Psychodynamic approach (1)

Question 1

State the three assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

Answer 1

1. most of the influences of our behaviour come from the unconscious mind
2. our psyche is made up of several parts that are continually at war with the other - this conflict is what drives behaviour
3. all children go through a series of psychosexual stages and if they experience unresolved conflict this can affect adult life

Question 2

State the three parts of the psyche

Answer 2

Id, Ego, Superego

Question 3

What is the id

Answer 3

The primitive part of our personality which operates on the pleasure principle - it is selfish and demands immediate gratification

Question 4

What is the superego

Answer 4

The moralistic part of our personality that represents the ideal self - it punishes the ego for wrongdoing by making us feel guilty

Question 5

What is the ego

Answer 5

Works on the reality principle- it is the mediator between the id and superego by trying to reduce the conflict through the use of defence mechanisms

Question 6

Which components of the psyche are part of your unconscious

Answer 6

Id and superego

Question 7

What are defence mechanisms

Answer 7

Unconscious strategies used by the ego to help balance the conflicting demands of the id and the superego

Question 8

State the three main types of defence mechanisms

Answer 8

1. repression- forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind
2. denial- refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality
3. displacement- transferring feelings from true source of distressing emotion onto a substitute target