Psychodynamic Perspective

exam notes

Psychodynamic” means?

active mind

Topographical Model of Mind

Freud divided human consciousness
into three levels of awareness.
Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to describe the three levels of the mind. Conscious, Preconscious and Unconscious.

Conscious Level

we are actively aware of at any given time. - Contains all the thoughts, memories, feelings, and wishes of which we
are aware at any given moment.
- The tip of the iceberg.
For example, you may be feeling thirsty at this moment and decide to
get a drink.

Preconscious

Materials that are unconscious at this moment but can be recalled into our conscious awareness.

The preconscious is like a mental waiting room, in which thoughts
remain until they 'succeed in attracting the eye of the conscious’.
For example, you are presently not thinking about your mobile
telephone number, but now it is mentioned you can recall it with ease.

Unconscious

e deepest level. It is a storehouse of all instincts, emotions, & deepest
memories which we have repressed.

Thoughts, memories, feelings, urges and fantasies that we are unaware of.

If conscious, could result in pain and anxiety.
Inaccessible to consciousness but that influence judgments, feelings, or behavior.

It is responsible for much of our behavior.
For example; experiences of sexual abuse, strong emotional feelings of
shame/humiliation.

Freudian Personality
Structure

id , ego super ego...

what is Id?

Includes human’s basic needs and instinctual drives such as sex, hunger, aggressiveness.
• It operates entirely unconsciously (outside of conscious thought).
• Driven by pleasure principles to avoid pain or displeasure.
• Concerned only with satisfying your desires and urges.

what is Ego?

The ego is the rational and driven by the reality principles.
(give a realistic direction to an individual’s id impulses.)

The planning, thinking, and organizing part of personality.
(decision-making component of personality.)

the ego is concerned with the realistic strategies to get pleasure.

what is Superego?

moral part of the personality that includes values, social rules and moral. (represents society
and parents’ values & standards)

Exists in conscious mind and the unconscious mind.

Superego’s function is to control the id’s impulses such as social prohibitions, sex and aggression.

Persuade the ego to turn to moralistic goals rather than simply realistic ones and to strive for perfection.

Freud believed that the id, ego, and superego
are in constant conflict with..?

that adult personality and behavior are rooted in the results of these internal struggles throughout
childhood.

He believed that a person who has a strong ego has a healthy personality and that imbalances in this system can lead to neurosis (what we now think of as anxiety and depression) and unhealthy behaviours

Oral Stage (Birth to 1 year)

Infant derives pleasure from oral stimulation through gratifying
activities such as tasting and sucking.

The primary conflict at this stage is the weaning process - the child
must become less dependent upon caretakers

Anal Stage (1 to 3 years old)

Primary focus of the libido was on controlling bladder and bowel
movements. The major conflict at this stage is toilet training; the child has to learn to control their bodily needs and those are a major source of pleasure and tension.

Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years old)

The primary focus of the libido is on the genitals. (specially the
penis)

Super ego develops during this stage.

what is Oedipus Complex?

feelings of wanting to possess
the mother and the desire to replace the father. Boys begin to view their fathers as a rival for the mother’s affections.

boys eventually decide to become their fathers through imitation rather than fighting them.

what is Electra Complex?

similar set of feelings experienced by young girls. The daughter possesses an unconscious desire to replace her mother as her
father's sexual partner, thus leading to a competition between daughter and mother.

Later, they begin to identify with their mothers out of fear of losing their love.

At this age, children begin to discover the differences between males and females.

Latent Stage (7 to 10 years old)

No fixations. Children become more concerned with peer relationships, hobbies, and other interests.

Even though sexual energy is repressed, this energy is still present. But it is channeled into other areas such as intellectual pursuits and social interactions.

Genital Stage (12 and up, or puberty until death)

The onset of puberty causes the libido to become active
once again. maturing sexual interests. Individual develops a strong sexual interest in the opposite sex.

The goal of this stage is to establish a balance between the
various life areas.

If the other stages have been completed successfully, the
individual should now be well-balanced, warm, and caring.

what is Defense Mechanism?

Psychological strategies that are unconsciously used to protect a
person from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings.

what is Repression?

The unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts, feelings and
impulses. Protects the individual from experiencing guilt, embarrassment, humiliation or worry.

what is Denial ?

the refusal to accept the reality or fact, acting as if a
painful event, thoughts or feelings did not exist. Blocking out painful thoughts or feelings. If a situation is just too much to handle, the person may
respond by refusing to perceive it or by denying that it
exists.

what is Projection?

Placing one’s own unwanted thoughts, feelings and
motives onto another person, as if the thoughts belonged to them, not to oneself.

Example: you might hate someone, but your superego tells you that such hatred is unacceptable. You can 'solve' the problem by believing
that they hate you.

what is Displacement?

Redirection of an impulse (usually
aggression) onto a powerless substitute target.

For example; Someone who is frustrated by his
or her superiors may go home and kick the dog
or beat up a family member.

what is Sublimation?

Manage to displace our unacceptable emotions into behaviours which are constructive and socially acceptable, rather than
destructive activities.

For example; punching bag to channel angry impulses

what is Rationalization?

Putting something into a different light or offering a different
explanation for one’s perceptions or behaviors in the face of a
changing reality.

For example; Student who cheated on an exam may say; “I only
cheated on a few questions, but I knew most of the answers!

what is Reaction Formation?

Converting unwanted or dangerous thoughts, feelings or
impulses into their opposites. (Expressing the opposite of how
one truly feels).

For example; Someone frightens you, so you act super nice
If you are nervous, you may act bravely
A boy may really like a girl but act like he does not