The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Three levels of consciousness

Answer 1

1. Conscious
2. Preconscious
3. Unconscious

Question 2

What is conscious

Answer 2

This is what we are aware of at any given time.

E.g. Smell, sight, hearing

Question 3

Preconscious

Answer 3

This is made up of memories that we can recall when we want to.
E.g. Address

Question 4

Unconcious

Answer 4

This is made up of memories, desires and fears which cause us extreme anxiety and have therefore been ‘repressed’ of forced out of conscious awareness. However, the unconscious still influences behaviour.

Question 5

Who developed the psychodynamic approach

Answer 5

Sigmund Freud in the 19th Century

Question 6

Three parts of personalities

Answer 6

1. Id
2. Ego
3. Superego

Question 7

What is id

Answer 7

Pleasure seeking
Innate instincts
Obeys pleasure principle.
Accounts for unreasonable behaviour.
Appears at birth.

Question 8

What is ego

Answer 8

Exists in both unconscious and conscious part of the mind.
Acts as a rational between ego and superego.
Develops within first 3 years after birth.

Question 9

What is superego

Answer 9

In both unconscious and conscious parts of the mind.
This part takes our morals into consideration and involves in making us feel guilty.
Develops around 4/5 years.

Question 10

Iceberg analogy of parts of personality

Answer 10

Tip of iceberg: conscious part (ego and superego)

Below surface of water: unconscious part (id, little bit of ego, superego)

Question 11

Conflicts between parts of personality

Answer 11

Id wants instant satisfaction / superego imposes morals.
Conflicts lead to anxiety.

Ego mediates between to reduce anxiety using defence mechanisms.

Question 12

Defence mechanisms

Answer 12

Repression
Denial
Displacement

Question 13

Repression

Answer 13

Involves the ego stopping unwanted and possibly painful thoughts from becoming conscious.

Question 14

Denial

Answer 14

Where a threatening event or an unwanted reality is simply ignored and blocked from conscious awareness.

Question 15

Displacement

Answer 15

Happens when a negative impulse is redirected onto something else. This could be another person or object.

Question 16

Psychosexual stages of development

Answer 16

Oral (0-18 months)
Anal (18 months-3.5 years)
Phallic (3.5-6 years)
Latent (6-puberty)
Genital (puberty-adult)

Question 17

Oral Stage of Development

Answer 17

Focus of pleasure: mouth.
To complete: weaning - eating independently
If not complete: oral fixation e.g. Bite nails.
Suck too much - over optimistic/gullible: oral receptive.
Not enough - pessimistic/narcissistic: oral aggressive.

Question 18

Anal Stage of Development

Answer 18

Focus of pleasure: anus
To complete: potty train
If not complete: parents too strict: anal retentive personality: tidy but mean.
Parents too relaxed: anal expulsive personality: generous but disorganised.

Question 19

Phallic Stage of Development

Answer 19

Focus of pleasure: genital area. Oedipus/electra complex - rivalry between same sex parent for attention of opposite sex parent.
To complete: identify with father/mother to stop castration anxiety.
If not complete: phallic personality: weak morality and gender identity. Narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual.

Question 20

Latency Stage of Development

Answer 20

Focus of pleasure: social relationships- no psychosexual focus.
To complete: no particular requirements.
If not complete: no lasting consequences.

Question 21

Genital Stage of Development

Answer 21

Focus of pleasure: genitals (but not to degree of phallic), sexual desires become conscious alongside puberty.
To complete: develop healthy adult relationships.
If not complete: difficulty forming heterosexual relationships. Focus is on whether previous stages have been completed successfully. If they have then adult will be ‘normal’.

Question 22

Evaluation of psychodynamic approach

Answer 22

+ first theory to focus on psychological causes not physical
+ offers methods of therapy (psychoanalysis), uncover unconscious thoughts, patients understand causes of problems and can resolve them
+ freuds theory emphasises how early experiences affect later development
- claims based on subjective interpretation, unreliable, open to bias
- related to unconscious mind so unfalsifiable
- approach based on case studies, can’t generalise to everyone
- unscientific research methods = can’t establish cause and effect