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Psychology - Approaches > The Psychodynamic Approach > Flashcards

The Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards

1
Q

What does the psychodynamic approach argue when explaining human behaviour?

A

That it can be explained in terms of the unconscious mind.

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2
Q

What other structure of the mind did Freud argue existed below the surface of the conscious mind?

A

The preconscious mind.

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3
Q

What is the preconscious mind?

A

We can become aware of this during dreams or ‘slips of the tongue’ often referred to as ‘Freudian slips’.

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4
Q

What are the three factors within the psychodynamic approach?

A
  • The Structure of the Personality.
  • Defence Mechanisms.
  • Psychosexual Stages.
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5
Q

How did Freud describe personality?

A

As a tripartite.

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6
Q

What are the three parts of the day tripartite?

A
  • The Id.
  • The Ego.
  • The Superego.
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7
Q

What principle does the id operate on?

A

The pleasure principle.

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8
Q

What is the id and what does it demand?

A

It is entirely selfish and demands instant gratification of its needs and desires.

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9
Q

What principle does the ego operate on?

A

The reality principle.

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10
Q

When does the ego develop?

A

Around the age of 2 years.

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11
Q

What is the role of the ego?

A

It acts as a mediator and reduces conflict between the id and superego.

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12
Q

What does the ego employ to reduce conflict between the id and superego?

A

A number of defence mechanisms.

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13
Q

What principle does the superego operate on?

A

The morality principle.

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14
Q

Around what age does the superego develop?

A

Around the age of 5 years.

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15
Q

What is the development of the superego dependent on?

A

The moral standards of the same-sex parent.

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16
Q

The superego ________ the ego for wrong-doing through _____.

A
  • punishes.

- guilt.

17
Q

What is the role of defence mechanisms?

A

The protect our conscious mind from painful memories and emotions.

18
Q

What are the three strategies the ego uses as defence mechanisms?

A
  • Repression.
  • Denial.
  • Displacement.
19
Q

What does repression involve?

A

‘Pushing’ a painful memory into the unconscious to keep it away from conscious awareness.

20
Q

What does denial involve?

A

Refusing to acknowledge some painful aspect of reality.

21
Q

What does displacement involve?

A

Transferring feelings from the true source of distress into a substitute target.

22
Q

What are the five psychosexual stages Freud claimed occurred during child development?

A
  • Oral stage.
  • Anal stage.
  • Phallic stage.
  • Latency stage.
  • Genital stage.
23
Q

What does Freud claim will occurs if any conflicts at each stage are unresolved?

A

The child will become ‘fixed’ and carry through certain behaviour or conflicts into adult life.

24
Q

At what age does the oral stage occur?

A

0-2 years.

25
Q

Where is the focus of pleasure in the oral stage?

A

The mouth (particularly during breast feeding).

26
Q

What can oral fixation lead to?

A

Smoking or nail-biting as an adult.

27
Q

At what age does the anal stage occurs?

A

2-3 years.

28
Q

Where is the focus of pleasure in the anal stage?

A

The anus (from withholding and expelling faeces).

29
Q

What can anal fixation lead to?

A

Becoming ‘anally retentive’ (obsessive perfectionism) or ‘anally expulsive (thoughtless and messy).

30
Q

At what age does the phallic stage occur?

A

3-6 years.

31
Q

Where is the focus of the pleasure in the phallic stage?

A

The genitals.

32
Q

What does the child experience during the phallic stage?

A

The Oedipus or Electra complex.

33
Q

What can a phallic fixation lead to?

A

Narcissism.

34
Q

At what age does the latency stage occur?

A

6-12 years.

35
Q

What happens in the latency stage?

A

Conflicts are repressed.

36
Q

At what ages does the genital stage occur?

A

12 years onwards.

37
Q

What happens during the genital stage?

A

Sexual desires become conscious during puberty.

38
Q

What are the five evaluation points for the psychodynamic approach?

A 
- Unscientific.
\+ Practical applications.
- Largely based on case studies.
\+ Less reductionist.
- Determinist.

Psychology - Approaches (7 decks)

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