Assumptions applied to Therapy (psychodynamic approach)

Question 1

Name one assumption of the psychodynamic approach applied in therapy

Answer 1

S: behaviour due to unconscious drives

E: mind structured like an iceberg

• conscious at top (logical and accessible)
• preconscious below surface however still accessible e.g memories
• unconscious below surface and cannot be directly accessed

C: unconscious creates disorders bc Id is basis of our behav so uncomfortable unconscious feelings cause resulting behav to be disordered

L(aim of therapy): make unconscious conscious
-one way = through dream analysis as dreams are ‘royal road to unconscious’

Question 2

Another assumption applied to therapy

Answer 2

S: Tripartite personality (Id, superego, ego) shapes behav

E: mind divided into 3 parts

• Id = selfish, animalistic part works on pleasure principle
• superego = moral part telling us what’s good and bad, working on morality principle
• ego = rational part working on reality principle

C: during waking hours ego is at its strongest but during sleep it becomes weaker allowing Id to express itself more fully (though still disguised in a symbolic form) through dreams

L (aim of therapy): analyse dreams in order to establish the Id drives causing disorder