The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

THE ROLE OF THE UNCONSCIOUS

Answer 1

Freud suggested that the conscious mind is merely the ‘tip of the iceberg’.
- Most of our mind is made up of the unconscious (85%)8 –> contains biological drives and instincts and memories that have been repressed, locked away or forgotten.
- These can be accessed during dreams or through slips of the tongue - ‘Freudian slip’.
- Under the surface of our conscious mind is the preconscious, which contains thoughts and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if desired.

Question 2

THE STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY

Answer 2

‘Tripartite’:
- The id = primitive part of our personality, operates on the pleasure principle - the id gets what it wants. It is a seething mass of unconscious drives and instinct. Only the id is present at birth. Entirely selfish and demands instant gratification of its needs.
- The ego works on the reality principle and is the mediator between the other 2 parts of the personality. Develops around 2 years old. Reduces the conflict between the demands of the id and the superego by employing a number of defence mechanisms.
- The superego is formed at the end of the phallic stage (5yo). It is our internalised sense of right and wrong. Based on the morality principle, it punishes the ego for wrongdoing through guilt.

Question 3

DEFENCE MECHANISMS

Answer 3

REPRESSION –> forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind.
DENIAL –> refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality.
DISPLACEMENT –> transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target.

Question 4

PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES

Answer 4

Each stage is marked by a conflict that the child must resolve in order to progress successfully to the next stage.
Any unresolved conflict leads to FIXATION where the child becomes ‘stuck’ and carries certain behaviours and conflicts associated with that stage into adult life.

Question 5

ORAL (0-1 years)

Answer 5

• Focus of pleasure is the mouth, mother’s breast is the object of desire.
  Consequence of unresolved conflict –> ORAL FIXATION: smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical

Question 6

ANAL (1-3 years)

Answer 6

-Focus of pleasure is the anus. Child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces. Ego has developed.
Consequence of unresolved conflict –> ANAL RETENTIVE: perfectionist, obsessive.
ANAL EXPULSIVE –> thoughtless, messy

Question 7

PHALLIC (3-5 years)

Answer 7

• Focus of pleasure is the genital area. Child experiences the Oedipus or Electra complex.
  Consequence of unresolved conflict –> PHALLIC PERSONALITY: narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual

Question 8

LATENCY STAGE (6 years-puberty)

Answer 8

• Earlier conflicts are repressed.
• Sexual energy can be sublimated towards school, hobbies and friendships.
  Most of the child’s energy is channeled into developing new skills and acquiring new knowledge.

Question 9

GENITAL STAGE (puberty-adult)

Answer 9

• Sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty.
• Time of adolescent sexual experimentation.
  Consequences of unresolved conflict –> Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 10

AO3: THE CASE STUDY METHOD

Question 11

AO3: UNTESTABLE CONCEPTS

Question 12

AO3: EXPLANATORY POWER