Psychodynamic Personality Concept Flashcards
What are the three types of mental processes?
Conscious, preconscious and the unconscious
What does the conscious mind hold?
Any information, thoughts, and feelings in the present moment.
What is the preconscious mind?
Information we are aware of but not currently thinking about.
What type of information is stored in the unconscious mind?
Darkest wishes, fears and unacceptable desires.
What are the five aspects of personality that Freud’s taught therapy supports?
- Unconscious cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes.
- Ambivalence, conflict and compromise.
- Childhood experiences shaping adult interpersonal patterns.
- Mental representations of the self, others and relationships.
- Development of impulse regulation and maturity.
What does the psychodynamic approach emphasise about human thought and action?
That they are laden with meaning.
Why is the psychodynamic approach criticized for its scientific basis?
Lack of empirical evidence, reliance on subjective retrospective data, and difficulty generalizing findings.
What are the three interactive structures of the psyche?
The id, ego and superego
What is the function of the Id?
It drives instinctive and primitive urges and demands immediate satisfaction.
What role does the Ego play in personality?
It operates on the reality principle and mediates between the Id and Superego.
How does the Superego influence behavior?
It follows the morality principle and determines whether actions are right or wrong.
Why are childhood experiences important in shaping adult personality?
They influence personality traits and behaviours in adulthood.
What happens if a child becomes fixated in a psychosexual stage?
It may result in maladaptive behaviours and mental illness in adulthood.
How does each psychosexual stage reflect a child’s development?
Each stage represents the evolving quest for pleasure and the realization of social limitations.
