psychodynamic perspective Flashcards by daisy !

What are the 3 assumptions?

1- All behaviour is determined by our unconscious mind
2- Our childhood can impact our behaviour as adults
3- Individuals have very little free will to make choices in life

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Who is the ‘founder’ of this perspective?

Sigmund Freud

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What is Freud’s theory?

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory

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What is Freud’s theory based on?

levels to consciousness (iceberg theory)
the tripartite personality

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How many levels to consciousness does Freud suggest there are?

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What are the levels of consciousness?

conscious
pre-conscious
unconscious

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What are the key elements to the conscious mind?

current state of awareness

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What are the key elements to the pre-conscious mind?

things not currently aware of however can be recalled / come to consciousness
Freudian slips

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What are the key elements to the unconscious mind?

things outside of our awareness
repressed trauma
defence mechanism

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What is the tripartite personality?

Freud suggesting that the human psyche has three parts

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What are the parts to the tripartite system?

1- ID
2- Ego
3- Superego

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What are the key elements of the ID?

1st to develop
“I want” mindset
in the unconscious mind
instincts
pleasure principle
instant gratification

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What are the key elements of the Ego?

2nd to develop
“I Will” mindset
decision maker
reality principle
keeps balance between ID & superego

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What are the key elements of the superego?

last to develop
“I Should” mindset
morals
parents would approve

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What is Freud’s theory of development?

The Stages of Psychosexual Development

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How many stages of development does Freud say that there are?

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What are the stages based on?

libido (sex drive) - changes with the stages

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What are the 5 stages of psychosexual development?

1- Oral (0-1)
2- Anal (1-3)
3- Phallic (3-6)
4- Latency (7-13)
5- Genital (Puberty - Death)

What are the key elements to the Oral Stage?

ages 0-1
fixation on the mouth
breast / bottle feeding
traumas in this stage lead to fixations such as: smoking, chewing gum, addictive personality

What are the key elements of the Anal Stage?

ages 1-3
fixation on the anus
potty training
traumas in this stage lead to fixations such as: anal retentive (scared of authority) or anal repulsive (no respect for authority)

What are the key elements to the Phallic Stage?

ages 3-6
fixation on the phallus
Oedipus / Electra Complex
traumas lead to fixations such as: mother fixation (OC), aggression, inferiority complex (EC)

What are the key elements of the Latency Stage?

ages 7-13
little-to-no sexual motivation (libido is supressed)
superego strengthens
social life develops
no real conflict

What are the key elements to the Genital Stage?

from puberty to death
fixation on the genitals
sexual attraction
Ego develops
having a weak ego = suppression of sexual thoughts

What is a way to remember the 5 stages of psychosexual development?

Old Aged Pensions Love Gardening

What occurs when one of the stages of development are not passed through successfully?

fixations in adulthood

What are the two types of complex?

Oedipus and Electra

What stage of development do these complexes appear in?

Phallic (3-6) - stage 3

How does the Oedipus and Electra Complex differ?

Oedipus = boys Electra = girls

How many steps are there for the complex?

What are the steps to the Oedipus Complex?

1- unconscious sexual desire for mother 2- jealous of father, however is scared of him which leads to castration anxiety 3- internalise with father 4- substitutes mother with other women

What are the stages to the Electra Complex?

1- blames mother and is jealous of father for having a penis 2- penis envy 3- internalises with mother 4- substitutes desire for a penis with desire for a baby

What is the core study link to this perespective?

- individual differences - Freud - Little Hans (1909) - Little Hans is in the phallic stage

What are the evaluation points for this persepective?

Strengths: - useful - case study (Freud) - unscientific Weaknesses: - unreliable - unscientific

How can this perspective be considered useful?

- practical applications - access to unconscious mind - highlights how people develop mental disorders e.g., phobias (LH)

How can this study be considered unreliable?

- subjective readings of behaviour in childhood - unrepresentative of everyone with the same phobia therefore ungeneralisable

Why is a case study a strength of this perspective?

Freud's core study link: - lots of qualitative data about LH = reasoning for behaviour

How is this perspective being unscientific both a strength and a weakness?

Cannot be proven OR disproven - no scientific measurement

What are the practical applications?

- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) - dream analysis - understanding unconscious thoughts - psychotherapy - behaviourist treatments

What is psychotherapy?

talking therapy - finding causes for behaviour

What is CBT?

cognition behind behaviour such as phobias reworking phobias into positive behaviours

What are 2 examples of behaviourist treatments?

1- Flooding 2- Systematic Desensitisation

What is Flooding?

forced to face fears/ stimuli

What is Systematic Desensitisation?

slowly introducing the stimuli

Why can behaviourist treatments such as flooding be considered unethical?

lack protection from (psychological) harm - extremely distressing & there is no right to withdraw without reinforcing phobias