The Psychodynamic Approach (Approaches) Flashcards
Psychodynamic
Psyche is a complex system split into 3 parts
Conscious (thoughts we are aware of)
Pre-Conscious (not currently aware of but can be)
Unconscious (thoughts, desires and memories that aren’t accessible to awareness but influence our behaviours and feelings)
Unconscious
Thoughts, desires and memories that aren’t accessible to awareness but influence our behaviours and feelings
Assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach
The unconscious forces in our mind determine our thoughts, feeling and behaviour
Our behaviour as adults is strongly influenced by our childhood experiences
Abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict
The Structure of Personality
Adult personality split into 3 parts
ID , Ego and Superego
ID
Pleasant from birth and operates on the pleasure principle
Ego
Develops from 18 months
Acts as mediator between the ID and the Superego
‘reality principle’
Superego
Formed from 3-5 years
Our internalised sense of right and wrong
Influences behaviour by using guilt when an individuals actions don’t match its strict standards
‘morality principle’
Healthy Psyche
The Ego is in control
Neurotic Psyche
The Superego is in control
Psychotic Psyche
ID is in control
Psychopathic Psyche
Absence of the Superego, Id in complete control
Psychosexual stages
At each stage the child will experience an unconscious conflict that must be resolved
If a child is unable to resolve a stage they become fixated
The Oral stage
0-1yr
-pleasure from their mouth during breastfeeding
-successful completion is demonstrated by weaning (eating independently)
Consequence of unresolved conflict: sarcastic, critical, sensitive to rejection. Overeats and drinks, bites nails, may smoke.
The Anal stage
1 to 3 yrs
-defecation is main source of pleasure
-successful completion marked by potty training
Consequence of unresolved conflict: Either:
Anally retentive- very tidy, stubborn, likes order and being in control, perfectionist, obsessive; or
Anally expulsive- thoughtless, messy
The Phallic stage
3-5 yrs
-Oedipus Complex; boys have a sexual desire for their mother
-Electra complex: girls experience penis envy; they desire their father, as the penis is the primary love object and hate their mother
Consequence of unresolved conflict: Phallic personality- narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual
The Latency stage
Age 6-12
Sexual energy is dispersed across the body
The Genital stage
Age 12 plus
-Sexual desire is in adult form
Consequence of unresolved conflict
-difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
Ages and order of Stages
Oral Stage 0-1 yr
Anal Stage 2-3 yrs
Phallic 3-5 yrs
Latency 6-12 yrs
Genital 12 yrs plus
Positive Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach
Freuds ideas have face validity (eg early trauma can influence anxiety)
Good explanatory power - Freuds had a huge impact on Psychology
Negative Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach
Freud believed that femininity was failed masculinity and that the two sexes aren’t of equal worth imposing a gender bias
PA does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification as it is not open to empirical testing and the possibility of dispproval
Defence mechanisms
Strategies involving the unconscious mind that the ego can use to manage conflicts
Repression
Unpleasant memory or emotion is put into the unconscious and is inaccessible to consciousness
Denial
Refusal to accept the reality of a situation
Displacement
When a negative impulse is redirected unto something else
