BIOLOGICAL Freud's psychodynamic explanation of aggression

Question 1

explain the term psychodynamic

Answer 1

how the mind affects behaviour - idea that personality is made up of 3 important parts

Question 2

explain the conscious mind

Answer 2

we are fully aware of and can access this part of the brain, we can manipulate thoughts and make decisions

Question 3

explain the preconscious mind

Answer 3

holds information that can be recalled easilty but that you are not thinking about at that moment

Question 4

explain the unconscious mind

Answer 4

contains thoughts, emotions and desires we do not know and can guide out thinking and emotions - contains drives and instincts that dreams provide access to

Question 5

explain Eros

Answer 5

• the life instinct
• self-preservation, procreation, social cooperation

Question 6

explain Thanatos

Answer 6

• the death instint
• self-destruction, reliving trauma, risky behaviour, aggression

Question 7

explain the ego

Answer 7

the rational part of the personality that works on reality principles, balances desire of the id wht demands to the superego

Question 8

when does the ego develop

Answer 8

around 18 months during anal stage

Question 9

explain the id

Answer 9

demands instant gratification and works on the pleasure principle, present in the unconscious and is not accessible to us

Question 10

when does the id develop

Answer 10

born with, present in the oral stage

Question 11

explain the superego

Answer 11

made up of conscience and works on morality principle, given by parents and society in response to punishment and approval

Question 12

when does the superego develop

Answer 12

during the phallic stage (around 4 years)

Question 13

how is aggression caused by conflict between the id and the superego

Answer 13

the superego may prevent the id from getting what it wants, this creates frustration which leads to aggression

Question 14

explain the term catharsis

Answer 14

the process of releasing, and providing relief from strong or repressed emotions

Question 15

when does catharsis occur

Answer 15

when aggression is brought into conscious awareness and is released

Question 16

positives of the theory

Answer 16

• supporting evidence Verona and Sullivan - people who reacted in aggressive way had a reduced heart rate - aggression = catharsis
• Freud acknowledges interaction between nature and nurture, Thanatos and Eros = instincts, superego = nurture from parents
• useful application - using aggressive sports to help control anger - ability to release aggression in a healthy way

Question 17

negatives of the theory

Answer 17

• alternative explanation Social Learning Theory - imitation and observation of role models
• not credible - not scientific methods to prove - can’t be measured objectively
• reductionist - isolates unconscious processes as cause - ignores othr factors e.g. hormones / evolution