Psychodynamic Assumptions Flashcards
What are the 3 Psychodynamic assumptions?
- Tripartite personality
- Behaviour can be explained by the unconscious mind
- Behaviour is influenced by childhood experiences
What are the 3 parts of the Tripartite personality?
- id
- ego
- superego
What is the id?
The primitive biological part of the mind. It consists of impulses such as hunger, thirst, etc. We are driven to seek out pleasure and satisfaction and avoid displeasure
What Principle does the id work on?
The Pleasure Principle
When does the id develop?
The id is present at birth
What is the ego?
The ego aims to gratify the id whilst being realistic. It tries to be morally acceptable by considering the environment it is in
What Principle does the ego work on?
The Reality Principle
When does the ego develop?
The ego develops at about 2 years of age
What is the superego?
The superego is effectively a conscience. Violating the superego’s standards or even the impulse to do so may cause anxiety which feels like guilt
What Principle does the superego work on?
The superego works on the Morality Principle
When does the superego develop?
The superego develops at around 3-5 years of age
What analogy can be used to describe the structure of the personality and the mind?
An iceberg. Parts of the ego and superego are above the ‘water’ and therefore are conscious however most of the ego and superego, and all of the id are ‘below’ the water and are therefore unconscious
What personality traits will someone with a dominant superego display?
- Submissive
- Honest
- Considerate
- Guilty
- Gullible
What personality traits will someone with a dominant id display?
- Selfish
- Demanding
- Impulsive
- Angry
- Low self control
How can the unconscious be accessed?
- Parapraxes (slipping of the tongue)
- Dream analysis
- Rorschach inkblot test
- Word association
What are defense mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and superego
What can defense mechanisms do?
Defense mechanisms can either push a desire or conflict out of conscious thought or transfer it onto something else
What are 3 defense mechanisms?
- Repression
- Displacement
- Projection
What happens in the Repression defense mechanism?
Unknowingly placing an unpleasant memory or thought in the unconscious mind
What is an example of the Repression defense mechanism taking place?
Not remembering a traumatic incident in which you witnessed a crime
What happens in the Displacement defense mechanism
Redirecting unacceptable feelings from the original source to a safer, substitute target
What is an example of the Displacement defense mechanism taking place?
Taking your anger toward your boss out on your spouse or children by yelling at them and not your boss
What happens in the Projection defense mechanism?
Attributing your own unacceptable feelings and thoughts to others and not yourself
What do Psychodynamic theories suggest about events in our childhood?
That experiences in our childhood have a great influence on our adult lives. Traumatic events that occur in childhood may be repressed and can remain in the unconscious and cause problems as adults.
What did Freud suggest that all children go through?
He suggested that all children go through the 5 Psychosexual stages
What are the 5 Psychosexual stages, when do they start/finish and where is the libido focused on?
- Oral - 0-18 months - Focused on the mouth
- Anal - 18-36 months - Focused on the anus
- Phallic - 3-5 years - Focused on the genitals but immaturely
- Latency - 5y-puberty - No libido focus
- Genital - puberty-death - Focused on the genitals
How can a Fixation occur at these stages?
A fixation can occur when the child gets too much or too little gratification.
How can Frustration occur?
When the stage is not resolved because the child is under-satisfied
How can Overindulgence occur?
When the needs of the child have been more than satisfied and the child feels ‘too’ comfortable or reluctant to move to the next stage
What is the Oedipus/Electra Complex?
When the child has unrecognized feelings for the opposite sex parent. When the child works out that these feelings are unacceptable, they begin to show behaviour patterns likened to their same sex parent. Resolution of this Complex results in ‘gender roles’ being given to the male or female child.
