The Psychodynamic Approach - Origin and Unconscious mind

Question 1

Who was the approach developed by and when?

Answer 1

• Sigmund Freud
• 1800s

Question 2

What does the approach state?

Answer 2

• human behaviour is driven by internal forces and conflicts

Question 3

What is the conscious mind?

Answer 3

• everything we are immediately aware of
• can access very easily

Question 4

What is the preconscious mind?

Answer 4

• contains thoughts and feelings we aren’t currently aware of
• these can easily be brought to consciousness
• exists just below level of consciousness

Question 5

What is the unconscious mind?

Answer 5

• part of the mind that’s very difficult to access
• the main “driver” of behaviour

Question 6

Why did Freud argue that the unconscious mind is the most important part of the mind?

Answer 6

• even though inaccessible, it acts as “storage” for disturbing material which we need to keep out of awareness because they are too threatening for the conscious mind to fully acknowledge.
• contains 2 major drivers of behaviour
• the Eros (life) instinct
• the Thanatos (death and destruction) instinct

Question 7

What might the disturbing material in the unconscious mind include?

Answer 7

• traumatic experiences
• violent motives
• fears
• shameful experiences

Question 8

What is the Freudian slip?

Answer 8

• when we say something we don’t mean to
• it’s something in our unconscious mind “leaking” out
• eg a repressed urge or desire

Question 9

What is it called when you say something you don’t mean to?

Answer 9

a “Freudian Slip”

Question 10

What does the Eros drive cause?

Answer 10

• behaviours such as:
• procreation
• co-operation
• survival

Question 11

What does the Thanatos drive cause?

Answer 11

• aggression
• risky behaviours
• reliving trauma