Psychodynamic perspective Flashcards
What are the defining principles of the psychodynamic perspective
-Unconscious processes
-Psychodynamic conflict
-Emotional drives
-Development
Define ‘Unconscious Processes’
Many important influences on behaviour come from a part of the mind we have no direct awareness of, the unconscious
Define ‘Psychodynamic Conflict’
Different parts of the mind are in constant dynamic struggle with each other (often unconsciously) and the consequences of this struggle are important in understanding each other
Define ‘Emotional Drives’
Freud believed behaviour is motivated by sexual and aggressive drives. The drive creates psychic energy that will build up and create tension and anxiety if it cannot be released in some form
Define ‘Development’
Personality is shaped by relationships, experience and conflict over time, particularly during childhood
Describe the different levels of consciousness
1) Conscious-immediate awareness
2) Pre-conscious-accessible memories
3) Unconscious-no awareness
What are the ways in which the conscious reveals itself
-Free association
-Projective tests
-Slips of the tongue
Define ‘free association’
Laying on a couch and speaking whatever comes to mind until the conscious mind starts to reach the surface
Define ‘projective tests’
You give people inkblot images and ask them to reveal what they immediately see
Define ‘Slips of the tongue’
When you say something but meant to say something else
What are the ‘instinctual drives’?
-Eros-the life instinct
-Thanatos-the death instinct
The tripartite model of the personality
-Super ego-your morality principle
-Ego-your reality principle
-Id-your impulsive principle
Strengths of the psychodynamic perspective
-Research is useful in explaining why people develop mental health disorders
-Research is useful in developing treatments for mental health disorders
-Case studies enable researchers to get a lot if data on participants
Weaknesses of the psychodynamic perspective
-Research is often not scientific as focusing on the unconscious mind, so often research isn’t falsifiable
-Using small groups of people stops you from establishing a consistent effect
-Using specific groups of people could limit generalisability
