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A Level Psychology: Approaches (P2 - sA) > 6. Psychodynamic Theory > Flashcards

6. Psychodynamic Theory Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the psychodynamic approach about (overview)

A
  • The role of the unconscious
  • The structure of personality that is ID, Ego & Superego
  • Defence mechanisms including repression, denial & displacement
  • Psychosexual stages
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2
Q

What is the psychodynamic approach

A

A perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics) - most of which are unconscious- that operate on the mind, direct human behaviour & experience

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3
Q

Assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

A
  1. States that unconscious forces in our mind determine our thoughts, feelings & behaviour
  2. Adult personality & psychological disorders are strongly influenced by our childhood experiences
  3. Abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict
  4. Mind can be divided into 3 levels of consciousness (illustrated by the iceberg analogy). The unconscious mind, which is hidden below the surface, has the most influence on our personality
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4
Q

What is the conscious mind

A

The small amount that we are aware of at any given time
(above surface on iceberg)

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5
Q

What is the preconscious mind

A

Memories that we could be recall if we wanted to
eg. our address, phone number
(on surface on iceberg)

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6
Q

What is the unconscious mind

A

Things we are unaware of & can not become aware of. eg. desires, fears, deeply buried memories
(below surface on iceberg)

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7
Q

see slide 6 for dia of iceberg analogy

A
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8
Q

What is the Tripartite model of the mind

A

According to Freud, we all have these 3 characteristics (ID, Ego, Superego) in our mind at the same time

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9
Q

see slide 7 for dia of Tripartite model of the mind

A
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10
Q

What is the ID personality

A

(the ‘it’)
- Primitive part of our personality that contains our innate, aggressive & sexual instincts
- Wants to be satisfied by whatever means possible (obeys the pleasure principles)
- Accounts for unreasonable behaviour & appears at birth

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11
Q

What is the Ego personality

A

(the ‘I’)
- Exists both in conscious & unconscious parts of mind & develops around the age of 2yrs
- Works on the reality principle & is the mediator between the ID & SUPEREGO
- Acts as rational part of mind - aware of other ppls feelings & that they can’t always have their own way
- Its role is to reduce the conflict between demands of the ID & SUPEREGO, keeping our behaviour in line
- It manages this by employing a no. of defence mechanisms

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12
Q

What happens if the ID, Ego, Superego do not work together: EGO IS WEAK

A

Allows ID and Superego to dominate

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13
Q

What is the Superego personality

A

(the ‘other I’)
- In both conscious & unconscious parts of mind
- Formed around the age of 5
- Part of mind that takes our morals into consideration & is involved in making us feel guilty - it is our internalised sense of right & wrong
- Punishes the ego for wrongdoing (through guilt)

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14
Q

What happens if the ID, Ego, Superego do not work together: ID TOO STRONG

A

Selfish, out of control, could become psychopathic

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15
Q

What happens if the ID, Ego, Superego do not work together: SUPEREGO TOO STRONG

A

Strict, anxious, obsessive - can lead to depression, anxiety, OCD

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16
Q

Who proposed the psychosexual stages

A

Sigmund Frued

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17
Q

Assumptions of the psychosexual stages

A
  • Freud believed that children are born w a libido - a sexual (pleasure) urge
  • There are a no. of stages of childhood, during which the child seeks pleasure from a different ‘object’
  • To be psychologically healthy, we must successfully complete each stage
  • Mental abnormality can occur if a stage is not completed successfully- the persons becomes ‘fixated’
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18
Q

What are the 5 stages of development

A
  1. The oral stage
  2. The anal stage
  3. The phallic stage
  4. The latency stage
  5. The genital stage
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19
Q

What is the ORAL STAGE

A

Birth - 18mo old
- The mouth is the main focus of pleasure during this stage
- The child enjoys tasting & sucking
- The mother’s breast is the object of desire

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20
Q

Successful completion of the ORAL STAGE

A
  • Successful competition of this stage is demonstrated by weaning - eating independently
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21
Q

Consequences of unresolved conflict in the ORAL STAGE

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A
  • Oral fixation - sarcastic, sensitive to rejection, overeats/drinks, bites nails, may smoke
22
Q

What is the ANAL STAGE

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A

18mo - 3yrs old
- Defecation is main source of pleasure
- Involves keeping or discarding faeces

23
Q

Successful completion of the ANAL STAGE

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A
  • Successful completion marked by potty training
24
Q

