the psychodynamic approach

Question 1

What does the psychodynamic approach describe?

Answer 1

Different forces (mostly unconscious) operate on the mind and direct human behaviour and experience.

Question 2

What did Freud argue about the unconscious mind?

Answer 2

Most of our mind is unconscious, containing repressed memories accessible through dreams or ‘Freudian slips.’

Question 3

What is Freud’s tripartite personality model?

Answer 3

Personality is made up of the id, ego, and superego.

Question 4

What are the five psychosexual stages?

Answer 4

Oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages, each with a conflict that influences development.

Question 5

Describe the oral stage.

Answer 5

(0-1 years) Pleasure focus on the mouth; unresolved issues can cause oral fixation (e.g., nail-biting).

Question 6

Describe the anal stage.

Answer 6

(1-3 years) Pleasure from controlling bowel movements; unresolved issues cause anal retentive (perfectionist) or expulsive (messy) traits.

Question 7

Describe the phallic stage and related complexes.

Answer 7

(3-6 years) Focus on genitals; Oedipus/Electra complexes develop. Unresolved conflicts can lead to narcissistic or reckless behaviour

Question 8

What happens during the latency stage?

Answer 8

(6-12 years) Earlier conflicts are repressed.

Question 9

What characterizes the genital stage?

Answer 9

Sexual desires become conscious with puberty onset.

Question 10

What are the roles of the id, ego, and superego?

Answer 10

Id = unconscious pleasure principle; ego = balances id and superego via reality principle; superego = moralistic ideal self.

Question 11

What are the three ego defense mechanisms?

Answer 11

Repression (blocking distressing memories), denial (refusing reality), and displacement (redirecting emotions).

Question 12

Why is the psychodynamic approach considered unscientific?

Answer 12

Because the unconscious cannot be objectively measured, making it unfalsifiable (Karl Popper).

Question 13

What modern therapies stem from the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 13

Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis; Functional Analytic Cognitive Therapy improves client-therapist relationships and outcomes.

Question 14

What are the issues with Freud’s case study method?

Answer 14

Lack of ecological validity, subjective qualitative data, researcher bias, limited generalisability.