Approaches - Psychodynamic Flashcards
(11 cards)
What are the three parts of the mind in Freud’s psychodynamic theory?
The psyche consists of:
• Conscious mind – thoughts we are aware of (ideas, emotions, decisions)
• Preconscious mind – thoughts not immediately accessible but can be made conscious
• Unconscious mind – thoughts and memories inaccessible to awareness that influence behaviour
What is psychic determinism?
The idea that our behaviour is shaped by unresolved unconscious conflicts, particularly those formed in early psychosexual stages of development.
What are psychosexual stages?
Freud’s theory that as children develop, they pass through 5 psychosexual stages:
• Oral (0–1y): pleasure via the mouth. Fixation = immature personality.
• Anal (1–3y): pleasure from withholding/expelling faeces. Fixation = overly tidy (anal-retentive).
• Phallic (3–5y): Oedipus complex in boys, Electra complex in girls. Fixation affects gender identity.
• Latency (6–12y): libido repressed; focus on school/social skills.
• Genital (12+ years): libido becomes conscious; sexual relationships form.
What is the structure of personality according to Freud?
• Id: operates on pleasure principle, present from birth, unconscious
• Ego: develops ~18 months, reality principle, rational mediator
• Superego: develops ~3 years, morality principle, guilt and moral standards
What happens if there’s an imbalance between id, ego and superego?
• A weak superego = dominance of id → criminal behaviour
• A harsh superego = excessive guilt → deviant behaviours to relieve guilt
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies the ego uses to reduce anxiety from conflict between id and superego.
Key types:
• Denial: refusing to accept reality
• Displacement: redirecting emotion onto a substitute target
• Repression: blocking unpleasant memories from conscious awareness
What is repression in psychoanalysis?
A defence mechanism where unpleasant or painful memories/emotions are placed into the unconscious and are no longer accessible to the conscious mind.
How did Freud explain the unconscious mind’s function?
It holds unresolved desires, impulses, fears, traumatic memories, and uses defence mechanisms to protect the conscious mind, reducing anxiety.
What did Freud say about early childhood?
He believed early childhood experiences are critical in shaping adult personality, and unresolved conflicts can cause fixation and mental illness.
What are strengths of the psychodynamic approach?
• Influential on theories like Bowlby’s attachment
• Introduced the idea of unconscious processing
• Face validity – ideas like defence mechanisms match people’s experiences
• Practical applications – psychoanalysis shown effective in meta-analyses (e.g. De Maat et al.)
What are weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach?
• Lacks scientific credibility – based on case studies and dream interpretations
• Biased evidence – e.g. Little Hans (parents may have been influenced by Freud)
• Lacks falsifiability – concepts are hard to test empirically and could justify any outcome
