The Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
Three levels of consciousness
- Conscious
- Preconscious
- Unconscious
What is conscious
This is what we are aware of at any given time.
E.g. Smell, sight, hearing
Preconscious
This is made up of memories that we can recall when we want to.
E.g. Address
Unconcious
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.
Who developed the psychodynamic approach
Sigmund Freud in the 19th Century
Three parts of personalities
- Id
- Ego
- Superego
What is id
Pleasure seeking Innate instincts Obeys pleasure principle. Accounts for unreasonable behaviour. Appears at birth.
What is ego
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.
What is superego
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.
Iceberg analogy of parts of personality
Tip of iceberg: conscious part (ego and superego)
Below surface of water: unconscious part (id, little bit of ego, superego)
Conflicts between parts of personality
Id wants instant satisfaction / superego imposes morals.
Conflicts lead to anxiety.
Ego mediates between to reduce anxiety using defence mechanisms.
Defence mechanisms
Repression
Denial
Displacement
Repression
Involves the ego stopping unwanted and possibly painful thoughts from becoming conscious.
Denial
Where a threatening event or an unwanted reality is simply ignored and blocked from conscious awareness.
Displacement
Happens when a negative impulse is redirected onto something else. This could be another person or object.
Psychosexual stages of development
Oral (0-18 months) Anal (18 months-3.5 years) Phallic (3.5-6 years) Latent (6-puberty) Genital (puberty-adult)
Oral Stage of Development
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.
Anal Stage of Development
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.
Phallic Stage of Development
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.
Latency Stage of Development
Focus of pleasure: social relationships- no psychosexual focus.
To complete: no particular requirements.
If not complete: no lasting consequences.
Genital Stage of Development
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’.
Evaluation of psychodynamic approach
+ 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
