Psychodynamic Explanations Of Aggression

Question 1

What did Freud propose

Answer 1

• We have a unconscious drive that causes aggressive behaviour which is caused by our natural instinct, “Thanatos” which drives us towards self destruction
• over time this instinct builds up creating pressure which we can’t control which makes us do aggressive acts

Question 2

What is the “life instinct”

Answer 2

“Eros” = the main basis of this is the libido (sex drive) therefore the preservation and enjoyment of life

Question 3

What is the psyche

Answer 3

The mind
- split into two layers, the unconscious and the conscious

Question 4

Where do both Thanatos and Eros drive?

Answer 4

From the ID of the psyche

Question 5

What is the superego

Answer 5

• produced between 4 and 6
• between unconscious and conscious
• mortality, memories and stored knowledge
• tell ego if actions are moral or immoral
• manages ID with defence mechanisms
• when superego objects ego, we feel shame and guilt

Question 6

What is the conscious mind

Answer 6

The small amount of mental activity we know about like thoughts and perceptions

Question 7

What is the preconscious

Answer 7

Things we could be aware of if we tried

Question 8

What is the unconscious

Answer 8

Things we are unaware of and can not become aware of

Question 9

What is the ego

Answer 9

• conscious part of psyche (reality)
• thinking and decision making part of psyche
• finds a way to grant the desires of the ID
• no desires of its own
• understands the real world

Question 10

What is the ID

Answer 10

• unconscious part of psyche
• urges and desires (fears, unacceptable sexual desires, violent motives, traumatic experiences etc)
• holds the Thanatos and Eros drive

Question 11

Which view does psychodynamic approach take

Answer 11

Nature and nurture

Question 12

How do we protect ourselves from self destruction

Answer 12

By using ego defence mechanisms
- these redirect our aggression outwardly so we harm others and not ourselves or direct our energy else where. This is CATHARSIS

Question 13

What are the 5 defence mechanism

Answer 13

• displacement
• denial
• projection
• sublimation
• repression

Question 14

What is displacement

Answer 14

• when you take your anger and frustration out on a person or object not the actual target of your anger
• e.g teacher tells you off so you shout at your mum at home

Question 15

What is denial

Answer 15

• The IDs feelings and urgues are acted upon but the conscious mind refuses to admit what they are
• e.g. someone not realising how mean they are

Question 16

What is projection

Answer 16

• The ids feelings are denied and the superegos hostility is directed towards other people who seek to be acting on these same feelings
• e.g. being judgemental about other people doing things you secretly want to do

Question 17

What is sublimation

Answer 17

• The ids urges are acted upon but are transformed into something socially acceptable
• e.g. aggressive impulses are transformed into engaging in competitive sports like boxing

Question 18

What is repression

Answer 18

• blocking conscious thoughts and placing them in the unconscious
• e.g. a traumatic experience

Question 19

Dollars (1939)

Answer 19

• Frustration Aggression Theory
• Didn’t agree with Freud theory that our aggression instinct could randomly spill over as something needs to trigger it

Question 20

Bushman (2012)

Answer 20

• investigating catharsis
• both groups of students got insulting feedback on their essays
• tried to stimulate aggressive urge in students by allowing one group to blow a blow horn at the teacher
• the group with the air horn were more aggressive than group with no air horn
• therefore does not support catharsis

Question 21

Little Hans

Answer 21

• 6 year old boy with fear of horses
• child is unconsciously attracted to mother (Oedipus Complex)
• child unconsciously views father as a rival and has a fear he might castrate him
• child displaces fear to horses

Question 22

Anna O

Answer 22

• “melancholia” as she wouldn’t eat or drink or get up
• Freud did psycholoanalysis and memories of parents and dreams were asked about
• she was repressing a childhood memory

Question 23

How is psychodynamic view naturist?

Answer 23

• we are born with a built in psyche with drives and desires
• certain part of our personality like aggression is part of our nature

Question 24

How is the psychodynamic approach nurturist?

Answer 24

• we are shaped by childhood experiences
• nurture decides which defence mechanisms we should use and how to display aggression towards ourselves and others

Question 25

What are strengths of psychodynamic view

Answer 25

• nature and nurture taken into account
• not reductionist
• widely applied in society (psychoanalysis)
• not falsifiable

Question 26

Weaknesses of psychodynamic approach

Answer 26

• not scientifically credible
• not reliable
• no empirical evidence