Psychodynamic Approach (AO1)

Question 1

Key Ideas of the Psychodynamic Approach?

Answer 1

• early childhood experiences determine adult personality, feelings & behaviours
• unconscious processes determine our feelings & behaviours
• personality is shaped through the psychosexual stages of development
• the personality has 3 parts (id, ego, superego) which are in constant conflict, creating anxiety
• the anxiety is dealt with through defence mechanisms

Question 2

Person?

Answer 2

Sigmund Freud:
- austrian neurologist
- most theories considered redundant today BUT hugely influential in terms of developing modern psychotherapies/ treatments

Question 3

What are the 3 levels of Consciousness?

Answer 3

Conscious Level - thoughts, perceptions (just the tip of the iceberg)

Preconscious Level - memories, stored knowledge

Unconscious Level - fears, violent motives, immoral urges, shameful experiences + repressed memories

Question 4

Explain the theory of the Role of the Unconscious?

Answer 4

• most of our mind is made up of the unconscious these have signif influence on our behaviour/ personality
• preconscious level is just below the surface of the conscious mind, not immediately aware of but can manifest in dreams of parapraxes (Freudian slips)

Question 5

What is the Structure of the Personality?

Answer 5

Id
Ego
Superego

Question 6

What is the Id?

Answer 6

• the primitive part of our personality
• operates on the pleasure principle
• it is out to get what it wants + selfish + instant gratification
• unconscious (desires, drives, instincts)
• the only part present at birth
• F said “babies were bundles of id”

Question 7

What is the Ego?

Answer 7

• the balance between the id & superego
• aims to reduce conflict often using defence mechanisms
• operates on the reality principle
• considers realistic/ rational ways to carry out the demand of the id
• works at preconscious level
• develops around the age of 2

Question 8

What is the Superego?

Answer 8

• the moral part/ conscience
• operates on the morality principle
• internalised sense of right & wrong based on parents/ society
• wants to control the id’s impulses & strive for perfection (ideal self)
• can punish the ego through guilt if this isn’t achieved
• develops around the age of 5

Question 9

What are the 5 Psychosexual Stages of Development?

Answer 9

Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
Genital

Question 10

What are the Ages of the 5 psychosexual stages of development?

Answer 10

0-1 years = Oral
1-3 years = Anal
3-5 years = Phallic
Latency
Genital

Question 11

What is Oral and the Consequence of unresolved conflict?

Answer 11

focus of pleasure is the mouth, mother’s breast is the object of desire

oral fixation - smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical

Question 12

What is Anal and the Consequence of unresolved conflict?

Answer 12

focus of pleasure is the anus, child gains pleasure from withholding & expelling faeces

anal retentive - perfectionist, obsessive

anal expulsive - thoughtless, messy

Question 13

What is Phallic and the Consequence of unresolved conflict?

Answer 13

focus of pleasure is the genital area, child experiences the oedipus or electra complex

phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual

Question 14

What is Latency and the Consequence of unresolved conflict?

Answer 14

earlier conflicts are repressed

n/a

Question 15

What is Genital and the Consequence of unresolved conflict?

Answer 15

sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty

difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 16

What is an Oedipus Complex?

Answer 16

• in the phallic stage, boys develop incestuous feelings towards their mothers & a jealousy/ hatred of their father
• they don’t act on these feelings bc they fear castration, instead repress their feelings & model after their father (gender role/ moral values)

Question 17

What is an Electra Complex?

Answer 17

• at the same age girls experience penis envy, they desire their fathers bc of this & hate their mothers who they blame for their castration
• they eventually give up their desire for their father + replace this with desire to have children & identify w the mother

Question 18

What are the 3 Ego Defence Mechanisms?

Answer 18

Repression
Denial
Displacement

Question 19

How does Repression work & example?

Answer 19

forcing a distressing memory out of the mind
&
forgetting the trauma of your favourite pet dying when you were young

Question 20

How does Denial work & example?

Answer 20

refusing to acknowledge an aspect of reality
&
continuing to turn up for work even though you have been sacked

Question 21

How does Displacement work & example?

Answer 21

transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target
&
slamming the door shut after an argument with your parents