Psychodynamic Approach Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the main assumption?
All behaviour is driven by the unconscious mind
What is the tripartite?
The 3 parts of the personality- Id, Ego and Superego
3 defence mechanisms?
Denial, displacement, repression
What are the 3 levels of the mind?
Conscious, pre-conscious and the unconscious
What are the 5 psychosexual stages?
Oral
Anal
Phallic
Latent
Genital
When does the ID emerge?
Before birth- the first component of personality before birth
What is the ID in control of?
All innate needs and basic urges- hunger, thirst, aggression, primal urges
What behaviours does the ID link to?
Impulsive behaviours, uncontrollable behaviours or even criminal
What principle is the ID?
The pleasure principle- seeking out instant gratification and avoiding pain and discomfort at all costs
When does the ego emerge?
Between 2 and 4 years old as a young child
What is the ego in control of?
From sorting out what is real and not real
Helps us to understand our own thoughts
Controls our consciousness
What behaviours does the ego link to?
Prevents us from acting on basic urges that are created by the ID but also achieves a balance with moral and idealistic standards
What principle is the ego?
The reality principle- it strives to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and morally appropriate ways
Balances cost and benefits of actions and decides whether to act upon it or not
When does the superego emerge?
Develops during the phallic stage at around 5 years old
What is the superego in control of?
Suppressing entirely any urges or desires of the ID that are considered wrong or socially unacceptable
What behaviours does the superego link to?
Links to moral behaviours by who the ego operates
What principle is the superego?
Delivers mental rewards/punishments for a persons actions
E.g. feeling good for suppressing primal urges and feeling guilty/shame for exposing
What is most of our mind made up of?
The unconscious- a vast storehouse of biological drives and instincts that have a significant influence on or behaviour and personality
What does the unconscious mind contain>
Threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed, or locked away and forgotten
How can memories in the unconscious mind be revealed?
During dreams or through slips of the tongue (parapraxes)
Or Freudian slips
What is the pre conscious mind?
Contains thoughts and memories which are not currently in conscious awareness but we can access if desired
Strength: real world application?
Introduced the idea of psychotherapy
Brought a new world of therapy- psychoanalysis
First attempt to treat mental disorders psychologically rather than physically
Dream analysis
Helps clients by bringing their repressed emotions into their conscious mind so they can be dealt with
Plays a role in counselling
Limitations of psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis is inappropriate for those experiencing more serious mental disorders e.g. schizophrenia
Many of the symptoms of schizophrenia like paranoia and delusional thinking means that those with the disorder have lost their grip on reality and can’t articulate their thoughts in the way required by psychoanalysis
Suggests Freudian therapy may not apply to all mental disorders
AO3: strength of freuds therapy- explain human behaviour?
Had a huge influence on psychology and western contemporary thought
Has been used to explain personality development, abnormal behaviour, moral development and gender identity
Significant in drawing attention to the connection between experiences in childhood such as our relationship with our parents and our later development
