Approaches - The psychodynamic approach

Question 1

What are the main discoveries of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

Role of the unconscious, ID, Ego, superego, Psychosexual stages and defense mechanisms

Question 2

What is the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 2

A perspective that describes the different forces, most of which are unconscious that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience

Question 3

What did Sigmund Freud suggest?

Answer 3

That the part of our mind that we know about and are aware of is merely the “tip of the iceberg”

Question 4

What is most of our mind made up of?

Answer 4

The unconscious - a vast storehouse of biological drives and instincts that has a significant influence on our behaviour and personality

Question 5

What does the unconscious also contain?

Answer 5

Threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed

Question 6

How can repressed memories be accessed?

Answer 6

Through dreams or parapraxes

Question 7

What is the preconscious?

Answer 7

Contains thoughts and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if desired

Question 8

What is the structure of personality also known as?

Answer 8

Tripartite

Question 9

What is the ID?

Answer 9

Entirely unconscious, it is made up of selfish aggressive instincts that demand immediate gratification

Question 10

What is the Ego?

Answer 10

The reality check that balances the conflicting demands of the ID and Superego

Question 11

What is the Superego?

Answer 11

The moralistic part of our personality which represents our ideal self

Question 12

What principle is the ID?

Answer 12

Pleasure principle

Question 13

What principle is the Ego?

Answer 13

Reality principle

Question 14

What principle is the Superego?

Answer 14

Morality principle

Question 15

What age is the oral stage?

Answer 15

0-1 years

Question 16

What is the focus of pleasure in the oral stage?

Answer 16

The mouth, the mother’s breast can be the object of pleasure

Question 17

What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the oral stage?

Answer 17

Smoking and critical

Question 18

What age is the anal stage?

Answer 18

1-3 years

Question 19

What is the focus of pleasure in the anal stage?

Answer 19

The anus. Child gains pleasure for withholding and expelling faeces

Question 20

What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the anal stage?

Answer 20

Rententive: perfectionist and obsessive
Explusive: thoughtless and messy

Question 21

What age is the phallic stage?

Answer 21

3-6 years

Question 22

What is the focus of pleasure in the phallic stage?

Answer 22

The genitals

Question 23

What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the phallic stage?

Answer 23

Narcissistic and reckless

Question 24

What is latency?

Answer 24

Earlier conflicts are repressed

Question 25

What is the genital stage?

Answer 25

Where sexual desires become conscious alongside the onset of puberty

Question 26

What is the consequence of the unresolved conflict in the genital stage?

Answer 26

Difficulty forming heterosexual relationships

Question 27

What is one strength of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 27

Real world application

Question 28

What is the evaluation of the psychodynamic approach having real world application?

Answer 28

P: Introduced the idea of psychotherapy E: First attempt to treat disorders psychologically rather than physically E: Psychoanalysis is the forerunner for talking therapies L: Shows the value in creating a new approach to treatment

Question 29

What is one limitation of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 29

Untestable concepts

Question 30

What is the evaluation of the psychodynamic approach having untestable concepts?

Answer 30

P: Untestable E: Does not meet the scientifc criterion of falsification E: Not open to empirical testing E: Ideas were based on the subjective study of single individuals, so hard to make universal claims L: Pseudoscientific

Question 31

What is another strength of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 31

Explanatory power

Question 32

What is the evaluation of the psychodynamic approach having explanatory powers?

Answer 32

P: Ability to explain human behaviour E: Been used to explain a wide range of phenomena including personality development E: Significant in drawing attention to the connection of experiences and childhood L: Has had a positive impact of psychology and literature