The Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What is the psychodynamic approach?
A perspective that describes the different forces, most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience.
What is the unconscious?
The part of our mind that we are unaware of which continues to direct much of our behaviour.
What is the id?
Entirely unconscious, the id is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification.
What is the ego?
The ‘reality check’ that balances the conflicting demands of the id and the superego.
What is the superego?
The moralistic part of our personality which represents the ideal self: how we ought to be.
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id and the superego.
What are the psychosexual stages?
Five developmental stages that all children pass through. At each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines development.
What are the 5 psychosexual stages?
Oral, anal, phallic, latency and genital
What age is the oral stage?
0-1 years
What is the description of the oral stage?
Focus of pleasure is the mouth, mothers breasts are the object of desire.
Consequences of unresolved conflicts in the oral stage?
Oral fixation- smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical.
What age is the anal stage?
1-3 years
What is the description of the anal stage?
Focus on pleasure is from the anus. Child gains pleasure from withholding and expelling faeces.
Consequences of unresolved conflict in the anal stage? (Hint- 2 types).
Anal retentive- perfectionist, obsessive.
Anal expulsive- thoughtless, messy.
What age is the phallic stage?
3-5 years
