pyschodynamic approach Flashcards
what is the concept of the psychodynamic approach?
that all behaviour is driven by the unconscious. that it is influenced by childhood and any trauma affects our adult personality and therefore all behaviour is driven by unconscious conflict which are defence mechanisms.
what is the mind divided into?
(conscious, preconscious, unconscious)
- conscious - active part of our mind that we are most aware of and have direct access to
- preconscious - usually aware of in dream states or parapraxes
- unconscious - cannot reach - yet makes up most of our mind eg usually full of instinct, trauma, fear, and passions (biological drives)
what is the structure of our personality through our mind?
the structure of our personality is divided by the ID (pleasure principle), the Ego (reality principle), and the Superego (morality principle).
What is the ID?
The ID is the unconscious part of our personality. As it contains the libido and the biological energy created by reproductive instincts, it demands immediate gratification for its needs, hence being the “pleasure principle.” To meet these needs, the person will do anything there and then even if it leads to impulsive behaviour.
What is the Ego?
The Ego is known as the reality principle as it mediates between the impulsive demands of the ID and the reality of the external world based on moral values. Therefore it can delay the gratification of the ID until there is a more appropriate opportunity or instead make a compromise.
What is the Superego?
The Superego completely depends on its moral values for decision making hence called the “morality principle”. It is divided between the conscious and the ego-ideal and causes feelings of guilt when rules are broken meaning responsibility will usually be taken when making decisions in terms of good behaviour or parental standards.
How does the role of unconscious influence us in terms of our defence mechanisms?
Due to repressed trauma or memory in the unconscious out of fear or denial, the person unconsciously creates defence mechanisms to distort reality to avoid anxiety. These defence mechanisms stops the person from becoming aware of any unpleasant thoughts and feelings that stem from the trauma. However these defence mechanisms and influence their behaviour in a bad way.
What are defence mechanisms?
Repression
Denial
Displacement
what is the idea behind the psychological stage of development?
Freud suggests that sexual energy is present right from birth through unconscious desires. He suggested that different parts of our bodies become sensitive as we grow, called the erogenous zones. He believed that we pass through 5 different stages of development, and within each stage, the libido focuses on a particular body organ.
what are the psychosexual stages of development?
- Oral stage 0-1 years
- Anal stage 1-3 years
- Phallic stage 3-6 years
- Latency stage - 6-12 years
- Genital stage 6-12 years / puberty
what is the oral stage?
the oral stage focuses on the mouth where it feels most pleasured - it is believed that most babies feel pleasure from suckling as babies have more nerve endings in that area
what is the anal stage?
the anal stage is where from 1-3 years old, that’s where one feels most pleasure in the anus as the child becomes aware of reality and the need to conform the demand of others. pleasure usually derived from release of faeces. this is done as the parent imposes potty training at the time. may realise they can exercise power over parents by retention or expulsion of faeces as well and therefore get fixated on this stage.
what is the phallic stage?
happens at 3-5 years old, where the stage of pleasure is the genitals and when the oedipus complex occurs?
what is the oedipus complex?
the theory that children have unconscious sexual desires for their mothers and therefore become resentful of their father as seen as a threat. however they also fear their father as they are stronger and have a fear of castration as a belief that that will be their father’s punishment to them. boys then identify with their fathers and internalise the morals and standards to get rid of that fear.
what is the latency stage?
happens at 4-6 years and sexual desires become repressed as they become aware of the real world around them, making them want nothing to do with the opposite sex.
