Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
What are the principles of the psychodynamic approach?
- Freud believed development in childhood influences adult personality
- Activity in the subconscious can and does affect conscious everyday behaviour.
- Theory led to the development of psychoanalysis which can be used to treaty anxiety and depression using techniques such as free association and dream interpretation.
What is the structure of the personality?
Id - Operates according to the pleasure principle
If uncontrolled leads to deviant behaviours.
Present at birth
Ego - Operates according to the reality principle
Role is to mediate between Id and Superego
Develops at age 2
Superego - Operates according to the morality principle
If uncontrolled leads to anxiety
Develops at age 5 (phallic stage)
What are the ego’s defence mechanisms?
Repression- Forcing a distressing memory out of the conscious mind and into the unconscious
Denial- Refusing to accept some aspect of reality
Displacement - Transferring feelings of true source of distressing emotion onto another person or object
Outline the oral psychosexual stage of development.
Age: 0-1 Source of Libido/ Pleasure: Focus of pleasure: The mouth Conflict: Forceful feeding/deprivation/ early or late weaning Consequences of fixation: Smoking, chewing pens & fingernails, etc. Overeating & drinking.
Outline the anal psychosexual stage of development.
Age: 1-3 Source of Libido/ Pleasure: Focus of pleasure: The anus Conflict: Toilet training too harsh/too lax Consequences of fixation: Anal retentive: obsessive, tidiness, perfectionist Anal expulsive: messy, disorganised,
Outline the phallic psychosexual stage of development.
Age: 3-6 Source of Libido/ Pleasure: Focus of pleasure: The genital area Conflict: Oedipus complex in male, Electra complex in females Consequences of fixation: MEN: feelings of anxiety & guilt about sex. Vanity or self-obsession WOMEN: feelings of inferiority and envy
Outline the latent psychosexual stage of development.
Age: 6-puberty - Earlier conflicts are repressed Conflict: Interacting with same sex peers Consequences of fixation: Fixation does not happen at this stage.
Outline the genital psychosexual stage of development.
Age:
Puberty+
Source of Libido/ Pleasure:
Focus of pleasure: Sexual desires become conscious
Conflict:
Establishing intimate relationships with opposite sex
Consequences of fixation:
Fixation might lead to problems forming heterosexual relationships
What are the strengths of the psychodynamic approach?
+Case study methodology embraces our complex behaviour by gathering rich information, and on an individual basis.
+ Explanatory power – has been useful in explaining the impact of the subconscious/childhood on behaviour and had a huge impact on psychology at the time. One of the first distal explanations.
+Real world application – led to the development of therapy which is used as treatment for anxiety and depression
What are the weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach?
- Counterpoint: Lacks empirical research - much of the approach is not testable and was developed from the case study of Little Hans It does not meet the scientific criterion of falsifiability and therefore cannot be disproved
- Counterpoint: Psychoanalysis not useful for all – it is inappropriate for people with schizophrenia as they have delusional thoughts and do not have a grip on reality so cannot articulate their thoughts.
- Gender bias and temporal valdity
Is the approach nature or nurture?
Both
Is the approach free will or determinist?
Psychic determinism
Is the approach reductionist or holistic?
Reductionist
Is the approach idiographic or nomothetic?
Idiographic
Is the approach scientific or unscientific?
Unscientific
