Approaches - Psychodynamic Approach

Question 1

Key beliefs of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

Behaviour is due to unconscious forces and childhood experiences.

Question 2

Levels of consciousness

Answer 2

Conscious
Pre conscious
Unconscious

Question 3

What is the conscious mind

Answer 3

The part of the mind we are aware of

Question 4

What is the preconscious mind

Answer 4

Thoughts and memories that are not always accessible but easily recalled

Question 5

What is the unconscious

Answer 5

Biological drives and urges which significantly influence behaviour

Question 6

What is the tripartite structure of personality

Answer 6

The Id, Ego and Superego

Question 7

The Id

Answer 7

Present at birth
Primitive complex
Pleasure principle

Question 8

Superego

Answer 8

Appears age five
Conscience complex
Morality principle

Question 9

The ego

Answer 9

Appears age two or three
Reality principle
Uses defence mechanisms

Question 10

Mental conditions explained by imbalance in tripartite

Answer 10

Id too strong- selfish, uncontrolled (psychopathic tendencies)
Superego too strong- strict, anxious, OCD

Question 11

Why are defence mechanisms used

Answer 11

To protect from anxiety caused by conflicts in the tripartite

Question 12

Defence mechanisms

Answer 12

Repression
Denial
Displacement

Question 13

Repression

Answer 13

Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious

Question 14

Denial

Answer 14

Refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality

Question 15

Displacement

Answer 15

Transferring feelings from the true source onto a substitute target

Question 16

Psychosexual stages of development

Answer 16

Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latency
Genital

Question 17

Oral stage ages

Answer 17

Age 0-1

Question 18

Oral stage pleasure focus

Answer 18

The mouth

Question 19

Oral stage completion

Answer 19

Weaning (eating solids)

Question 20

Oral stage fixations

Answer 20

Oral aggressive (not sucked freely)-hostile and abusive
Oral receptive (sucked too freely)-passive and sensitive

Question 21

Anal stage ages

Answer 21

Ages 1-3

Question 22

Anal stage pleasure focus

Answer 22

Anus

Question 23

Anal stage completion

Answer 23

Potty training

Question 24

Anal stage fixations

Answer 24

Anally retentive- tidy, stubborn, orderly
Anally expulsive- generous but disorganised

Question 25

What is a fixation

Answer 25

When a stage of development is not completed, leading to characteristics in later life

Question 26

Phallic stage ages

Answer 26

Ages 3-5

Question 27

Phallic stage pleasure focus

Answer 27

Genitals

Question 28

When does the Oedipus complex occur

Answer 28

The phallic stage

Question 29

Oedipus complex

Answer 29

Boy desires his mother, Experiences murderous hatred for his father, Fears his father will castrate him for this, Repress these emotions and identify with father

Question 30

When does the Electra complex occur

Answer 30

The phallic stage

Question 31

Electra complex

Answer 31

Girl desires her mother, Realises she has no penis and thinks her mother castrated her, is hostile to mother and develops attraction to father, Identifies with mother so as to not lose her love

Question 32

Latency stage ages

Answer 32

Ages 6-12

Question 33

What occurs in the latency stage

Answer 33

Conflicts are resolved or repressed Focus on same sex friendships No requirements for completion

Question 34

Genital stage ages

Answer 34

Puberty to adulthood

Question 35

Genital stage pleasure focus

Answer 35

Genitals (not to extent of phallic stage)

Question 36

Genital stage completion

Answer 36

To develop healthy adult relationships

Question 37

What happens in the genital stage

Answer 37

Sexual desires become conscious

Question 38

Strengths of psychodynamic

Answer 38

Real world application- developed treatments like dream analysis and psychotherapies Evidence- studies show evidence of defence mechanisms being used

Question 39

Weaknesses of psychodynamic

Answer 39

Unscientific- concepts are untestable and research is based on case studies Gender bias in studies- only done on men