Alternative to medical model: Psychodynamic explanation of mental illness

Question 1

Main assumptions of psychodynamic approach to abnormality

Answer 1

• Our behaviour & feelings are powerfully affected by unconscious motives.
• Our behaviour and feelings as adults (including psychological problems) are rooted in our childhood experiences.
• All behaviour has a cause (usually unconscious) even slips of the tongue- therefore all behaviour determined (ignores free will).

Question 2

According to the psychodynamic approach to abnormality mental illness is caused by…

Answer 2

Unresolved, Unconscious conflicts in the mind formed in childhood.
Mind consists of Id (always seeks pleasure) Superego (insists of the morally right choice) and Ego (mediates opposing demands of id and superego).
Mind uses defence mechanisms to protect ego such as denial and repression- in long term can cause problems and lead to mental illness.

Question 3

Freud’s idea

Answer 3

Psychodynamic explanation of phobias based on Freud’s idea that id impulses are repressed and that anxiety is then displaced onto an object/situation.
Explanation for phobias- Freud’s study on Little Hans- phobia triggered by real events but represented repressed anxieties created by conflict over his feelings toward his mother & father. Freud claimed Hans’ fear of his father had been displaced onto a fear of horses.
Phobias= conscious expression of repressed anxieties.

Question 4

Ego defence mechanisms

Answer 4

Protect the ego from potentially damaging demands of controlling id and superego.

Question 5

6 main defence mechanisms

Answer 5

1) Repression
2) Projection
3) Denial
4) Regression
5) Displacement
6) Sublimation

Question 6

Repression

Answer 6

Unacceptable/traumatic desires, wishes, emotions & memories are hidden in unconscious mind.
Individual has no control over what is moved from conscious mind to unconscious-it is involuntary & automatic.
Once in unconscious mind, repressed memories still exert influence over behaviour but person cannot consciously recall them.

Question 7

Projection

Answer 7

Person sees own undesired personality traits in someone else e.g angry person accuse another person of being angry when they are not.
AT extreme projection can lead to paranoia.

Question 8

Denial

Answer 8

Person denies facts / events relating to them e.g alcoholic claims they are not dependant on alcohol.

Question 9

Regression

Answer 9

Regressing to childhood behaviour as response to anxiety or traumatic event. e.g stamping, having tantrums when stressed.

Question 10

Displacement

Answer 10

Feelings toward particular person diverted to someone else. e.g child angry at parents may bully other children- cannot take anger out on parents.

Question 11

Sublimation

Answer 11

Transferring emotions about another person/situation onto something else. e.g playing aggressive sport when angry or frustrated about another situation.