psychodynamic Flashcards

(23 cards)

1
Q

Psychodynamic definition

A

Refers to any theory that emphasises change and development in the individual, particularly those theories where ‘drive’ is a central concept in development.

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2
Q

Main assumptions of psychodynamic approach

A

Unconscious activity is the key determinate of how we behave.

We possess innate ‘drives’ (or ‘instincts’) that ‘energize’ our minds to motivate behaviour as we develop through our lives.

Our [three-part] personality – the psyche – is comprised of the ID, ego and superego.

Childhood experiences have significant importance in determining our personality when we reach adulthood.

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3
Q

what were the main points of freuds theory of psychoanalysis

A

The role of the unconscious
The structure of personality
Defence mechanisms
Psychosexual stages

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4
Q

The role of the unconscious

A

Unconscious= That part of the human mind that contains repressed ideas and memories, as well as primitive desires and impulses that have never been allowed to enter the conscious mind.

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5
Q

The structure of personality

A

The id
The ego
The superego

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6
Q

The id

A

Present at birth

Operated according to the pleasure principle

Concerned with instant gratification as it contains the libido, the biological energy created by the reproductive instincts.

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7
Q

The ego

A

Develops at around 2 years

The reality principle

The ego mediates between the impulsive demands of the id and the reality of the external world

Uses defence mechanisms to reduce tensions

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8
Q

The superego

A

Develops at around 3-5 years (end of phallic stage)

Morality principle

Internalised right and wrong

Divided into the conscience and the ego-ideal.

Conscience= the internalisation of societal rules. It determines which behaviours are permissible and causes feelings of guilt when rules are broken.

Ego-ideal= what a person strives towards, and is most probably determined by parental standards of good behaviour.

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9
Q

Defence mechanisms

A

Unconscious strategies that protect our conscious mind from anxiety. Defence mechanisms involve a distortion of reality in some way, so that we are better able to cope with a situation.

eg: repression, denial, displacement

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10
Q

Repression

A

refers to the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts and impulses.

Repressed thoughts and impulses continue to influence behaviour without the individual being aware of the reasons behind their behaviour.

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11
Q

Denial

A

Refusal to accept reality so as to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings that might be associated with that event.

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12
Q

Displacement

A

Involves the redirecting of thoughts or feelings in situations where the person feels unable to express them in the presence of the person they should be directed towards.

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13
Q

Psychosexual stages

A

Freud believed that personality developed through a sequence of five stages.

Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latent
Genital

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14
Q

how do fixations occur

A

unresolved conflict/getting interrupted during stage

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15
Q

Oral stage

A

Age: 0-2 years

Focus of pleasure: mouth- mothers breast

Major development: weaning

Fixation : Oral fixation- smoking, nail biting, over-eating= aggressive, sarcastic, critical, hostile

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16
Q

Anal stage

A

Age: 1-3

Focus of pleasure: Anus- expelling or witholding faces

Major development: toilet training

Fixation: anally retentive= perfectionist, obsessive or anally expulsive= messy, thoughtless

17
Q

Phallic stage

A

Age: 3-5 years

Focus of pleasure: Genital area

Major development: Opedius complex (male child wants to be w mother and identifies w father)

Fixation: Phallic personality- narcissistic, wreckless, maybe homosexual

18
Q

Latency stage

A

Age: 6-12/puberty

Focus of pleasure: repression of earlier conflicts, mastery of world around them

Major development: developing defence mechanisms

Fixation: N/A

19
Q

Genital stage

A

Age: puberty onwards

Focus of pleasure: culmination of psychosexual developments and fixing of sexual energy in the genitals. Sexual desires are conscious

Major development: reaching full sexual maturity

Fixation: N/A

20
Q

Eval: psychodynamic approach

A

lim: lack of empiricism
lim: bias
str: comprehensive

21
Q

psychodynamic lim: lack of empericism

A

Concepts are difficult to study empirically

Unconscious cannot be observed, the psychosexual stages are inaccessible, no cause and effect for behaviour

Limitations from scientific perspective

22
Q

psychodynamic lim: biased

A

Gender-biased approach
- Freuds views of women and female sexuality were less well developed than his views on male sexuality.
-seemed content to remain ignorant of female sexuality and how it may differ from male sexuality.
=Dismissing women and their sexuality in such a way is problematic, not only because Freud treated many female patients, but also because his theories are still so influential today.

Culture-biased approach
- Sue and Sue argue that psychoanalysis has little relevance for people from non-Western cultures
-They claim that many cultural groups do not value insight into mental disorders and therapy in the same way that Western cultures do
eg: In China, a depressed/anxious person avoids thoughts that cause them distress rather than discussing them openly
= Contrasts w the Western belief that open discussion and insight are always helpful in therapy

23
Q

psychodynamic str: comprehensive theory

A

Psychoanalysis is a comprehensive theory

As well as is therapeutic applications, psychoanalysis can be used to explain many oner aspects of human behaviour outside of psychology.

Eg: psychoanalysis has been used as a form of literary criticism. Works of literature such as Hamlet, have repressed messaged hidden in the text

=we can interpret these works using psychoanalytic concepts, delving into the mind of the author and enricing our understanding of their psychological state