The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are unconscious, that operates on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience.

Question 2

The unconscious

Answer 2

The part of the mind that we are unaware of but which directs much of our behaviour. The unconscious mind contains desires, impulses, and repressed memories.

Question 3

The role of unconscious

Answer 3

Most of our mind is made up of the unconscious - a vast storehouse of biological drives and instincts that has a significant influence on our behaviour and personality. The unconscious also contains threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed, or luck away and forgotten. These can be accessed during dreams or through ‘slips of the tongue’.
Just bubbling under the surface of our conscious mind is the preconscious which contains thoughts and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if desired.

Question 4

The structure of personality

Answer 4

Id, ego, superego

Question 5

Id

Answer 5

Entirely unconscious, the Id is made up of selfish, aggressive instincts that their demand immediate gratification. It operates pleasure principle - the Id gets what it wants.

Question 6

Ego

Answer 6

The ego works on the reality principle. Its role is to reduce the conflict between the demands of Id and superego. It manages this by employing a number of defence mechanisms.

Question 7

Superego

Answer 7

The moralistic parts of our personality which represents the ideal self how we ought to be. Based on the morality principle it represents the moral standards of the child, same gentle parent and punishes the ego for wrongdoing.

Question 8

Defence mechanisms

Answer 8

Unconscious strategies that the Ego uses to manage the conflict between the Id and the Superego.

• Respression: Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind.
• Denial: Refusing to acknowledge some aspects of reality.
• Displacement: Transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target.

Question 9

Psychosexual stages

Answer 9

Five developmental stages that all children pass through. At each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines future development.
Any psychosexual conflict that is unresolved leads to fixation when a child becomes ‘stuck’ and encourage certain behaviours and conflicts associated with a stage through to adult life.

Question 10

Psychosexual stages: Oral

Answer 10

0-1 years
Focus of pleasure is the mouth, mother’s breast can be the object of desire.
Consequence of unresolved conflict: oral fixation: smoking, biting nails, sarcastic, critical