The Psychodynamic Approach to Psychopathology Flashcards
What is abnormal behaviour caused by according to the psychodynamic model
Unresolved unconscious conflicts from childhood
What are the 3 parts of the personality
Id (gratification), Superego (moral) Ego (rational)
What happens if the ego is underdeveloped
A dominant id or superego occurs causing abnormal behaviour
What happens if the id is dominant
The id expresses desires by immorality and destructiveness
This could result in child conduct disorders and psychopathic behaviour in adults
What happens if the superego is dominant
The superego restricts the id resulting in the person being deprived of socially acceptable pleasures resulting in Anxiety
What does the ego do if it cannot balance the demands of the id and superego
Uses defence mechanisms Repression (pushing unresolved conflicts into the unconscious mind) and displacement (taking stresses out on something/someone less threatening than the thing that caused the stress)
What does overuse/underuse of the defence mechanisms result in
Overuse- alcoholics can use it to explain their addictions because they use denial
Underuse- depression
Why can someone become fixed at a psychosexual stage?
Freud suggested that we progress through 5 psychosexual stages and that excessive or lack of gratification at a particular stage can result in fixation
what is fixation?
An unconscious preoccupation with a particular stage which is expressed in adult behaviour
What does fixation at the anal stage result in
18-36 months caused by too strict potty training. show as OCD in adult behaviour
What does fixation at the oral stage result in
O-18 months shown as Separation anxiety disorder
explain the strength of the model being influential
P- the model was influential
E- First to emphasise impact on adult behaviour caused by childhood.
E- This is widely accepted with many studies having shown the influence of childhood on adulthood
E studies support model show the link between lack of defence mechanism usage and depression
R this is a strength because it shows that Freud’s study was influential because links are still being made today based on his ideas
explain the strength of the model removing responsibility for abnormal behaviour from the patient
P removes responsibility from the patient
Ebehaviour seen as coming from the unconscious mind over which the patient has no control
E creates greater sympathy for people with psychological abnormalities
E It is more humane because it focuses on talking rather than drugs
R This is a strength because it doesn’t blame the individual as it says abnormal behaviour is caused by the unconscious mind
Explain the limitation of the model lacks falsifiability
P cannot be scientifically tested
E if someone can recall a traumatic memory (cause of the abnormality )- they fit the approach but even if they cannot (memories repressed)they still fit the approach
E- demonstrates the lack of falsifiability of the model as it cannot be proven wrong
R This is a limitation because the psychodynamic model has difficulties with psychology as a science
Explain the limitation of the model Too much focus on the past
P focusses on the past
E over emphasises the impact of childhood on behaviour ignoring potential environmental factors
E At the time his ideas were not accepted because they focussed too much on sexual gratification
E Even if childhood does impact on adulthood it is important to take into account other factors
R This is a limitation because it doesn’t take into other factors unlike modern approaches which take into account the impact of inadequate relationships on abnormality
