The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Who developed the psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

Sigmund Freud

Question 2

What did Freud believe determined behaviour

Answer 2

Largely the unconcious mind

Question 3

What is the unconcious mind

Answer 3

A part of the mind inaccesible to concious thought. He believed that most of our everyday actions and behaviours are not controlled conciously but are products of the unconcious, revealing themselves through Freudian slips, creativity and neurotic symptoms

Question 4

How did Freud believed the mind prevents traumatic memories from reaching the concious and causing anxiety

Answer 4

Using the defense mechanisms,
-Repression
-Denial
-Displacement

Question 5

When are defense mechanisms triggered

Answer 5

When an individual is unable to face a situation rationally. They work in the unconcious by distorting reality so anxiety is reduced

Question 6

What is repression

Answer 6

The unconcious blocking unacceptable thoughts or impulses, but these repressed thoughts or impulses continue to influence behaviour without the individual being aware of the reasons behind their behaviour

Question 7

What is denial

Answer 7

Refusal to accept reality in order to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings associated with the event. They act as if a traumatic event has not occured, which is bizarre to those around them

Question 8

What is displacement

Answer 8

Where an individual redirects their thoughts or feelings, which are usually hostile, in situations where the person feels unable to express them in the prescence of the person they should be directing it towards. This gives their hostile feeling route for expression

Question 9

What was Freuds structure of personality based around

Answer 9

Three main structures, the ID, the Ego and the Superego. They all demand gratification but are frequently in conflict with other parts

Question 10

How does the ID operate

Answer 10

Solely in the unconcious and contains libido, the biological energy created by reproductive instincts. It operates off of the Pleasure Principle, which demands instant gratification regardless of circumstances

Question 11

How does the Superego operate

Answer 11

It is divided into the conscience and the ego ideal. The conscience is the internalisation of sociatal rules and expectations taught to us by our parents and others close to us. It determines what is behaviour is acceptable and what behaviour causes feelings of guilt. The ego ideal is what a person strives toward, and is probable determined by parental standards of good behaviour

Question 12

How does the ego operate

Answer 12

It mediates between the impulsive demands of the id and the reality of the external world, called the reality principle. For example it may delay gratifying the id until there is a more appropriate opportunity to satisfy its demands. It must also mediate between the impulsive id and the moralistic superego

Question 13

What are the 5 psychosexual stages

Answer 13

1. The Oral Stage
2. The Anal Stage
3. The Phallic Stage
4. The Latent Stage
5. The Genital Stage

Question 14

What is the first stage of the psychosexual stages

Answer 14

The Oral Stage. It takes place between 0 and 2 years, and at this stage the focal point is the mouth and the child expresses their early sexual energy through sucking or biting

Question 15

What is the second stage of the psychosexual stages

Answer 15

The Anal Stage. It takes place between 2 and 3 years. At this point the ego starts to develop as the child becomes more aware of the demands of reality and therefore the need to conform to the demands of others

Question 16

What is the third stage of the psychosexual stages

Answer 16

The Phallic Stage. Takes place between 3 and 6 years. At this point sexual energy is focused on the genitals. Here the Oedipus Complex occurs where a male child unconciously wants to possess their mother and get rid of their father, and so experience castration anxiety. To resolve this boys identify with their father

Question 17

What is the fourth stage of the psychosexual stages

Answer 17

The Latent stage. Takes place between 6 and 12 years. At this stage the child develops their mastery of the around them and during this stage the conflicts and issues of the previous stages are repressed with the consequence that the children are unable to remember much of the early years

Question 18

What is the fifth stage of the psychosexual stages

Answer 18

The Genital Stage. Takes from 12 years onwards. At this point sexual energies are fixed on the genitals which eventually directs us towards sexual intercorse in the beginning of adult life

Question 19

What made the psychodynamic approach an important step on the development of psychology as a science (eval)

Answer 19

It suggested new methodological processes of gathering evidence such as case studies and the development of the approach was based on observations of behaviour rather than relying in introspection. Using these observations, Freud was able to demonstrate the potential of psychological, rather than biological, treatments for disorders.

Question 20

What large scale study found that psychoanalysis produced significant improvements in symptoms

Answer 20

de Maat et al conducted a large-scale review of psychotherapy studies and concluded that psychoanalysis produced significant improvements in symptoms

Question 21

Who did a study concluding that psychoanalysis may acutally produce some improvements in symptoms

Answer 21

De Maat et al

Question 22

Why is the psychodynamic approach unscientific (eval)

Answer 22

Claims of the subconscious, the ID, the ego and the superego all being untestable and unfalsifiable. The theory relies on the existence of concepts which are not testable, and therefore cannot be proven or disproven. The scientific method relies on the ability to observe changes and thus apply causality, but with concepts like this unconscious mind this is not viable

Question 23

Why is the psychodynamic approach gender biased

Answer 23

Freud views on women and female sexuality being far less developed than his views on male sexuality despite the fact that his theories were focused on sexual development. Freud seemed content to remain ignorant of the female sexuality and how it may differ from male sexuality, despite many of his patients being female. Particularly problematic is the fact his theories are still influential today so his gender bias may still affect us

Question 24

Who criticised Freud’s gender bias

Answer 24

psychoanalysts such as Karen Horney criticized his work, particularly his views on women and their development

Question 25

Why is the psychodynamic approach culture biased

Answer 25

Psychoanalysts believe that people can deal with mental disorders through therapeutic environments as mental disorders are the result of traumatic memories being locked in the unconscious. However, Sue and Sue claim that many cultural groups do not value introspection the same way as Western cultures do, and so a person who is depressed or anxious avoid thoughts that causes stress rather than being willing to discuss them openly, which contrast the Western belief that open discussion and insights are always helpful in therapy

Question 26

Who thought that some cultures don’t like introspection

Answer 26

Sue and Sue