Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
Oral stage
Oral stage in initial psychosexual stage during which the developing infant’s main concerns are with oral gratification. The oral phase in the normal infant has a direct bearing on the infant’s activities during the first 18 months of life. For the newborn, the mouth is the all-absorbing organ of pleasure. Oral needs are also satisfied by thumb-sucking or inserting environmental objects, such as dolls, breasts, other toys, or blankets into the mouth.
What happens if the oral stage is fixated
Could lead to
Alcohol abuse
Smoking cigarettes
Overeating
Pica
Nail biting
Anal stage
The libido now becomes focused on the anus, and the child derives great pleasure from defecating. Freud believed that this type of conflict tends to come to a head in potty training, in which adults impose restrictions on when and where the child can defecate. The nature of this first conflict with authority can determine the child’s future relationship with all forms of authority.
What happens if the anal stage is fixated
Fixation at this stage may lead to OCD and if they don’t have enough freedom with potty training then they might end up being very messy, rebellious and disorganised
Phallic stage
gender differences are noticed and psychosexual development differs between the sexes, starts around 3-5
What are the three characters in our mind that is in the Tripartite model of the mind include
Id
Ego (the ‘self’)
Superego
What is the id
unconsciously focuses on self, irrational and emotional, deals with feelings and needs, seeks pleasure/hedonistic. if too strong - selfish, out of control, could become an addict.
What is the ego
rational, conscious part of the mind formed between 18 months to 3 years. if it’s too weak - allows Id and superego to dominate
What is the superego
follows rules and deadlines. if too strong - strict, anxious, obsessive- depression, anxiety, OCD.
What is our unconsciousness
The primitive, instinctual wishes as well as the information that we cannot access.
What is the role of our unconscious
It drives our behaviour
Mental disorders arise from repressed, unresolved, unconscious conflicts In childhood, which may also arise from not having the right experience during development. E.g oral stage.
It protects that conscious self from anxiety/fear/trauma/conflict through defence mechanisms such as repression, denial, and displacement to reduce anxiety.
The underlying dive is sexual
How are these psychological problems resolved
They are treated by accessing the unconscious mind through psychoanalysis/therapy.
In what order do you see the tripartite appear.
The earliest part of the human personality is the ID
The 2nd part of the personality is the ego
The 3rd part of the personality is the superego
What are the defence mechanisms in the psychodynamic approach
Denial- you completely reject the thought or feeling. This happens when a person refuses to accept that an event happened. This can protect a person from anxiety
Displacement- you redirect your feelings to another target. This happens when an unacceptable drive such as hatred to your mother is displaced to a more acceptable target such as your sister.
Repression- you force a distressed memory out of the conscious mind. When thoughts are kept in the unconscious mind and are not allowed into the conscious mind and is as if they are forgotten. They can emerge as symptoms of anxiety.
Evaluation of defence mechanisms
There’s a lack of testability/falsifiability since defence mechanisms are unconscious processes and cannot be studied directly.
Defence mechanisms can only be inferred from behaviour or from reported thoughts or experiences.
Intuitive appeal - most people can appreciate the idea of denial, repression, displacement.
Use of evidence to support or contradict the existence of defence mechanisms e.g case studies of people who are unable to recall upsetting events
What are the 5 stages of psychosexual development
Oral stage Anal stage Phallic stage Latency stage Genital stage
What was frued’s suggestion about childhood experiences and behaviour
Freud suggested that our childhood experiences shaped our adult behaviour.
He suggested that all children go through stages of psychosexual development where the instinctive energy of the id looks for satisfaction in different bodily areas.
If the child is deprived or over satisfied at a particular stage then they may become fixated and this will have effects on their adult behaviour.
Acronym for the psychosexual stages
Old age people love Guinness! Oral stage Anal Phallic Latent Genital
What is libido
A sexual (pleasure) urge
What does Freud believe that all children are born with and what must happen for you to be psychologically healthy?
He believes that all children are born with a libido.
There are a number of stages of childhood, during which the child seeks pleasure form a different ‘object’.
To be psychologically successful we must complete each stage.
Mental abnormality can occur if a stage is not completed succeed- the person becomes ‘fixated’
What happens when the phallic stage is fixated
They can end up having guilt or anxiety about sex
Latency stage
Starts at age and ends at puberty.
Sexual urges sublimated into sports and other hobbies.
Focus on developing same sex friendships.
No particular requirements for successful completion.
At puberty, sexual feelings are less focused on the self and are directed to potential partners.
Genital stage
From puberty into adulthood
Focus on genitals but not to same extent as phallic stage.
Task is to develop healthy adult relationships.
This should happen if earlier stages have been negotiated successfully.
What is the Electra complex
This is the term used to describe a girl’s sense of competition with her mother for the affections of her father.
Strengths of the psychodynamic approach
Enables us to understand the origins of human behaviour.
Explains the influence of unconscious processes.
Emphasises importance of childhood experience.
Considers influences of both nature and nurture.
Provides an explanation for the development of personality.
Concept of an unconscious mind is supported by cognitive psychology.
Has lead to the development of psychodynamic therapies.
Limitations of the psychodynamic approach
Not falsifiable and cannot be empirically tested.
Theories are mostly based on historical case studies.
Difficult to generalise to wider, cross-cultural populations.
Does not consider social and cultural influence.
Has an overemphasis on sexual behaviour.
Is a deterministic theory that denies free-will.
Is androcentric (centred on men)
Is biased towards heterosexual relationships.
Less emphasis on genetic factors in mental illness.
Tripartite model of personality is reductionist.
Psychosexual stage theory is reductionist.
