Psychodynamic explanation of aggression - Freud

Question 1

Id

Answer 1

driven by the pleasure principle in the unconscious mind made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification

makes aggression inevitable

contains impulses and drives which are socially unacceptable

Question 2

Ego

Answer 2

balances the demands of the Id and the Superego

logical rational, and the mostly conscious part of the personality

Question 3

Superego

Answer 3

moralistic part of the personality which represents the ideal self

conscious and moral sense of right or wrong

emerges later in development

opposes the ID’s aggressive drive through guilt and shame

Question 4

explanation of aggressive urges

Answer 4

our behaviour may be influenced by aggressive urges that are hidden in the unconscious

Question 5

how many components is personality made up of

Answer 5

3 - Id, ego and superego

Question 6

define aggression in terms of it being a psychological drive

Answer 6

instinctive drive that can be satisfied

Question 7

what would happen if catharsis was prevented

Answer 7

creates a build up of energy, which will eventually produce a destructive aggressive drive and makes further aggression more likely

Question 8

how can catharsis be achieved in indirect ways

Answer 8

displacement

watching others behave aggressively
e.g. violent films

Question 9

displacement

Answer 9

where aggression towards one person is redirected against a less powerful and more available substitute

Question 10

Verona and Sullivan (2008)

Answer 10

lab experiment to see how participants would react to a fustrating situation

found that participants who reacted in an aggressive way to the fustration that was caused for them in the study (by pressing the shock button) did have a reduced heart rate

Question 11

how does Verona and Sullivan’s study support Freud

Answer 11

supports the idea that aggression is cathartic, thus supporting the psychodynamic view

Question 12

how does the psychodynamic approach apply to real life

Answer 12

catharsis can be used to prevent a build-up of destructive aggressive energy

people can bring harmless ways of expressing anger into their lives (give examples) and could use displacement

Question 13

criticism of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 13

cannot be scientifically measured
untestable because the concepts are so vague which makes it impossible to measure