Psychodynamic Approach - Assumption 1: Influence of childhood experiences

Question 1

What do psychodynamic theories state

Answer 1

• That event in our childhood influence our adult life and personality
• traumatic events may be repressed and can remain in the unconscious, causing problems as adults

Question 2

What does the psychodynamic theory stress the importance of

Answer 2

Relationships
—> we use our childhood relationships as a template for adult relationships
—> your relationships with your opposite parent determines the romantic relationships you will have as an adult
—> poor relationship with mum = problems getting on with women in general

Question 3

Outline what psychosexual development is

Answer 3

• 5 stages that all children go through
• each stage represents the fixation of the libido on a different area of the body

Question 4

What is fixation

Answer 4

refers to problems with any stage of development that can have long-lasting effects on personality

Question 5

How does fixation occur

Answer 5

2 ways:
- frustration
-overindulgence

Question 6

What is the difference between frustration and overindulgence

Answer 6

• frustration: when needs are not met
• overindulgence: when needs are over met

Question 7

What are the 5 Psychosexual stages

Answer 7

1. Oral: 0-18 months
2. Anal stage: 18 months - 3 years
3. Phallic stage: 3-5 years
4. Latency stage: 5 years - puberty
5. Genital stage

Question 8

What acronym can you use to remember the psychosexual stages

Answer 8

Old age pensioners like Guinness

Question 9

What is the Oedipus complex

Answer 9

• boy desire mum, wants sex
• sees father rival for attention, want to kill
• fears father finds out and castrate him
• in state of conflict. Resolve by internalising and identifying with father
• lead to development of superego. Boy subs desire for mum into desire for other women

Question 10

What is the Electra complex

Answer 10

• Girl develops penis envy. Blame mum for removing penis
• sexually desires father who has penis
• see mother as rival for father
• to resolve this, identifies with mother so she can have her father
• superego develops, as does gender identity, replaces penis envy with desire for a baby

Question 11

Give an example from psychology

Answer 11

• Freud believed that fixations at the Phalic stage could lead to a confused sexuality and difficulties in building/mainting romantic relationships, as outlined by the Oedipus complex