PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH

Key concepts of psychodynamic approach

• behaviour is driven by unconscious forces

• Early childhood experiences shape adult personality and psychological health

• Personality is structured as three dynamic components: id, ego, superego

three parts of Freuds tri-partite of the mind

• Conscious mind

• Preconscious mind

• Unconscious mind

the conscious mind

When we are immediately aware, thoughts and perceptions

the preconscious mind

Not currently aware but contains retrievable information

the unconscious mind parts

Contains biological drive, instincts. They are inaccessible to direct awareness

parapraxes

When the unconscious breaks into the conscious mind, verbally stumbling to reveal forbidden, repressed thoughts

Example of parapraxes

Dreams - contains symbols which have another meaning

The three parts of the tripartite personality

• Id

• Ego

• Superego

age does each part of the tripartite personality develop

• Id - present from birth

• Ego - emerges at 2

• Superego - emerges at 5

Location in the mind of each part of the tripartite personality

• Id - entirely unconscious

• Ego - mainly conscious

• Superego - both unconscious and conscious

Brief description of the Id

Made up of instincts and biological drive

Brief description of the ego

Uses logic and reasoning to balance the id and superego

Brief description of the superego

Develops through the resolution of the Oedipus/ Electra complex

principle the Id operates from

Pleasure principle

principle the Ego operates from

Reality principle

principle the Superego operates from

Morality principle

Function of the Id

Demands immediate gratification of desires regardless of consequences or reality

Function of the Ego

Mediate between the id, superego and the external world

Function of the Superego

Judges behaviour against internalised moral standards, producing guilt when violated

Freud says about people with a balanced ego

They are the most psychologically healthy

the ego balance the conflicting demand of the Id and Superego

Defence mechanisms to prevent us being overwhelmed by temporary threats, distress, anxiety or traumas

repression and is an example of

example of a defence mechanism and is when someone forces out a distressing memory out of the conscious ming into the unconscious.

denial and what is an example of

defense mechanism and is when the ego refuses to accept an unpleasant reality, acting as though it doesn’t exist

displacement and is an example of

defense mechanism where emotions are redirected away from the original target and onto a safer substitute

five psychosexual stages of development

• Oral

• Anal

• Phallic

• Latency

• Genital

conflict at each stage doesn’t allow libido to move on

Through over-gratification or frustration causes fixation

age the oral stage happens at

0-18 months

age the anal stage happens at

18 months - 3 years

age does phallic stage happens at

3-6 years

age the latency stage happens at

6-11 years

age the genital stage happens at

Puberty onwards

where the libido focused in the oral stage

Mouth - pleasure deprived from feeding, sucking, biting

where the libido focused on during the anal stage

Anus - pleasure derived from retention and explusion of faeces

where the libido focused on during the Phallic stage

Genitals - pleasure from stimulation, awareness of sexual difference

where the libido focused on during the latency stage

There is no erogenous zone - libido is dormant

where the libido focused on during the genital stage

Genitals - reawakening of sexual impulses

Key conflict to resolve during the oral stage

Weaning from the breast or bottle

Key conflict to resolve during the anal stage

Toilet training

Key conflict to resolve during the phallic stage

• Oedipus complex (boys) - unconscious desire from mother, rivalry with and fear of father = resolved though identification

• Electra complex (girls) - penis envy

Key conflict to overcome during the latency stage

No primary psychosexual conflict

Key conflict during the genital stage

Achieving mature, other-focused sexual relationships

Case study for the psychosexual stage

Little Hans - pseudonym

little Hans’s strong attachment to his mother link to a Freudian interpretation

Unconscious sexual desire for his mother - core feature of the Oedipus complex in the Phallic stage

little Hans’s hostility towards his father link to a Freudian interpretation

Rivalry with the father for mothers affection

little Hans’s development of a phobia of horses link to a Freudian interpretation

Displacement - anxiety about father is transferred to horse

little Hans’s gradual reduction in the fear of horse after reassurance from father link to a Freudian interpretation

Resolution of the Oedipus complex through identification with father

little Hans’s increased identification with his father link to a Freudian interpretation

Formation of the superego and normal progression out of the phallic stage