Psychodynamic Approach - Freud

Question 1

The mind

Answer 1

Conscious - part of the mind we are aware of

Preconscious - not quite aware of but just below the surface

Unconscious - drives & instincts we are unaware of (locked away and forgotten)

Question 2

What are the three personalities?

Answer 2

Id - the pleasure principle, primitive drives

Ego - the reality principle, reduce conflict

Superego - the morality principle, right & wrong

(Ice berg analogy)

Question 3

What are defence mechanisms

Answer 3

They protect the ego.
Repression - forcing an idea into the unconscious

Denial- refusing to acknowledge

Displacement - redirecting unacceptable impulses onto other objects

Question 4

What are the psychosexual stages? (OAPLG)

Answer 4

Oral - associated with the mouth which can lead to fixation in smoking etc

Anal - associated with anus which can lead to fixation in anal retentive or anal expulsive

Phallic - associated with sexual organs which can lead to fixation in homosexual, self obsessed

Latency - repression of these conflicts

Genital - associated with conscious sexual desires which can lead to fixation in poor relationships

Question 5

What is the Oedipus complex

Answer 5

Based in the phallic stage - sexual desire towards the mother. Fear of castration from father therefore leads to repression & identification with father

Question 6

What is the Electra complex

Answer 6

Girls develop penis envy - they desire their father and dislike their mother

Question 7

Evaluation: strength

Answer 7

Influential approach: inspired future theorists, art, literature & common speech e.g Freudian slips

Question 8

Evaluation: strength

Answer 8

Good application: Bergin (1971) reviewed 10,000 case histories which found that 80% had benefited from the treatment devised by the approach (psychoanalysis)

Question 9

Evaluation: weakness

Answer 9

Approach based on people with mental health: difficulty generalising the findings & also affected by researcher bias from Freud

Question 10

Evaluation: weakness

Answer 10

Deterministic: our behaviour is shaped by unconscious conflicts from our childhood therefore we have no free will

Question 11

Evaluation: weakness

Answer 11

Untestable concepts: the unconscious mind isn’t something we can measure therefore difficult to falsify