The Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What does it mean by the unconscious mind?
Unconscious mind holds all the memory’s that have been repressed (eg trauma and traumatic experiences). Repressed thoughts memories and feelings
What is defence mechanisms?
It is our brains unconsciously repressing, denying or displacing memories and facts to ‘help’ deal with the trauma
What is Denial
It is when you completely reject the suggestion of the thoughts (does not accept that the traumatic event happened).
What is Displacement?
Displacement is the redirection of your feelings to another target. For example, hatred for mother is displaced to more acceptable target such as your sister
What is Repression?
It is when thoughts are kept in the unconscious mind and are not allowed into the conscious mind
What is the structure of personality?
We all have these three characters in our mind at the same time! If they are unbalanced, this can cause us a lot of anxiety and may eventually lead to mental abnormality. These are the:
-Id
-Ego
-Super ego
What is the Id?
It is the earliest part of the mind. It focuses on unconscious self, it is irrational and emotional and seeks pleasure. 18 months and is motivated by the pleasure principle
What is the Ego?
The second part of the personality and it is the rational, conscious part of the mind. Formed between 1-3 years and it motived by the reality principle
What is the super ego?
The third part of the personality and the unconscious acts as the conscience or moral guide. Formed between 3-6 years and is motivated by morality principle
What happens is the Id is too strong?
The person is more selfish and out of control. Is more likely to become an addict as it finds pleasure in winning or unstable/unsafe drugs
What happens if the super ego is too strong?
The person would be stricken (up tight) and could be anxious, obsessive depression, anxiety or ocd
Stages of psychosexual development
- Oral stage-0-1
- Anal stage 1-3
- Phallic stage 3-5
- Latency stage 6-12
- Genital stage 12/puberty to adulthood
Oral stage
It forms at the start of birth to roughly 12 months and the mouth is the focus of the pleasure (Id). The ways of getting pleasure is sucking, biting and chewing. The result of fixation could be excessive smoking, overeating or dependance on others.
Anal stage
Age is 1-3 years or when potty training is complete. Focus of pleasure is the anus and if the stage is not completed it would lead to an anal character.
What is anally retentive?
very tidy (OCD?), likes order and being in control
What is Anally exclusive
generous but disorganised doesn’t like to follow rules (sociopath?)
Phallic stage
Occurs between the ages 3-5 when the super ego develops and the focus of pleasure and sexual energy is the genitals.
What is the Oedipus complex?
Boys develop the oedipus complex, where their sexual curiosity comes from being close to the mother which leads to intense affection and desire for the mother. Produces a fear of castration and identifies with father to stop castration anxiety
What is the Electra complex?
Girls realise that they don’t have a penis and produces a state of penis envy, which leads to her developing more affection for the father. Realise doesn’t have a penis like her father so becomes hostile towards her mother as she thinks her mother castrated her.
The latency stage
Occurs from the age of 6 to puberty approximately. Sexual urges are sublimated into sports and other hobbies. Focus on developing same sex friendships.
The genital stage
Puberty into adulthood and focuses on genitals but not to the same extent as the phallic stage. Aim is to develop healthy adult relationship.
