The Approaches: Psychodynamic Approach 2024

Question 1

Assumption Focus

What are the 2 assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?

Remember, for an 8 or 16 mark essay you only need 1x assumption

Answer 1

1. Behaviour is due to unconscious motives
2. 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

Question 2

Feature Focus: The Role of the Unconscious

What 3 things does the unconscious mind contain?

Answer 2

• Information we are not aware of
• Repressed memories
• Innate drives and instincts

Question 3

Feature Focus: The Role of the Unconscious

What does the preconscious mind contain?

Answer 3

Thoughts and ideas we may become aware of during dreams

Question 4

Feature Focus: The Role of the Unconscious

What does the conscious mind contain?

Answer 4

Information we are aware of

Question 5

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

Answer 5

3 parts

Freud referred to the personality as a ‘tripartite’

Question 6

Feature Focus: The Structure of the Personality

Name all parts of the personality

Answer 6

• Id
• Ego
• Superego

Question 7

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What principle is each part of the personality driven by?

Answer 7

• Id = pleasure
• Ego = reality
• Superego = morality

Question 8

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What principle is the id driven by?

Answer 8

Pleasure

Question 9

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What principle is the ego driven by?

Answer 9

Reality

Question 10

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What principle is the superego driven by?

Answer 10

Morality

Question 11

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

Where is the id found within the mind?

Think of the iceberg

Answer 11

Unconscious mind

Question 12

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

When does the pleasure principle develop?

Answer 12

From birth

Question 13

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

When does the reality principle develop?

Answer 13

Between 18 months and 3 years

Question 14

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

When does the morality principle develop?

Answer 14

Between 3 and 6 years

Question 15

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What happens if you have an overpowering id?

Answer 15

Develop a selfish personality

Question 16

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What happens if you have an overpowering superego?

Answer 16

Develop an anxious personality

Question 17

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

What is the role of the ego?

Answer 17

Balance the demands of the id and superego

Question 18

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

How does the ego balance the demands of the id and the superego?

Answer 18

Using defence mechanisms

Question 19

Feature Focus: Structure of the Personality

How does the superego develop?

Answer 19

Identification with the same sex parent

Question 20

Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms

What are defence mechanisms?

It is important you know what defence mechanisms are, as well as examples of them

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms

Provide 3 examples of defence mechanisms

Answer 21

• Repression
• Denial
• Displacement

Question 22

Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms

What is a benefit of defence mechanisms?

Answer 22

They stop the ego from becoming overwhelmed

Question 23

Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms

What is a problem with defence mechanisms?

Answer 23

They can distort a persons reality

Question 24

Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms

What is meant by repression?

Answer 24

Where the ego forces a distressing memory out of the conscious mind to the unconscious mind

Question 25

# Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms What is meant by **denial?**

Answer 25

Where the ego refuses to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality

Question 26

# Feature Focus: Defence Mechanisms What is meant by **displacement?**

Answer 26

Where the ego tranfers feelings from the true source of distressing emotions onto a less threatening substitute target

Question 27

# 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?**

Answer 27

* Displacement * Johnny is transferring his negative emotions of anger onto the door (a less threatening substitute)

Question 28

# 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?**

Answer 28

* Denial * Timmy is refusing to acknowledge an unpleasant aspect of reality - failing his synoptic

Question 29

# 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?**

Answer 29

* Repression * Because Samantha is forcing a distressing memory into her unconscious mind

Question 30

# Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages During the psychosexual stages, which part of our personality gains pleasure?

Answer 30

Id

Question 31

# Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages Name all stages of the psychosexual stages

Answer 31

* Oral * Anal * Phallic * Latency * Genital ## Footnote *In a 16 mark essay, you would only need to explain Oral, Anal, Phallic in detail *

Question 32

# Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages What happens if a child does not *resolve* the conflict in a stage?

Answer 32

They become **fixated**

Question 33

# Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages What behaviours would be shown if you become **fixated** during the oral stage?

Answer 33

* Smoking * Biting nails * Sarcastic / critical

Question 34

# Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages What behaviours would be shown if you become **fixated** during the anal stage? ## Footnote *Remember there are two personality types which can develop from a fixation in the anal stage*

Answer 34

* Anal retentive = perfectionist, neat * Anal expulsive = thoughtless, messy

Question 35

# Feature Focus: The Psychosexual Stages What behaviours would be shown if you become **fixated** during the phallic stage?

Answer 35

Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless

Question 36

# AO3 Focus: Structure of the Personality Why does the **structure of the personality** lack scientific rigour? ## Footnote *Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach*

Answer 36

Because concepts like the **id, ego and superego** can not be **objectively** and **empirically** tested ## Footnote *This will form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Question 37

# AO3 Focus: Psychosexual Stages Why do the **psychosexual stages** lack scientific rigour? ## Footnote *Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach*

Answer 37

Because concepts like the **oral, anal and phallic stages** can not be **objectively** and **empirically** tested ## Footnote *This will form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Question 38

# AO3 Focus: Role of the Unconscious Why does the **role of the unconscious** lack scientific rigour? ## Footnote *Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach*

Answer 38

Because concepts like the **unconscious, preconscious, and conscious mind** can not be **objectively** and **empirically** tested ## Footnote *This will form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Question 39

# AO3 Focus: Defence Mechanisms Why do **defence mechanisms** lack scientific rigour? ## Footnote *Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach*

Answer 39

Because concepts like the **denial, repression and displacement** can not be **objectively** and **empirically** tested ## Footnote *This will form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Question 40

# AO3 Focus: Psychosexual Stages **Why** can the **psychosexual stages** be considered deterministic? ## Footnote *Remember you can be asked to evaluate any feature of the psychodynamic approach*

Answer 40

* It suggests individual is controlled by **internal and external factors** * Such as oral fixations resulting in behaviour such as smoking ## Footnote *This would form the first **E** of your P**E**EL*

Question 41

# AO3 Focus: Defence Mechanisms **Why** can **defence mechanisms** be considered deterministic? ## Footnote *This would form the first **E** of your P**E**EL*

Answer 41

* It suggests individual is controlled by **internal and external factors** * Such as overuse of mechanisms such as denial resulting in psychotic disorders ## Footnote *This would form the first **E** of your P**E**EL*

Question 42

# AO3 Focus: All Features If **all** psychodynamic features are deterministic, what does this ignore the role of? How might this make people feel? ## Footnote *This would form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Answer 42

* Ignores **free will** * Individuals may feel they have no control over their behaviour ## Footnote *This would form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Question 43

# AO3 Focus: The Role of the Unconscious / Psychosexual Stages **How** does psychoanalysis treat abnormalities ## Footnote *This would form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Answer 43

Identifying and resolving **unconscious** **conflicts** ## Footnote *This would form the second **E** of your PE**E**L*

Question 44

# STRETCH: Discussion Focus: **Why** might the use of psychoanalysis be limited?

Answer 44

Can not treat more serious disorders such as schizophrenia