Consequences of unresolved conflict in the ANAL STAGE

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A
  • Anally retentive - very tidy, stubborn, likes order & being in control, perfectionist, obsessive
  • Anally repulsive - thoughtless, messy
25
What is the PHALLIC STAGE
3yrs - 6yrs - Form of pleasure is the genital area - **Oedipus complex** - boy wants his mother as his 'primary love object' & wants his father out of the way - **Electra complex** - girls experience penis envy; they desire their father, as the penis is the primary love object & hate their mother
26
Consequence of unresolved conflict in the PHALLIC STAGE
- Phallic personality - narcissistic, reckless, possibly homosexual
27
What is the LATENCY STAGE
6yrs - puberty - Earlier sexual urges are repressed - Sexual urges sublimated into sports/hobbies - Focus on developing same-sex friendships (Calm before the storm of puberty!)
28
Successful completion of the LATENCY STAGE
- No particular requirements for successful completion
29
What is the GENITAL STAGE
Puberty - adulthood - Awakened sexual urges - but not to same extent as PHALLIC STAGE - Task is to develop healthy adult relationships - This should happen if earlier stages have been negotiated successfully
30
Consequence of unresolved conflict in the GENITAL STAGE
- Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships
31
What was the study that Freud believed to support his theory of psychosexual stages (& oedipus complex in particular)
Little Hans, 1909
32
Conflict between the parts of the personality
Conflict between ID & SUPEREGO bc ID wants instant satisfaction, whilst SUPEREGO tries to impose morals ---> these conflicts lead to anxiety. Its then the EGO's job to mediate between ID & SUPEREGO to reduce anxiety (by using unconscious defence mechanisms)
33
Unconscious defence mechanisms of EGO
- Repression - Denial - Displacement
34
Unconscious defence mechanisms of EGO: **Repression**
Involves the EGO stoppage **unwanted** & possible **painful thoughts** from becoming conscious eg. someone who experienced traumatic incident may not recall it later bc they have repressed the memory
35
Unconscious defence mechanisms of EGO: **Denial**
Where a threatening event or unwanted reality is simply **ignored** & **blocked** from conscious awareness eg. drug addict denies they have a problem
36
Unconscious defence mechanisms of EGO: **Displacement**
Happens when a **negative impulse** is **redirected** onto smth else (another person or an object) eg. boss made you angry at work, & you redirect your anger towards smth else by kicking a door at home
37
Method of Little Hans
Carried out on a child called Hans who had a phobia of horses. Hans was observed by his father, who made notes of Han's dreams & things he said, passing them onto Freud for analysis
38
Results of Little Hans
- Han's was afraid of horses bc he thought they might bite him/fall on him. - During study, he developed an interest in his 'widdler' (penis). His mum had told him not to play w it or she'd cut it off - Hans told his dad abt a dream where he was married to his mum & his dad was now his grandfather
39
Conclusion of Little Hans (in terms of stages of development)
Freud's interpretation was the Hans had reached the PHALLIC stage of development & showed ev of the 'Oedipus complex' - he wanted an exclusive relationship w mother & was jealous of father - Hans had sexual feelings for his mother, showed partly by his dream or marrying her - The horse symbolised Han's father bc, to him, they both had big penises
40
Conclusion of Little Hans (in terms of defence mechanisms)
His fear of horse is an eg of DISPLACEMENT - a defence mechanism that protected him from his real fear of his father. Hans suffered from castration anxiety - afraid he would be castrated by father if he found out abt his feelings for his mother. This was symbolised by Han's fear that a horse would bite him
41
Evaluation of Little Hans: PROS
- This was a case study, meaning it provided lots of detailed data abt one subject, BUT it means results cannot be generalised - Findings provided ev to support Freud's theories
42
Evaluation of Little Hans: CONS
- Results were based entirely on **observations & interpretations** - so cause & effect relationships cannot be established - There could be **other explanations** - eg. Han's anxiety may have come from his mother threatening to cut his penis off - Before study, Hans had been frightened by a horse falling down in the street, which cold explain his fear of them - Freud analysed info from Han's father - so results could be biased
43
What actually are psychological disorders
Psychological disorders are defence mechanisms against repressed emotional problems & impulse
44
Proof of the unconscious
Freudian slips
45
What are Freudian slips
Also called 'parapraxis' - an error in speech, memory, or physical action that occurs due to the interference of an unconscious subdued wish or internal train of through
46
What did Karl Popper argue
That the psychodynamic approach does not meet the scientific criterion of falsification as it is not open to empirical testing & the possibility of disproval. - Freud argued back that unconscious is difficult to test
47
Practical applications of Freuds work (psychodynamic approach)
- Psychoanalysis - Dream analysis & hypnosis - Therapeutic tools for neuroses
48
What is psychic determinism
States that: - No such thing as an accident - Slip of the tongue is driven by the unconscious forces & has deep symbolic meaning - Free will is an illusion- conflict from childhood
49
STRENGTHS of the psychodynamic approach
- First theory to focus on **psychological causes** of disorders. (Before this, focus was on physical causes) - First approach to suggest mental health disorders may be linked to **unresolved conflicts** related to **biological needs** - **Offers methods of therapy** (psychoanalysis) - patients able to understand causes of problems & resolve to release anxiety
50
WEAKNESSES of the psychodynamic approach
- Freud's claims are based on **subjective interpretations** of his patients' situations - unreliable, open to bias - Freud's theories relate to the unconscious mind, which cant be accessed. As such, his theories are **unfalsifiable** (cant be proved wrong) - Psychoanalysis may take **long time & so very expensive**. The childhood conflicts 'uncovered' may be emotionally distressing/possibly inaccurate - Approach is based on case studies of ppl in 'distress' - findings *8cant be generalised** to everyone else

A Level Psychology: Approaches (P2 - sA) (7 decks)

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