Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Explain assumption 1 of the psychodynamic approach (ID, ego, superego)

Answer 1

Freud beloved that the adult personality is structured into 3 parts that develop at different stages in our lives, which is the ID ego and superego.

Question 2

Explain assumption 2 of the psychodynamic approach (levels of consciousness and ego defences)

Answer 2

The mind is like an iceberg; 
Conscious 
Pre-conscious 
Un-conscious 
E.g. Conscious is rational and logical and is what we are currently aware of. Pre-conscious is what we could be aware of if we thought about it. Un-conscious is thoughts and feelings that are inaccessible to us.

Question 3

What is Freud’s theory of personality development?

Answer 3

Freud proposed that adult personality develops out of an interaction between innate drives and early life experiences.
The egos ability to function despite these competing forces is referred to as ‘ego strength’. According to Freud the key to a healthy personality is a balance between all 3.

Question 4

What are Freud’s different psychosexual stages?

Answer 4

Oral 0-1 year: focus in the mouth. The child’s ego is forming.

Anal 1-3 years: focus on the anus.

Phallic 3-6 years: focus on generals ams opposite sex parent. Oedipus Electra complex.

Latency 7 years: sexual conflicts are repressed. Puberty.

Genital puberty: genitals. Development and independence.

Healthy resolutions if the stages, frustration or harsh treatment, overindulgence.

Question 5

What are ego defence mechanisms?

Answer 5

Normal ego defences include the use of humour, sublimination or suppression.

Ego defences associated with mental disorders include, denial or distortion.

Question 6

What is the aim of dream analysis?

Answer 6

To recover unconscious thoughts, to be made conscious and conflicts can then be dealt with.

Question 7

What links are there with dream analysis and the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 7

They believe that mentally-disordered behaviour is caused by unconscious thoughts.

Question 8

What is the primary process thought?

Answer 8

The ID is the most important part of our personality when we look at our wishes and fantasises.

Question 9

What is wish fulfilment?

Answer 9

In our conscious minds a lot of impulses are seen as unacceptable and are repressed as a way to protect the conscious mind. When we dream the ID is more free and so dreams are a source of wish fulfilment.

Question 10

What is the latent and manifest content?

Answer 10

The real meaning of a dream is the latent content. This is transformed into a more harmless form which is the manifest content.

Question 11

What are the 2 assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 11

1) behaviour is influenced by 3 parts of the mind (ID, ego, superego)
2) behaviour is influenced by different levels of consciousness and ego defences.

Question 12

What is dreamwork?

Answer 12

Condensation, displacement, representation, symbolism and secondary elaboration.

Question 13

Explain condensation within dreamwork of the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 13

Condensed ideas into images, the images have several association and ideas.

Question 14

Explain displacement within dreamwork of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 14

The emotional significance of a dream object is separated from its real object.

Question 15

Explain representation within dreamwork of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 15

A thought is translated into visual images.

Question 16

Explain symbolism within dreamwork of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 16

A symbol replaces an action person or idea.

Question 17

Explain secondary elaboration within dreamwork of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 17

Unconscious mind collects all the different images and ties them together to form a logical story.

Question 18

What is up the process of dream analysis?

Answer 18

The therapist should not suggest what the symbols may mean as they could be biasing the results to fit their hypothesis.

They should suggest various interpretations.

Question 19

What are 2 strengths of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 19

Nature and nurture

It reflects the complexity of human behaviour

Question 20

Explain strength 1 of the psychodynamic approach (nature/nurture)

Answer 20

Freud suggested that we have the ID, ego and superego . Throughout life these drive behaviour (nature). There is inevitably conflict between these elements which creates anxiety (nurture) into the unconscious mind.

Nature and nurture both contribute to adult behaviour. Freud’s theory provides a framework to put them both together.

Question 21

Explain the second strength of the psychodynamic approach (complexity of human behaviour)

Answer 21

Psychoanalysts seek to uncover deep meaning and acknowledge that understanding behaviour is a lengthy process.

The psychodynamic approach avoids such over-simplification by examining the root causes of behaviour.

Question 22

What are 2 weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 22

Determinist

Claims cannot be proven wrong

Question 23

Explain weakness 1 (determinist)

Answer 23

During the oral stage and development the libido is attached to an infants mouth. Both the psychosexual stages and the libido are innate forces. Frustration during any stages causes personality types later in life.

Implies that we have no free will about who we become or how we behave. The determinist view can give people a plausible excuse for criminal/ bad behaviour.

Question 24

Explain weakness 2 of the psychodynamic approach (claims cannot be proven)

Answer 24

In dream analysis a therapist may argue that a client who denied having homosexual tendencies is repressing them. If you admit to them or deny them there is no evidence that they exist.

A good theory is one that can be tested to see if it is wrong.

Question 25

What methodology is used by the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 25

Case studies

Clinical interviews

Question 26

Explain method 1 of the psychodynamic approach (cases studies)

Answer 26

Little hans
Strengths:
A true insight into behaviour can be obtained- spend a lot of time together
Descriptive qualitative data is obtained

Weaknesses:
It is difficult to generalise from individual cases.
It is often necessary to use recollection which could then make it unreliable.

Question 27

Explain method 2 of the psychodynamic approach (clinical interviews)

Answer 27

Dream analysis
Strengths:
Allows clients and therapists to build a good relationship making it more honest.
Therapists can also then observe body language.
Weaknesses:
Produces qualitative data. Difficult to summarise, hard to prove generalisations.
Interviewer bias.