The Psychodynamic Approach (Approaches) Flashcards
What is Freud’s tripartite theory of personality?
- ID
- Ego
- Superego
What is the ID?
- Instincts (pleasure)
- The primitive part of the personality operating on the pleasure principle.
- A seething mass of unconscious drives and instincts.
- Gets what it wants.
What is the Ego?
- Reality
- The mediator between the two other parts of the personality.
- Reduces conflict between the demands of the ID and superego by employing defence mechanisms.
- Develops around age 2.
What is the Superego?
- Morality
- Formed at the end of the phallic stage (age 5).
- Internalised sense of wrong and right.
- Based on morality principle.
Main assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach
- Unconscious processes of which we are unaware determine our behaviour.
- Personality has three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.
- Early childhood experiences determine adult experiences.
- Abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict.
Name 3 defence mechanisms
- Repression
- Denial
- Displacement
Name 5 of Freud’s Psychosexual stages
- Oral
- Anal
- Phallic
- Latency
- Genital
Describe the Oral stage
- Age 0-1
- The mouth
- Child enjoys feeding, sucking, swallowing, putting things in mouth etc.
Describe the Anal stage
- Age 1-3
- The anus
- The child derives pleasure from expelling or withholding faeces.
Describe the Phallic stage
- Age 3-5/6
- The penis or clitoris
- The child derives pleasure from masturbation.
Describe the Latency stage
- Age 6-11
- Sexual drives are repressed
Describe the Genital stage
- Age 12+
- The genitals
- The adult derives from pleasure from masturbation and sexual intercourse.
Describe the defence mechanism - repression
Forcing a distressing or threatening memory out of your conscious mind
- E.g. An individual forgetting their trauma of their pet dying
Describe the defence mechanism - denial
Failing or refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality.
Describe the defence mechanism - displacement
Transferring feelings from the true object of anxiety onto a substitute target/object
What is the procedure of the Hans study?
- Freud carried out a case study of a child called Hans who had a phobia of horses.
- Hans was observed by his father, who made notes of Han’s dreams and stuff he said, and passed them onto Freud for analysis.
What is the findings of the Hans study?
- Hans was afraid of horses because he was suffering from castration anxiety and was going through the oedipus complex.
- During the study, he developed an interest in his widdler (penis). - His mum had told him not to play with it or it would be cut off.
- Hans told his dad about a dream he was married to his mum and his dad was now his grandfather.
What is the conclusion of the Hans study?
- Freud’s interpretation was that Han’s had reached the phallic stage of development and showed evidence of the ‘Oedipus complex.’
- He wanted to have an exclusive relationship with his mother and was jealous of his father
- He had sexual feelings for his mother, shown by the dream of marrying her
- The horse symbolised Han’s father because ,to him, they both had big penises
- His fear of horses is an example of displacement
- Hans suffered from castration anxiety
In conclusion, Little Hans supported the theory of psychosexual development and that boys in the phallic stage experience the oedipus complex
Give 3 advantages of the Psychodynamic Approach
- Rich in detail –> Theory applies to a real person, provides depth and understanding
- Only possible method to use –> Allowed scientists to explore unique behaviours, and explore sensitive areas
- Has practical application in the form of a new type of therapy (Psychoanalysis)
Give 3 weaknesses of the Psychodynamic Approach
- Cannot be generalised –> Focused on individuals in therapy
- Difficult to test the theory and is therefore less scientific –> Popper argues it lacks falsification as it is not open to empirical testing
- Subjective
