the psychodynamic approach

Question 1

what are the basic assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

1) behavior and feelings are controlled by the unconscious
2) behavior as adults are controlled by childhood experiences
3) personality is made up of three parts, id, ego, and superego

Question 2

outline the role of the unconscious in behaviour

Answer 2

1) believed that our everyday actions and behaviors are controlled by the unconscious
2) it is believed the mind actively prevents traumatic memories from the unconscious from reaching conscious awareness using defense mechanisms

Question 3

define defence mechanisms

Answer 3

unconscious strategies that protect our conscious mind from anxiety, they are involved in the distortion of reality so we are better able to cope with situations

Question 4

list the types of defence mechanisms

Answer 4

1) repression
2) denial
3) displacement

Question 5

outline repression

Answer 5

the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and impulses. These repressed feelings influence behavior with out the individual being aware of the reasons behind the behavior

Question 6

outline denial

Answer 6

the refusal to accept reality so as to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings that may be associated with that event, the person acts as if nothing happened

Question 7

outline displacement

Answer 7

involves the redirecting of thoughts or feelings in situations where a person feels unable to express them to a person or object they perceive as helpless

Question 8

outline the id

Answer 8

1) operates solely in the unconscious
2) contains the libido which is the biological energy created by reproductive instic
3) operates according to the pleasure principle, demanding instant gratification regardless of circumstance

Question 9

outline the super ego

Answer 9

1) the conscious
2) the internalization of societal rules determining which behaviors are allowed
3) causes feelings of guilt when rules are broken

Question 10

outline the ego

Answer 10

mediates between impulsive demands of the id and the reality of the external world

Question 11

list the different psychosexual stages

Answer 11

1) oral 0-2 years
2) anal 2-3 years
3) phallic 3-6 years
4) latent 6-12 years
5) genital 12+ years

Question 12

what are the psychosexual stages of development

Answer 12

1) the idea that personality develops through a sequence of 5 stages
2) emphasizes the importance of expressing libido
3) Freud said an individual experiences tension due to the build-up of sexual energy and pleasure of discharge
4) each stage the energy is expressed in different ways

Question 13

outline the oral stage

Answer 13

1) the mouth becomes the focal point of sensation

Question 14

outline the anal stage

Answer 14

1) beginnigs of ego dveleopment
2) child becomes aware of the demands pf others
3) major issue at this stage is toilet training as the child learns to control the expulsion of bodily waste

Question 15

outline the phallic stage

Answer 15

1) sexual energy now in teh geintals
2) Oedipus complex begins in which the male child unconsciously wishes to possess the mother and rid of the father
3) as a result the child experiences castration anxiety as they believe the father will punish them for this
4) in an attempt to resolve this the child identifies with the father

Question 16

outline the latent stage

Answer 16

1) child develops mastery of the world d
2) during this stage conflicts and issues of previous stages are forgotten and repressed
3) as a consequence the child is unable to fully remember early years of child hood

Question 17

outline the genital stage

Answer 17

1) the cumulation of psychosexual development and the fixing of sexual energy in the genitals
2) this eventually directs to sexual intercourse and beginnings of adult life

Question 18

evaluate the psychodynamic approach

Answer 18

1) real-world application- psychoanalysis
2) gender bias
3) psych determinism vs free will
4) research support- fisher and Greenberg