Psychodynamic approach (Comp 1)

Flashcards for eduqas psychology a level psychodynamic approach

Assumptions of psychodynamic approach

Influence of childhood experiences

The unconscious mind

The tripartite personality

What is the influence of childhood experiences on the ego?

The ego can be repressed in childhood.

What are the psychosexual stages of development according to Freud?

Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital.

What can unexpressed childhood emotions lead to?

They can be directed inwards, causing negative effects such as depression.

The unconscious mind

Cannot be accessed

Expresses itself indirectly, e.g. through dreams

Linked directly to ego defense mechanisms

What is repression in defense mechanisms?

Keeps disturbing/threatening thoughts from becoming conscious.

What is denial in defense mechanisms?

Blocking external events from the person's awareness.

What is projection in defense mechanisms?

Attributing your own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives to another person.

What is displacement in defense mechanisms?

Satisfying an impulse with a substitute object.

What is regression in defense mechanisms?

Movement back in psychological time when faced with stress.

What is sublimation in defense mechanisms?

Satisfying an impulse with a substitute object in a socially acceptable way.

Tripartite Personality

Id (Impulsive, satisfaction focused)

Ego (Rational)

Superego (Morals)

What is the purpose of dream analysis?

Dreams are a way to communicate with the unconscious mind.

Who developed the theory that dreams are wish-fulfillment?

Sigmund Freud.

What are the two types of content in dreams according to Freud?

Manifest content and Latent content.

What incident influenced Freud's development of his dream theory?

Freud's dream about another doctor's dirty syringe causing a patient's condition.

What is a strength of dream analysis according to Solms (2000)?

It is effective.

What method did Solms (2000) use to study dreams?

PET scans.

Which part of the brain is inactive during dreams according to Solms (2000)?

The rational part (ego).

Which areas of the brain are active during dreams according to Solms (2000)?

Memory and motivation areas (id).

What does Solms (2000) suggest about Freud's theory of dreams?

It is backed up by modern evidence.

What is a weakness of dream analysis related to ethics?

There is a power imbalance between the patient and the therapist.

How does dream analysis create reliance on the therapist?

The patient is overly-reliant on the therapist's interpretation of their dreams.

Why is dream analysis particularly concerning for vulnerable individuals?

Vulnerable individuals may be more susceptible to manipulation.

What ethical concerns are raised by dream analysis?

It raises concerns about manipulation and informed consent.

What is false memory syndrome?

False memory syndrome is when someone's identity and relationships are affected by false memories of a traumatic experience.

What did Toon et al (1996) suggest about therapists and false memories?

That therapists may implant false memories into patients to make financial gains during dream analysis.

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Background research

Spitz and Wolf (1946) studied 90 infants separated from the mother before the age of 1; one third of them died and most were depressed

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Aim

Bowlby wanted to know if the cause of the high number of young thieves was separation from the mother

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Methodology

Case study of 44 children (31 boys and 13 girls) with a similar control group

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Procedure

Opportunity sample and interviews

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Findings

Six personality types were identified: normal, depressed, circular, hyperthymic, affectionless, and schizoid

There were no affectionless characters in the control group, showing a strong association between affectionlessness and stealing

The affectionless group stole more severely and more consistently

Most thieves experienced separation from their mothers or had a poor relationship with them

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Conclusions

It is impossible to directly tell which factors lead to criminal behaviour, but there is strong evidence that a poor or absent relationship with parents is important

Cravings not provided by mothers were commonly stolen, such as milk

Many of the children stole for emotional satisfaction

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence explain) Alternate evidence

Rutter and Sonuga-Barke (2010) found that lack of emotional care before the age of 6 months can be recovered from, although this requires intensive support and therapy

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence evaluate) No causal findings

Impossible to tell whether separation from the mother led to criminal acts

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence evaluate) Biased data

Data interpretation is only the view of one person and therefore could be biased

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence evaluate) Ethical issues

No confidentiality, case studies are detailed and therefore revealing, and children gave no valid consent

Bowlby's 44 thieves study (classical evidence evaluate) Social implications

The NHS suggests mothers should breastfeed for 6 months, and maternity breaks allow parents to grow a bond with children

