Psychodynamic explanations of gender

Question 1

what is the driving force behind our behaviour

Answer 1

the unconscious mind

Question 2

what motivates our behaviour

Answer 2

instincts and drive

Question 3

which key events influence who we are as people

Answer 3

early childhood experiences (before 6)

Question 4

what are examples of the conscious mind

Answer 4

thoughts and perceptions

Question 5

what are examples of the preconscious mind

Answer 5

memories, stored knowledge

Question 6

what are examples of the unconscious mind

Answer 6

fears, immoral urges, traumatic experiences

Question 7

describe the ID : age for it, principle, influence on behaviour

Answer 7

• birth - 18 months
• pleasure principle
• seeks gratification (selfish)

Question 8

describe the ego : age for it, principle, influence on behaviour

Answer 8

• 18 months - 3 years
• reality principle
• mediates ID and superego

Question 9

describe the superego : age for it, principle, influence on behaviour

Answer 9

• 3 - 6years
• morality principle
• forms a moral code, acting how society deems acceptable

Question 10

describe the oral stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation

Answer 10

• 0-18 months
• mouth
• sarcastic and critical as an adult

Question 11

describe the anal stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation

Answer 11

• 18 months - 3yrs
• anus
• either perfectionist/obessive or thoughtless/messy as adult

Question 12

describe the phallic stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation

Answer 12

• 3-6 years
• gentials
• narcissitic and reckless - potentially homosexual

Question 13

describe the latent stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation

Answer 13

• 6-12 yrs
• dormant sexual desires
• no impacts

Question 14

describe the genital stage : age for it, focus of libido, impact of fixation

Answer 14

• 12+
• maturing adult sexuality
• difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 15

when did freud say gender identity begins

Answer 15

phallic stage (3-6 years)

Question 16

why did freud say gender identity begins in the phallic stage

Answer 16

children become aware of their own and other’s gentials - developing an awareness of physical differences between men and women

Question 17

who does the oedipus complex apply to

Answer 17

boys

Question 18

what is the oedipus complex

Answer 18

claims boys develop sexual interests for his mother - resulting in intense hatred for his father and castration anxeity

Question 19

how does the oedipus complex lead to castration anxiety

Answer 19

boy fears his father will discover his feelings towards his mother and punish him through castration

Question 20

who does the electra complex apply to

Answer 20

girls

Question 21

what is the electra complex

Answer 21

claims that girls desire a penis to be like their father (penis envy) and her mother is the reason she doesn’t have a penis

Question 22

why does the electra complex say a girls mother is the reason she doesn’t have a penis

Answer 22

her mother wants her daughters attention so castrates her

Question 23

how is penis envy resolved

Answer 23

a girls desire for a penis is substituted by a desire to have a baby

Question 24

what is internalisation

Answer 24

when an individual adopts the attitudes/behaviours of another

Question 25

what is identification

Answer 25

a desire to be associated with a particular person/group because they possess desirable characteristics

Question 26

what conflict did freud say boys have

Answer 26

their desire for their mother and fear of their father

Question 27

what conflict did freud say girls have

Answer 27

competition for possession of her father and fear of losing her mother's love

Question 28

how do boys resolve the oedipus complex

Answer 28

- give up desire for mother and identify with father - identification leads to internalisation = growing sense of masculinity

Question 29

what effect does Freud believe not resolving the oedipus complex have

Answer 29

would make a boy confused about his sexual identity - could become homosexual

Question 30

how does a girl resolve the electra complex

Answer 30

- identifies with mother leading her to internalise female identity

Question 31

what effect does Freud believe not resolving the electra complex have

Answer 31

- would make a girl confused about her sexual identity

Question 32

does freud think female or male identification is strongest

Answer 32

male identification

Question 33

why does freud believe male identification is stronger than female

Answer 33

because a girl has less fear than boys because she has already been castrated