Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
(40 cards)
What is involved when using the psychodynamic approach?
Role of the unconscious
Structure of personality (ID, Ego and Superego)
Defence mechanisms including repression, denial and displacement
Psychosexual stages
What is psychodynamics?
Perspective that describes the different forces (dynamics), most of which are unconscious, that operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience
Name the assumptions of the psychodynamic approach
States that unconscious forces in our mind determine our thoughts, feelings and behaviour (dynamic=ongoing movement of these forces)
Our behaviour as adults = strongly influenced by childhood experiences
Abnormal behaviour is result of mental conflict
Mind can be divided in 3 levels of consciousness which can illustrated by iceberg analogy
What is the iceberg analogy that shows the 3 levels of consciousness?
The conscious
The preconscious
The unconscious
What layer of the iceberg analogy has the most influence on our personality?
The unconscious mind (hidden below the surface)
Describe the conscious
Small amount of mental activity we know about
Thoughts
Perceptions
Describe the preconscious
Things we could be aware of if we wanted or tried
Memories
Stored knowledge
The unconscious
Things we are unaware of and can not become aware of
Instincts
Deeply buried memories
Fears
Unacceptable sexual desires
Violent motives
Irrational wishes
Immoral urges
Selfish needs
Shameful experiences
Traumatic experiences
What are the 3 characters we all have?
Superego, Ego and ID
Describe the Superego
Conscious, Preconscious and Unconscious
Called the ‘Other I’
Formed around 5 years old
Our internalised sense of right and wrong
Represents the moral standards of the child’s same-sex parent
Punishes ego for wrongdoing through guilt
Describe the Ego
Conscious and Preconscious
The ‘I’
Develops around 2 years old
Works on reality principle and is mediator between ID and Superego
Makes person aware of other people’s feelings (empathy) and that cannot always have it own way
Role is to reduce conflict between ID and Superego demands
Manages this by employing a number of defence mechanisms
Describe the ID
Unconscious
The ‘It’
Primitive part of our personality
Operates on pleasure principle (gets what it wants)
Mass of unconscious drives and instincts
Only ID is present at birth
What happens if ID, Ego and Superego do not work together?
Ego too weak = allows ID and Superego to dominate
ID too strong = selfish, out of control, could become psychopathic
Superego too strong = strict, anxious, obsessive - depression, anxiety, OCD
Describe a healthy psyche
Ego = “I’m in charge. Anything you want has to go through me”
ID = “Ok”
Superego = “Ok”
Describe a neurotic psyche
Superego = “I’m in charge, and you are not here to enjoy yourselves. Get ready for a double-size portion of anxiety with a side order of guilt!”
ID = “No fun”
Ego = >whimper<
Describe a psychotic psyche
ID = “SEX! FOOD! DRINK! DRUGS! NOW!”
Ego and Superego = “Who turned out the lights?!”
Describe a psychopathic psyche
ID = “First, gimme food. Then I want sex - lots of it and I don’t particularly care whether it’s with a willing partner. Then I want to hurt people. Badly. Probably be hungry again after that so…”
Ego = “Ok then. Let’s go.”
Briefly describe the idea of psychosexual stages
Freud believed all kids born with a libido (sexual/pleasure urge)
Number of stages of childhood, during which child seeks pleasure from a different ‘object’
to be psychologically healthy, we must successfully complete each stage
Mental abnormality can occur if stage not completed successfully (person becomes ‘fixated’)
Describe the oral stage
Mouth main focus of pleasure
Child enjoys tasting/sucking
Object of desire = mother’s breast
Successful completion = weaning (eating independently)
What is the consequence of unresolved conflict in the oral stage?
Oral fixation - sarcastic, critical, sensitive to rejection - overeats and drinks, bite nails, may smoke
Describe the anal stage
18 months - 3 years
Defecation is main source of pleasure (da poop poops)
Successful completion = potty training
What are the consequences of unresolved conflict during the anal stage?
Either
Anally retentive - very tidy, stubborn, likes order and being in control, perfectionist, obsessive
Anally expulsive - thoughtless, messy
Describe the phallic stage
3-5 years of age
Form of pleasure = genital area
Oedipus complex - boy wants mother as ‘primary love object’ and wants father out of way
Electra complex - girls experience penis envy; desire their father, as penis is primary love object and hate mother
What are the consequences of unresolved conflict in the phallic stage?
Phallic personality - narcissistic`, reckless, possibly homosexual
