The psychodynamic approach Flashcards
What the key assumptions of psychodynamic approach?
The unconscious mind is the driving force behind our behaviour
If we have problematic or challenging behaviour then we must access the unconscious mind to address it.
Instincts/Drives motivate our behaviour
We are driven by instinct to go through a series of psychosexual stages in the development of our behaviour and personality.
Early childhood experiences determine adult behaviour
- They are pivotal in making us the person we are.
- Most of our psychological development is argued to be formed prior to age six.
What is the iceberg metaphor?
Freud used the Iceberg metaphor to describe the mind:
The tip of the iceberg, which is visible above the surface is the conscious mind.
Hidden below the surface and holding greater influence is the unconscious mind.
What is conscious mind?
the part of our mind we can access.
What is the preconscious mind?
lies just below the surface and is made up of the thoughts that may surface at any point into the conscious.
Many of our memories reside here (they are accessible, but are not in the forefront of our thoughts) .
What is the unconscious mind?
thoughts that will not easily surface and may never do so.
Contains the primitive drives or instincts that motivate our behaviour.
Traumatic/unpleasant/repressed thoughts, memories and feelings remain here, protecting the conscious self from anxiety/fear/trauma/conflict, and although they are not accessible, they may influence our behaviour.
Defence mechanisms, e.g. repression, denial, displacement, are used unconsciously to reduce anxiety.
What did Freud believe that most of our behaviour/personality is controlled by ?
the unconscious mind, revealing itself in Freudian slips, creativity and neurotic symptoms.
What is the structure of personality?
The psychodynamic approach argues that there are 3 parts to our personality and the way they develop affects the person we become.
Each demands gratification and is frequently in conflict with the other parts.
What is the Id?
forms from birth-18 months):
Operates solely in the unconscious.
Contains the libido.
Referred to as the ‘pleasure principle’ - it demands immediate gratification (pleasure) regardless of the circumstances (it is impulsive).
Childlike, selfish, hedonistic, instinct-driven and entirely focused on the self.
What is the Ego?
(forms from 18 months - 3 years):
Referred to as the ‘reality principle’
It mediates and ensures balance between the impulsive demands of the id and the moralistic demands of the superego, as well as the reality of the external world.
It is able to delay the id’s drive for pleasure until there is a more appropriate opportunity to satisfy its demands.
What is the superego?
forms from 3 - 6 years):
Referred to as the ‘morality principle’
It helps the personality to form a moral code.
It develops as a result of interactions with parents (socialisation) – child internalises their values.
what is the conscience superego?
The conscience is the internalisation of societal rules. It causes feelings of guilt (and anxiety) and holds someone back from behaving a certain way if it is thought to be wrong.
What is the ego-ideal in the superego?
The ego-ideal is what a person strives towards and is most probably determined by parental standards of good behaviour
What happens if the Ego is too weak?
this allows the id or superego to dominate the personality….
What happens if the Id dominates the personality?
selfish, out of control behaviour; aggressive; potential for psychopathic behaviour.
What if the superego dominates?
strict, anxious, obsessive; could lead to depression, phobias, anxiety, OCD (neurotic behaviour).
What are defence mechanisms?
methods we use unconsciously to reduce anxiety.
Anxiety weakens the influence of the ego, which needs to be strong to mediate between the id and the superego.
What is repression?
An unpleasant memory is pushed into the unconscious where it is not accessible to the conscious mind.
There is no recall of the event or situation, but it can still affect our behaviour.
What is denial?
The refusal to accept the reality of an unpleasant situation.
The person may believe that the situation is not negative or that the unpleasant event has not happened.
What id displacement?
The focus of a strong emotion is expressed onto a substitute neutral person or object.
What is according to Freud, the most important driving force in develepment?
is the need to express sexual energy (libido).
how do you move to the next psychosexual stage?
Each of the psychosexual stages is associated with a particular conflict that must be resolved before the individual can successfully advance to the next stage.
What is fixation?
(libido becomes locked in a stage) at a certain psychosexual stage may occur because:
The needs of the developing individual at a particular stage may not have been adequately met –> frustration
The person’s needs may have been so well satisfied that he/she is reluctant to leave the psychological benefits of a particular stage –> overindulgence
Fixation has an unconscious effect on personality
What is the oral stage?
(0-18 months) The libido and focus for pleasure is centered on the baby’s mouth.
The child gets satisfaction from putting things in its mouth to satisfy the libido and thus its id demands i.e. through sucking and biting.
when may fixation occur during the oral stage?
Frustration: a child is weaned from its mother’s milk too early or underfed (orally aggressive).
Overindulgence: Weaned too late or overfed (orally passive).