Psychodynamic Approach - Assumptions

Question 1

Assumption 1 - influence of childhood experiences

Answer 1

• Freud believes that experience during childhood shape our adult personality.
• children go through the 5 stages of psychosexual development (each stage represents the fixation ion libido on the different areas of the body)

Question 2

5 psychosexual stages

Answer 2

1.Oral - fustrated = pessimism sarcasm or envy. Over indulged= optimisti, gullible and needy
2. Anal (3) frustrated= stubborn, possessive or overly tidy. Overindulged = messy, disorganised or reckless
3. Phallic 3-5 frustrated =self assured, vain, difficulty maintaining relationships
4. Latency 5+ focus = little to no motivation. No fixations
5. Genital puberty + no fixations

Question 3

Assumption 2 : tripartite personality

Answer 3

• our personality is split into three parts: id ego and superego
• the id is the primitive biological part. It works on the pleasure principle and motivates us to satisfy our urges
• the ego aims to gratify the ids impulses in line with morality and reality
• the superego judges right and wrong and works as a conscience

Question 4

The Id, ego and superego

Answer 4

The Id= the pleasure principle which controls the impulsive and unconscious part of our personality (present from birth).
The ego= the reality principle which controls the conscious, rational part of the mind
The superego= the morality principle which balances the right and wrong

Question 5

Assumption 3: the unconscious mind

Answer 5

Freud proposed that the mind is like an iceberg ( what goes on indexed the mind lies under the surface).
The unconscious mind is ruled by pleasure seeking and can be expressed through dreams.
The unconscious mind determines much of our behaviour

Question 6

Application of psychodynamic assumptions to relationships: unconscious mind.

Answer 6

defence mechanisms can be applied to relationships is when a person is having an affair they might accuse their partner of being unfaithful as they are projecting their behaviour onto someone else.

Question 7

3 parts of the unconscious mind

Answer 7

• conscious mind (small mental activities we know)
• precocious ( things that we could be aware of if we try to remember)
• unconscious mind (things that we are unaware of and can’t recall)