The Psychodynamic Approach (Approaches)

Question 1

What is Freud’s tripartite theory of personality?

Answer 1

• ID
• Ego
• Superego

Question 2

What is the ID?

Answer 2

• Instincts (pleasure)
• The primitive part of the personality operating on the pleasure principle.
• A seething mass of unconscious drives and instincts.
• Gets what it wants.

Question 3

What is the Ego?

Answer 3

• Reality
• The mediator between the two other parts of the personality.
• Reduces conflict between the demands of the ID and superego by employing defence mechanisms.
• Develops around age 2.

Question 4

What is the Superego?

Answer 4

• Morality
• Formed at the end of the phallic stage (age 5).
• Internalised sense of wrong and right.
• Based on morality principle.

Question 5

Main assumptions of the Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 5

• Unconscious processes of which we are unaware determine our behaviour.
• Personality has three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.
• Early childhood experiences determine adult experiences.
• Abnormal behaviour is the result of mental conflict.

Question 6

Name 3 defence mechanisms

Answer 6

• Repression
• Denial
• Displacement

Question 7

Name 5 of Freud’s Psychosexual stages

Answer 7

• Oral
• Anal
• Phallic
• Latency
• Genital

Question 8

Describe the Oral stage

Answer 8

• Age 0-1
• The mouth
• Child enjoys feeding, sucking, swallowing, putting things in mouth etc.

Question 9

Describe the Anal stage

Answer 9

• Age 1-3
• The anus
• The child derives pleasure from expelling or withholding faeces.

Question 10

Describe the Phallic stage

Answer 10

• Age 3-5/6
• The penis or clitoris
• The child derives pleasure from masturbation.

Question 11

Describe the Latency stage

Answer 11

• Age 6-11
• Sexual drives are repressed

Question 12

Describe the Genital stage

Answer 12

• Age 12+
• The genitals
• The adult derives from pleasure from masturbation and sexual intercourse.

Question 13

Describe the defence mechanism - repression

Answer 13

Forcing a distressing or threatening memory out of your conscious mind
- E.g. An individual forgetting their trauma of their pet dying

Question 14

Describe the defence mechanism - denial

Answer 14

Failing or refusing to acknowledge some aspect of reality.

Question 15

Describe the defence mechanism - displacement

Answer 15

Transferring feelings from the true object of anxiety onto a substitute target/object

Question 16

What is the procedure of the Hans study?

Answer 16

• Freud carried out a case study of a child called Hans who had a phobia of horses.
• Hans was observed by his father, who made notes of Han’s dreams and stuff he said, and passed them onto Freud for analysis.

Question 17

What is the findings of the Hans study?

Answer 17

• Hans was afraid of horses because he was suffering from castration anxiety and was going through the oedipus complex.
• During the study, he developed an interest in his widdler (penis). - His mum had told him not to play with it or it would be cut off.
• Hans told his dad about a dream he was married to his mum and his dad was now his grandfather.

Question 18

What is the conclusion of the Hans study?

Answer 18

• Freud’s interpretation was that Han’s had reached the phallic stage of development and showed evidence of the ‘Oedipus complex.’
• He wanted to have an exclusive relationship with his mother and was jealous of his father
• He had sexual feelings for his mother, shown by the dream of marrying her
• The horse symbolised Han’s father because ,to him, they both had big penises
• His fear of horses is an example of displacement
• Hans suffered from castration anxiety
  In conclusion, Little Hans supported the theory of psychosexual development and that boys in the phallic stage experience the oedipus complex

Question 19

Give 3 advantages of the Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 19

• Rich in detail –> Theory applies to a real person, provides depth and understanding
• Only possible method to use –> Allowed scientists to explore unique behaviours, and explore sensitive areas
• Has practical application in the form of a new type of therapy (Psychoanalysis)

Question 20

Give 3 weaknesses of the Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 20

• Cannot be generalised –> Focused on individuals in therapy
• Difficult to test the theory and is therefore less scientific –> Popper argues it lacks falsification as it is not open to empirical testing
• Subjective