psychodynamic approach

Question 1

what are the 3 types of consciousnesses

Answer 1

conscious mind
preconscious mind
unconscious mind

Question 2

cm meaning

Answer 2

The part of the mind that the individual is aware of, which is used to form conscious thoughts (the tip of the iceberg)

Question 3

pcm meaning

Answer 3

where dreams and ‘Freudian slips’ lurk (which release secret feelings)
appears to be accidental but it expresses the person’s true, repressed feelings

Question 4

what do dreams reflect

Answer 4

reveal secret fears/desires e.g. dreams of flying = the wish to break free from limitations,

Question 5

ucm meaning

Answer 5

the part of the mind that holds information and feelings that the individual may be unaware such as secret fears or desires, repressed memories or emotions, the effects of trauma

Question 6

what is the id

Answer 6

present at birth
instinctive part of our personality and operates according to the pleasure principle
primal urges and wants instant gratification

Question 7

what is the ego

Answer 7

develops around the age of 2
operates according to the reality principle, rather like a sensible adult
reality principle, acting as the mediator between the Id and the Superego and balancing the demands of each at all times
The id must sometimes be ‘tamed’ as its wild impulses could lead to trouble
The Superego must sometimes be ignored if it is likely to lead to punitive self-blame or excessive guilt

Question 8

what is the super ego

Answer 8

operates according to the morality principle, rather like a disapproving teacher or parent
represents an internalized sense of right and wrong, the conscience/morality/ethics/judgmental aspect of the self

Question 9

strength

Answer 9

lead to psychoanalysis- analyzing dreams etc to understand what’s going on- in-depth and helpful for patients

Question 10

what are 2 weaknesses

Answer 10

Freud’s theory of the unconscious mind and structure of personality is extremely difficult to operationalize, test and measure.

Freud’s theory suffers from psychic determinism which can be summed up in the phrase ‘there’s no such thing as an accident’

This assumes that all outcomes have already been decided and that deliberate forces intrude from the unconscious mind (seen, for example, in Freudian slips)

Therefore this negates the idea of people having free will which ultimately limits the scope of the theory

Question 11

whats used by the ego to balance the superego and the id

Answer 11

defense mechanisms