Psychodynamic Approach- Assumptions

Question 1

1. Childhood Experiences

Answer 1

Psychosexual stages: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latent Genitals
Fixation- When we do not receive the right amount of something we become fixated. Can occur through: Frustration- needs have not been met. Overindulgence: Needs over satisfied
Oral- 0-18months, ID development, pleasure centre= mouth, focus=breast feeding, fixation: smoking, nail biting, chewing pens
Anal- 18months-3yrs, Ego development, pleasure centre= anus, focus=potty training, fixation: anally retentive or repressive
Phallic- 3-5yrs, Superego development, pleasure centre= genitals, focus= Oedipus & Electra complex, fixation: Homosexuality
Latent= 5-puberty, everything falls silent, libido calms
Genitals- Puberty onwards, explore sexuality

Question 2

2. Unconscious Mind

Answer 2

Mind is like an iceberg- conscious mind, preconscious boundary, unconscious mind
Conscious mind: What we are currently aware of
Preconscious boundary: What we could be conscious about if we thought about it
Unconscious mind: Thoughts and feelings which are inaccessible to us. Trauma, embarrassment, violent/sexual motives.

Question 3

3. Tripartite Personality

Answer 3

Behaviour is influenced by the three parts of the mind: ID, Ego, Superego
ID- Pleasure principle, instinctive drives libido and Thanatos (aggression), instant gratification
0-18months, primitive desires for sex and death, biological aspects of personality, Eros & Thanatos
Ego- Aims to resolve conflict between the ID and Superego- takes consequences into account
18months- 3 years, Reality Principle
Superego- Morally correct and incorrect ways to behave
3-6 years- Morality principle

Question 4

Relationship Formation

Answer 4

Psychosexual stages- child development
Defence mechanisms- Forming a relationship, for some people, bring up unpleasant emotions from the past.
Formation of child-parent relationships, Bowlby’s maternal deprivation