Psychodynamic approach Flashcards
(8 cards)
Who created the psychodynamic approach?
Sigmund Freud
What is the iceberg analogy?
That we have an unconscious that we are unable to consciously access, but it contains our deepest desires, emotions and memories. above the unconscious is the preconscious which characterises ideas, memories, and beliefs that are unconscious at a particular moment, yet are not repressed. These thoughts can be accessed through careful examination of a person’s psyche. Above this is the conscious which we have full access to.
Define the term repression.
Repression occurs when a thought, memory, or feeling is too painful for an individual, so the person unconsciously pushes the information out of consciousness and becomes unaware of its existence.
Freud stated that the psyche is separated into 3 parts that work against each other. Name these 3 parts and their functions.
The id- primitive biological part. Present from infancy and consists of basic impulses or drives e.g. hunger, thirst etc. It is said to work as a pleasure principle. It is a part of the unconscious.
The Ego- Develops as the child grows. Works to balance the needs of the id and the superego. It works on reality principle. It also defends the unconscious mind from displeasure (e.g. trauma/temp threats) by using defence mechanisms. Often involve some distortion of reality. This is part of the conscious mind.
The Superego- Judges whether actions are right or wrong. An internalised rep of the same sex parent. Violating the Superego’s standards or the impuls to do so causes anxiety, which is mostly unconscious but can be experienced as guilt. Part of the unconscious mind.
What are the 5 psychosexual stages?
Oral (0-18 months)= focus of libido is the mouth. They are passive, receptive and dependent. They explore with their mouths.
Anal (1-3 years)= focus of libido is on the anus as this is when potty training takes place. Ego develops as parents impose restrictions. The frst time a child experiences any sort of control.
Pallic (3-6 years)= Focus on genitals. Curiosity and examination. Superego develops through resolution of the Oedipus or Electra complex. Identification with the same sex parents leads to gender identity.
Latency (7-puberty)= Earlier conflicts are repressed. Sexual urges are sublimated into other hobbies. There is a focus on developing same sex friendships. There are no particular requirements for completion.
Genital (puberty onwards)= Focus on genitals but not to the same extent as the phallic stage. Develop healthy adult relationships; should happen if successful in other stages. Unresolved conflict leads to difficult forming heterosexual relationships.
What is the Oedipus complex and how does Freud use it to explain his theory?
Greek mythological figure who killed his father and married his mother, but was unaware of the relationships. Freud used this to explain the relationship between boys and his parents during the phallic stage.
Boys have unconscious sexual feelings for their mothers; leading to feelings of guilt&fear of their father. The fear takes form as castration anxiety. Resolution comes from identifying with and becoming his father so he can attract women like his mother; this develops the boys superego.
What is the Electra complex and how does Freud use it to explain his theory?
The Electra complex is a psychoanalytic term used to describe a girl’s sense of competition with her mother for the affections of her father. Girls realise they do not have a penis and develop penis envy. They know their father has a penis and therefore develop sexual feelings towards him. They start to see their mother as a rival for the father and blame them for her lack of penis and believe that the mother castrated her. Girls believe they can posses their father by identifying with their mother but not as strongly; they develop a weaker superego. Freud states that girls never completely resolve the electra complex so are not as moral as boys. The girl replaces her penis envy with the desire to have a baby.
What is the case study of ‘Little Hans’ in 1909?
Hans, 5yrs old, developed a fear of horses after seeing a horse -that was pulling a carriage- fall over and kick its hooves in the air. Hans was scared and thought the horse was dead. Freud states that he was experiencing the Oedipus complex, wanting to possess his mother, and seeing his father as a rival, he displaced his fear of his father onto horses. Blinker=fathers glasses. Black around horses mouth=fathers beard. Horses rep Han’s real unconscious fear of castration from the Oedipus complex.
