Psychodynamic approach

AO1 + AO3

Describe assumptions of the approach

• freud suggested our behaviour + feelings powerfully affected by unconscious

• our behaviour as adults is rooted in childhood experiences

• personality is innate + composed of ID, ego, superego - constant conflict with each other

• personality develops in stages which are shaped as innate drives which are modified by different conflicts at diff times in childhood

• psychic determinism - all behaviour has a cause/reason

Describe role of unconscious

• unconscious is inaccessible to conscious thought 

• freud thought most of everyday action are result of the unconscious

• protects conscious mind from traumatic memories using defence mechanisms

Describe the 3 defence mechanisms

• Repression - unconscious blocking unacceptable thoughts + impulses which then influence individual without them knowing

• Denial - refusal to accept reality so avoid dealing with painful feelings associated with the event (by denying the traumatic event had never happened)

• Displacement - redirection of thoughts or feelings where person is unable to express themselves in presence of person they are directed at so they take it out on something/one else

Describe the structure of personality

• ID - formed from birth to 18 months (in oral stage), operates only in unconscious according to pleasure principal by demanding immediate gratification

• Ego - formed from 18 months to 3 yrs, (anal stage) operates in conscious, mediator between ID and superego according to the reality principle, rational balancing using defence mechanisms

• Superego - formed 3-6 yrs (phallic stage), is the morality principle, person’s internalised state of right and wrong, formed by parental upbringing, works by making ego feel guilty

Describe Freud’s psychosexual stages

Psychosexual stages are important as it’s when personality develops due to driving force sexual energy (libido)

frustration or overindulgence can lead to fixation at a stage restricting full development which displays specific personality symptoms

• Oral - 0-1 yrs + mouth, tongue, chewing etc + breast feeding + ego develops + sucking thumb, nail biting, smoking, overeating

• Anal - 1-3 yrs + anus, bowel bladder control + toilet training + orderliness/messiness

• Phallic - 3-6 yrs + genitals, masturbation + oedipus, electra complex, superego formed + sexual dysfunction

• Latency - 7-10 yrs + repression of sexual urges + cognitive and social development

• Genital - 12+ yrs + genitals + sexual maturity, develops intimate and sexual relationships

Describe the oedipus and electra complex

• Oedipus complex - boys experience desiring mum (main source of pleasure) by wanting full attention, sees dad as rival, anxiety created due to repressed fear that dad will castrate him, this creates conflict which he only copes by identifying with aggressor by looking for ways to be similar to father forming his gender identity

• Electra complex - girls experience desiring mum but jealous of dad as he has her attention so starts admiring dad, penis envy occurs as she realises she can’t be like him so desires to be a boy, feeling repressed by desiring baby instead creating tension, feelings further repressed by identifying with mum to form gender identity, internalising mums values

Evaluate applications of approach

• strength as it has led to new form of therapy called psychoanalysis

• intends to access the unconscious mind by hypnosis + dream analysis

• successful as it treats the root cause of disorders rather than just treating symptoms by use of drug treatments only showing minimal short term improvements

• however considered to be harmful for serious mental disorders but still has useful applications

Evaluate issue of approach being determinist

• weakness is that it’s hard determinist

• suggests that all behaviour is shaped by unconscious

• also influenced by childhood experiences e.g. being stuck at oral stages resulting in smoking, nail biting etc

• doesn’t take into account free will and ability of individual to control actions + willingness to change behaviour

• weakens support for theory

Evaluate issue of approach

• weakness is that there is gender bias

• approach is centred and dominated by males + male viewpoint

• approach displays alpha bias by exaggerating diff between males + females

• Freud describes femininity as failed masculinity

• gender bias is problematic for approach as it reflects patriarchal time freud was working in which weakens support for theory

Evaluate research for approach

• weakness is it doesn’t meet scientific criteria of falsification as it can’t be empirically tested as it’s not observable (no potential to be disproved)

• many of freuds concepts exist at unconscious level so can’t be empirically tested

• suggested that approach should be considered pseudoscience 

• reduces validity + usefulness of theory