The psychodynamic approach

Question 1

What are the assumptions of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 1

A lot of behaviour is driven by the subconscious.
We are animals driven by biological needs.
Society requires us to control this.

Question 2

Who’s the weird guy?

Answer 2

Sigmund Freud

Question 3

What is the id?

Answer 3

Unconscious biological drives for pleasure and immediate gratification.

Question 4

What is the superego?

Answer 4

Conscious and unconscious judgement of what is acceptable by societal standards to strive for moral perfection.

Question 5

What is the ego?

Answer 5

Conscious and unconscious mediation between the id and superego to find a compromise.

Question 6

When do defence mechanisms kick in?

Answer 6

When a situation an individual cannot rationally deal with is presented so they must distort reality.

Question 7

What are the 3 defence mechanisms?

Answer 7

Denial
Displacement
Repression

Question 8

What is denial?

Answer 8

Refusal to accept a situation - pretending it didn’t happen.

Question 9

What is displacement?

Answer 9

Redirecting thoughts/feelings when unable to express them in the presence of person they should be towards e.g. shouting at sibling rather than teacher.

Question 10

What is repression?

Answer 10

Unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts of unacceptable thoughts/impulses - continue to influence behaviour without the individual knowing.

Question 11

Name the psychosexual stages.

Answer 11

Oral (0-2)
Anal (2-3)
Phallic (3-6)
Latent (6-12)
Genital (12+)

Question 12

What occurs at each stage of the psychosexual development?

Answer 12

Oral - exploration through mouth
Anal - demands of reality: potty training
Phallic - oedapus complex and focus on genitals
Latent - develops mastery of world around them, spend time with same-sex peers
Genital - sexual energy focused on genitals, attraction to opposite sex

Question 13

Describe the oedapus complex.

Answer 13

Boy subconscious attraction to mother, fear of castration from father. Identifies with father to get closer to mother. Realises platonic love for father and subsequently that love for mother is platonic.

Question 14

(AO3) Describe research evidence for the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 14

Little Hans communication to Freud via Dad. Phobia of horses. Freud determined incomplete oedapus complex - fear of father - displaced on horse due to similar face shape…
Claimed he managed to cure him through psychotherapy helping complete the oedapus complex.

Question 15

(AO3) Why is the psychodynamic approach considered a pioneering approach in psychology?

Answer 15

Suggested new methodology case studies. Based on observations rather than introspection. Developed first non-biological treatments for disorders (psychological: psychotherapy). Directly led to successful treatments and paved way for other psychological therapies.

Question 16

(AO3) Explain gender bias in the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 16

Freud had far less developed views on female sexuality. Refused to accept how it may differ from male sexuality. Did not investigate women. Serious beta-bias. Issues as he treated many women and his methods are still influential today.

Question 17

(AO3) Describe the issue of using the ideographic method in the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 17

Focus on case studies only. Provides rich detail and insight into individual (often rare) cases. IS a useful method. But psychoanalysis lacks ANY scientific evidence. Means it cannot be tested, proven or disproven. May have disproportionate influence now, spreading gender and culture biases.