The Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

What is the unconscious?

Answer 1

Biological drives and instincts that have a significant influence on behaviour. Also contains dark, shameful thoughts / feelings / memories we have repressed.

Question 2

What is the id?

Answer 2

Pleasure principle. Present at birth - newborn baby is completely selfish.

Question 3

What is the ego?

Answer 3

Morality principle. Develops by the age of 3. Child becomes aware that other people have feelings and that it can’t always have its own way.

Question 4

What is the superego?

Answer 4

Relations principle. Appears around age 5. Sense of morality (conscience) passed on by parents - child internalises this.

Question 5

What are the 3 levels of consciousness?

Answer 5

Conscious (small)
Preconscious (small-medium)
Unconscious (enormous)

Question 6

Consequences of id that is too strong?

Answer 6

Selfish, out of control (psychodynamic)

Question 7

Consequences of ego that is too weak?

Answer 7

Allows id and superego to dominate

Question 8

Consequences of the superego being too strong?

Answer 8

Strict, anxious, obsessive (depression, anxiety, OCD)

Question 9

What is the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 9

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