Psychodynamic explanations Flashcards
(29 cards)
What did Freud believe about phobias without therapy?
Freud believed that, without therapy, people with phobias will never know why they have these irrational fears. This is because the reasons for these symptoms are stored below the level of conscious awareness, in the unconscious.
What causes symptoms of mental disorders according to Freud?
Freud believed that symptoms of mental disorder, including phobias, are caused by unresolved conflicts from early infancy and childhood.
What are the three parts of personality according to Freud?
Freud believed that personality has three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.
What is the id?
The id is the part of personality that is contained within the unconscious and is focused on meeting needs immediately.
When does the ego develop?
The ego develops at age two, allowing infants to make rational plans about how to get what they need.
What is the superego?
The superego develops between the ages of three and five and represents the child’s sense of morality, including the conscience.
What conflict exists between the id and superego?
The id may desire something, like a mother’s love, while the superego demands that the child share that love and become independent.
What are defence mechanisms?
Defence mechanisms are short-term coping strategies used by the ego to protect us from overwhelming negative emotions.
How do defence mechanisms relate to the id’s impulses?
Defence mechanisms often allow the id’s socially unacceptable impulses to be expressed in a socially acceptable way.
What was Freud’s interpretation of Little Hans’ phobia?
Freud interpreted Hans’ phobia of horses as a result of fear of his father, whom he believed was angry with him due to his desire to keep his mother.
What is displacement in the context of Freud’s theory?
Displacement is a defence mechanism where an individual redirects their fear of one object onto another, such as Hans redirecting his fear of his father onto horses.
What is dreamwork according to Freud?
Dreamwork is the process by which the ego turns unconscious desires into symbols that are linked together into a dream.
What does Freud mean by wish fulfilment?
Freud refers to the purpose of dreams as wish fulfilment, where dreams help express the id’s desires.
What is the difference between manifest content and latent content in dreams?
Manifest content is what we remember from our dreams, while latent content is the true unconscious meaning of the dream.
Give an example of dream symbolism according to Freud.
A dream about vigorously beating eggs in a bowl may symbolize the unconscious desire to attack a rival.
What are the psychosexual stages of development according to Freud?
Freud divided the first five years of life into three stages, each focusing on a different erogenous zone from which the child derives interest and pleasure.
What is an erogenous zone?
An erogenous zone is an area of the body that is associated with sexual pleasure.
What happens if a psychosexual conflict is not resolved?
If the conflict is not fully resolved, it can lead to the development of certain personality traits through a process called fixation.
What are the first three psychosexual stages?
The first three psychosexual stages are Oral, Anal, and Phallic.
What is the age range for the Oral stage?
The Oral stage occurs from birth to 18 months.
What is the erogenous zone and conflict associated with the Oral stage?
The erogenous zone is the mouth, and the conflict is weaning (moving from milk to solid food).
What is the age range for the Anal stage?
The Anal stage occurs from 18 months to three years.
What is the erogenous zone and conflict associated with the Anal stage?
The erogenous zone is the anus and rectum, and the conflict is potty training (moving from nappies to using the toilet).
What is the age range for the Phallic stage?
The Phallic stage occurs from three to five/six years.
