The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

what is the psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

assumes that the experiences in early childhood play a key role in an individuals mental/ behaviour later on in life

Question 2

What does the psychodynamic approach say about the unconscious mind?

Answer 2

Large parts of the mind are inaccessible to conscious awareness

Question 3

Freuds Iceberg Metaphor

Answer 3

used to explain the different levels of consciousness

Question 4

the role of the unconscious

Answer 4

there were distinct divisions to the mind

Question 5

the three distinct versions of the consciousness

Answer 5

the conscious mind
the preconscious mind
the unconscious mind

Question 6

the conscious mind

Answer 6

part of the mind that the indvdl is aware of used to form conscious thoughts
tip of the iceberg in freuds model

Question 7

the preconscious mind

Answer 7

sits below surface level of conscious mind where dreams and freudian slips take place

Question 8

what is the unconscious mind

Answer 8

in hidden depths of the iceberg
holds info and feelings that the individual may be unaware of

Question 9

the three structures of personality

Answer 9

Id
Ego
Superego

Question 10

how do the id ego and superego work

Answer 10

work together but not rlly in harmony

Question 11

The Id

Answer 11

present from birth
operates according to the pleasure principle
seeks self-indulgent pleasure and primal urges

Question 12

The Ego

Answer 12

develops at the age of two
operates on reality principle
- id has to be tame and superego ignored

Question 13

The superego

Answer 13

develops around 5
operates according to morality principle
represents an internalised sense of right and wrong
embodies the conscience morality ethics and the judgement aspect of the self

Question 14

Evaluation of the role of the unconscious & structure of personality: high external validity

Answer 14

Freud emphasized the role of childhood experiences in shaping adult behaviour.
Parental treatment is central to a child’s world and can influence conflicted behaviour in adulthood.
This alignment with real-world observations gives the theory high external validity.

Question 15

Evaluation of the role of the unconscious & structure of personality: driving force today in one-to-one and group counselling

Answer 15

means good application to settings and is beyond theortical

Question 16

difficult to opernationalise test and measure

Answer 16

conceots are highly subjective
is unfalsiable and lacking in scientific methodology

Question 17

psychic determinism

Answer 17

Freud believes outcomes have already been decided and that deliberate forces come from the unconscious mind
negates the idea of ppl having free will ultimately limits the scope of the theory

Question 18

defence mechanisms in freuds theory

Answer 18

ego uses it to balance conflicting demands of id and superego
prevents self becoming overwhelmed by short term threats
normally unconscious

Question 19

types of defence mechanisms

Answer 19

displacement
denial
repression

Question 20

displacement defence mechanism:

Answer 20

redirecting emotions toward a neutral or uninvolved person
reduces anxiety by allowing action of emotion in a safer way

Question 21

denial defence mechanism

Answer 21

refusing to accept reality of an unpleasant event
protects indvdl from harm by avoiding acknowledgment of situation

Question 22

repression defence mechanism

Answer 22

unpleasant memories are pushed down into unconscious mind so unable to cause hurt

Question 23

the psychosexual stages

Answer 23

oral
anal
phallic
latent
genital

Question 24

the meaning of psychosexual stages

Answer 24

linked to specific milestones and timelines in the childs life and if they pass through each stage successfully they then should be conflict-free however they can also become fixated

Question 25

what is fixation in the psychosexual stages

Answer 25

when a child becomes stuck at one of the stages
happens if child up bring was dysfunctional or had trauma
may affect functionality and happiness as an adult

Question 26

how to indicate healthy development

Answer 26

when child successfully navigates phallic phases by going through oedipus complex or electra complex

Question 27

what is the oedipus complex

Answer 27

A phase where boys feel an unconscious desire for closeness to their mother.

Father’s Role: Boys simultaneously hate and fear their father due to castration anxiety.

Question 28

what is the electra complex

Answer 28

when they experience penis envy
Feel closeness to the father and hatred for the mother.
Over time, b girls (Electra complex) resolve these feelings.
They identify with the same-sex parent.

Question 29

Little Hans case study

Answer 29

Freud studied Little Hans, a 5-year-old boy with a horse phobia.

Interpretation: Freud suggested the horse symbolized Hans’ father, providing evidence of the Oedipus complex.

Resolution: Hans overcame the phobia as he entered the latency stage, which Freud interpreted as resolving the Oedipus conflict.

Question 30

oral stage

Answer 30

0-1 years mouth is focus of pleasure
conflict arise arounnd breastfeeding

Question 31

anal stage

Answer 31

1-3 years
anus focus of pleasure
conflict can arise when toilet training

Question 32

phallic stage

Answer 32

3-6 years
genital area is focus of pleasure
conflict can cause oedipus and electra complex

Question 33

latency stage

Answer 33

6yrs to puberty
earlier conflict become repressed

Question 34

genital stage

Answer 34

puberty onwards
genital focus of pleasure
sexual desires become conscious

Question 35

Evaluation of defence mechanisms & psychosexual stages: good external validity

Answer 35

psyhcotherapy enable ppl to recognise underlying trauma that may cause defence mechanisms
appliable to counselling
good external validity

Question 36

Evaluation of defence mechanisms & psychosexual stages: Freud influence

Answer 36

highlights how early experiences shape personality and behaviour.
Support: Research identifies oral and anal fixations that trace back to childhood experiences.

Enduring Impact: Freud’s theory remains influential, retaining relevance beyond its early 20th-century origins.

Question 37

Evaluation of defence mechanisms & psychosexual stages: Freud’s research is under-powered in terms of his methodology

Answer 37

focused on single-subject case studies of wealthy Viennese adults and one child (Little Hans).
Subjectivity: Claims were based on Freud’s own interpretations of dreams, phobias, or fantasies.
Lack of Validation: No confirmation or cross-checking by other psychologists.
Scientific Limitations: Lacks a scientific approach and is unreliable for hypothesis testing.

Question 38

Evaluation of defence mechanisms & psychosexual stages: possible other explanations

Answer 38

Alternative Explanations for Behaviour:
Needy/critical/addicted behaviour could be learned from parental role models, not due to breastfeeding or fixation.
Extreme neatness may stem from conditions like autism spectrum disorder, involving adherence to order, routine, and precision.
Conclusion: Freud’s theory overlooks other plausible explanations, limiting its applicability.