Psychodynamic theory Flashcards
who proposed psychodynamic theory?
freud
what are the 3 parts to your personality?
id,ego,superego
what is catharsis?
the way we satisfy our urges without resorting to violence
what’s Eros?
life instinct-preservation and enjoyment of life
what’s Thanatos?
death instinct-most commonly directed out towards other people as anger/aggression
describe id
- instinctive aspect
- operates on pleasure principle and demands immediate attention and doesn’t care about reality
describe ego
- logical aspect
- operates on reality principle-makes concious and rational decisions that reflect demands of id, ego and environment
describe superego
- moral aspect
- operates on morality principle-develops due to moral and ethical restraints placed on us by carers
how does thanatos apply to aggression?
death instinct-source of aggression within you
how does id apply to aggression?
pleasure principle-wants to succumb into violent impulses
-if it doesn’t get what it wants then it will get aggressive
how does super ego apply to aggression?
tries to control aggression- learn this from parents a t a young age
how does ego apply to aggression?
balances id and super ego out-does this by defence mechanisms like placement e.g. storming out after an argument
how does catharsis apply to aggression?
this is releasing aggression
STRENGTHS of psychodynamic theory?
-can help explain individual differences- why some people more aggressive than others
-can explain why young children get angry easily-haven’t developed ego/superego only id is active
takes into account nature and nurture- born with id but ego and superego has to develop through morals
WEAKNESSES of psychodynamic theory?
- not scientific
- not measurable/objective
- -largely deterministic
- doesn’t take into account biology
