleasures: Sex, food and drink. It becomes aggressive if frustrated
Ego
-The conscious, rational part of the mind.
-Its function is to work out realistic ways of balancing the demands of the ID and superego in a socially acceptable way. It is governed by the reality principles
Superego
-Embodies the child’s sense of right and wrong as well as his or her ideal self. It seeks to perfect and civilise our behaviour and is learned through identification with one’s parents.
-It is governed by the morality principle - the need to behave in a way that our parents would approve of. When we don’t, it punishes us with anxiety and quilt
What are ego defence mechanisms
-Ways that the ego protects itself from unconscious thoughts and feelings that may cause stress if they became conscious.
-The stress is result of the conflicting demands of the superego and the ID .
-They can either push a desire or conflict out of conscious thought or transfer it into something safer. The defence mechanisms may help in the short term but if overused can lead to disturbed behaviour
Denial
-The unconscious refusal to accept reality
Displacement
-Taking the anger/ unacceptable impulse and divert it from its source onto someone else