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Feeding (Strength)

NHS recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months; only the mother can biologically do this and must feed every ~2 hours, supporting her role as primary caregiver

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Feeding (Weakness)

Harlow’s monkey study found infants preferred a soft comfort mother over a feeding wire mother, suggesting emotional care is more important than feeding, which fathers can also provide

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Freud (Strength)

Freud argued the mother-infant bond is essential in early childhood and acts as a prototype for all future relationships, shaping attachment styles

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Freud (Weakness)

Freud’s theory is outdated and lacks scientific evidence; he also acknowledged the father plays an important role, particularly in a male child’s development (Oedipus complex)

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Maternal Deprivation (Strength)

Bowlby’s theory states a strong attachment to one main caregiver (monotropy) during a critical period is vital; deprivation can lead to long-term emotional and developmental damage

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Maternal Deprivation (Weakness)

Schaffer & Emerson (1964) found infants form multiple attachments (not just to the mother); Rutter et al (1972) argued quality of care is more important than continuous maternal presence

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Biological Differences (Strength)

Women produce oestrogen which increases emotional sensitivity; Heermann (1994) found mothers are more responsive to infant cues than fathers, supporting biological differences

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Biological Differences (Weakness)

View is reductionist and outdated; Gettler et al (2011) found fathers’ testosterone levels drop after birth, increasing their sensitivity and ability to care for infants

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Millennial Mothers (Strength)

NICHD study found children in day care showed higher levels of aggression and disobedience, suggesting maternal care may be more beneficial for early development

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Millennial Mothers (Weakness)

EPPE study found higher aggression at age 5 for nursery children but no differences by age 11, suggesting non-parental care has no long-term negative effects

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Ethical/Economic/Social (Cost)

Average UK nursery cost was around £9,850 per year (2014), making childcare expensive and influencing decisions about who becomes primary caregiver

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Ethical/Economic/Social (Incentives)

Government tax relief and childcare support incentivise both parents to work rather than one (traditionally the mother) staying home

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Ethical/Economic/Social (Changing Roles)

Maternity leave can now be shared between parents, reflecting changing social attitudes and reducing the expectation that mothers are sole caregivers

Mother as Primary Caregiver (Contemporary Debate) - Ethical/Economic/Social (Society)

Increased industrialisation and demand for a larger workforce benefits the economy when women work instead of remaining at home as primary caregivers

Oedipus Complex definition

Freud’s idea that a young boy feels unconscious desire for his mother and jealousy towards his father, eventually identifying with the father

Monotropy definition

Bowlby’s concept that an infant forms one primary attachment that is more important than all others

Maternal Deprivation definition

The absence or loss of a primary attachment figure during the critical period, leading to possible emotional and developmental damage

Critical Period definition

A specific early time in a child’s life (first ~2.5 years) when attachment must form or development may be negatively affected

Multiple Attachments definition

The idea that infants can form several attachments to different caregivers, not just one (Schaffer & Emerson)

Attachment definition

A strong emotional bond between an infant and caregiver

Caregiver Sensitivity definition

The ability of a caregiver to correctly read and respond to an infant’s needs and signals

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach - Nature vs Nurture (Strength)

Freud argued adult personality is shaped by both innate drives (nature) and early childhood experiences (nurture), giving a balanced explanation of behaviour

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach - Usefulness (Strength)

Freud’s work influenced therapies like psychoanalysis and was the first to suggest psychological factors can explain physical symptoms

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach - Complexity (Strength)

Recognises human behaviour is complex and influenced by multiple unconscious factors; Freud believed understanding behaviour is a long, detailed process

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach - Reductionism (Weakness)

Reduces behaviour to internal mental structures (id, ego, superego) and ignores other factors like biology, genetics, and environment

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach - Determinism (Weakness)

Freud suggested behaviour is driven by unconscious forces and childhood experiences, leaving little room for free will

Evaluation of Psychodynamic Approach - Falsifiability (Weakness)

Karl Popper (1934) argued Freud’s theory is unscientific because it cannot be tested or proven wrong (not falsifiable)