The Approaches: Psychodynamic Approach 2024 Flashcards
Assumption Focus
What are the 2 assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?
Remember, for an 8 or 16 mark essay you only need 1x assumption
- Behaviour is due to unconscious motives
- Focuses on past experiences - relationships with parents and childhood conflicts create behaviour and personality
Remember, for an 8 or 16 mark essay you only need 1x assumption
Feature Focus: The Role of the Unconscious
What 3 things does the unconscious mind contain?
- Information we are not aware of
- Repressed memories
- Innate drives and instincts
Feature Focus: The Role of the Unconscious
What does the preconscious mind contain?
Thoughts and ideas we may become aware of during dreams
Feature Focus: The Role of the Unconscious
What does the conscious mind contain?
Information we are aware of
Feature Focus: The Structure of the Personality
The personality is made up of how many parts?
AQA often makes this a specific mark point in the exam
3 parts
Freud referred to the personality as a ‘tripartite’
Feature Focus: The Structure of the Personality
Name all parts of the personality
- Id
- Ego
- Superego
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What principle is each part of the personality driven by?
- Id = pleasure
- Ego = reality
- Superego = morality
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What principle is the id driven by?
Pleasure
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What principle is the ego driven by?
Reality
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What principle is the superego driven by?
Morality
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
Where is the id found within the mind?
Think of the iceberg
Unconscious mind
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
When does the pleasure principle develop?
From birth
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
When does the reality principle develop?
Between 18 months and 3 years
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
When does the morality principle develop?
Between 3 and 6 years
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What happens if you have an overpowering id?
Develop a selfish personality
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What happens if you have an overpowering superego?
Develop an anxious personality
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
What is the role of the ego?
Balance the demands of the id and superego
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
How does the ego balance the demands of the id and the superego?
Using defence mechanisms
Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality
How does the superego develop?
Identification with the same sex parent
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
What are defence mechanisms?
It is important you know what defence mechanisms are, as well as examples of them
Unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and superego
IMPORTANT: Remember that defence mechanisms are unconscious - we do not choose to use them
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
Provide 3 examples of defence mechanisms
- Repression
- Denial
- Displacement
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
What is a benefit of defence mechanisms?
They stop the ego from becoming overwhelmed
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
What is a problem with defence mechanisms?
They can distort a persons reality
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
What is meant by repression?
Where the ego forces a distressing memory out of the conscious mind to the unconscious mind
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
What is meant by denial?
Where the ego refuses to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
What is meant by displacement?
Where the ego tranfers feelings from the true source of distressing emotions onto a less threatening substitute target
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
Johnny is having an argument with his father. He turns around and walks out the room, slamming the door on his way out.
What defence mechanism is this - and why?
- Displacement
- Johnny is transferring his negative emotions of anger onto the door (a less threatening substitute)
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
Timmy achieved an U grade in his Psychology synoptic.
When asked by his class teacher, Timmy insists he has not failed.
What defence mechanism is this - and why?
- Denial
- Timmy is refusing to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality - failing his synoptic
Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms
Samantha was in a car crash when she was 12 years old.
However, when she is asked about it at 15 - she cannot remember anything
What defence mechanism is this - and why?
- Repression
- Because Samantha is forcing a distressing memory into her unconscious mind
Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages
During the psychosexual stages, which part of our personality gains pleasure?
Id
Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages
Name all stages of the psychosexual stages
- Oral
- Anal
- Phallic
- Latency
- Genital
*In a 16 mark essay, you would only need to explain Oral, Anal, Phallic in detail *
Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages
What happens if a child does not resolve the conflict in a stage?
They become fixated
Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages
What behaviours would be shown if you become fixated during the oral stage?
- Smoking
- Biting nails
- Sarcastic / critical
Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages
What behaviours would be shown if you become fixated during the anal stage?
Remember there are two personality types which can develop from a fixation in the anal stage
- Anal retentive = perfectionist, neat
- Anal expulsive = thoughtless, messy
Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages
What behaviours would be shown if you become fixated during the phallic stage?
Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless
AO3 Focus: Structure of the Personality
Why does the structure of the personality lack scientific rigour?
Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach
Because concepts like the id, ego and superego can not be objectively and empirically tested
This will form the second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: Psychosexual Stages
Why do the psychosexual stages lack scientific rigour?
Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach
Because concepts like the oral, anal and phallic stages can not be objectively and empirically tested
This will form the second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: Role of the Unconscious
Why does the role of the unconscious lack scientific rigour?
Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach
Because concepts like the unconscious, preconscious, and conscious mind can not be objectively and empirically tested
This will form the second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: Defence Mechanisms
Why do defence mechanisms lack scientific rigour?
Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach
Because concepts like the denial, repression and displacement can not be objectively and empirically tested
This will form the second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: Psychosexual Stages
Why can the psychosexual stages be considered deterministic?
Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach
- It suggests individual is controlled by internal and external factors
- Such as oral fixations resulting in behaviour such as smoking
This would form the first E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: Defence Mechanisms
Why can defence mechanisms be considered deterministic?
This would form the first E of your PEEL
- It suggests individual is controlled by internal and external factors
- Such as overuse of mechanisms such as denial resulting in psychotic disorders
This would form the first E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: All Features
If all psychodynamic features are deterministic, what does this ignore the role of?
How might this make people feel?
This would form the second E of your PEEL
- Ignores free will
- Individuals may feel they have no control over their behaviour
This would form the second E of your PEEL
AO3 Focus: The Role of the Unconscious / Psychosexual Stages
How does psychoanalysis treat abnormalities
This would form the second E of your PEEL
Identifying and resolving unconscious conflicts
This would form the second E of your PEEL
STRETCH: Discussion Focus:
Why might the use of psychoanalysis be limited?
Can not treat more serious disorders such as schizophrenia
