psychodynamic perspective finished

freud.

what is the psychodynamic perspective?

Our behaviour and feelings as adults (both normal and abnormal) are largely rooted in our early childhood experiences. Our early experiences of relationships with other people are part of particular importance. Our behaviour, personalities, motivations, and feelings are influenced by unresolved conflicts in the unconscious mind- mental processes we aren’t consciously awareness.

what’s one practical application for the psychodynamic perspective?

One application of the psychodynamic perspective is by understanding how our early childhood experience can greatly influence adult behaviours we can as best as possible ensure any traumatic childhood experiences are dealt with correctly to prevent any unresolved conflicts manifesting later in life by helping children deal with their traumas correctly with therapy (psychoanalysis) to reduce mental illness in society which is highly beneficial

what is the structure of the mind?

Freud believed that the unconscious mind contains unresolved conflicts and has a powerful effect on our behaviour and experience he argued that many of these conflicts will show up in our fantasy’s dreams and anxieties. He believed that psychoanalysis could release these conflicts and bring them to the conscious mind to be dealt with.

what is the structure of personality?

Freud proposed that we have 3 forces at work within our personalities. Most of the conflict that goes on between these forces is unconscious and therefore unaware of it. The ID is present from birth and is our pleasure principle focusing on what we want. The superego is other extreme and focuses on morality concerned with socially acceptable behaviour the ego aims to balance the 2 and keep both satisfied

what are defence mechanisms?

the ID and superego are often in conflict. To help protect emotional stability the ego must try and resolve the conflicts by finding a practical realistic and socially acceptable compromise. If the conflicts between ID and superego remain unsolved, we are likely to suffer from extreme anxiety. The ego may then use defence mechanisms to protect us from such anxiety. These operate at the level of the unconscious and we may be unaware we are using them e.g., displacement and regression.

what are the stages of psychosexual development?

When a child personality is developing, they progress through psychosexual stages of development, if they fixate in any stage this can cause problems for them in later life (little Hans during the phallic stage). The phallic stage is when the child’s libido is focused on the opposite sex parent, they feel attraction towards the parent of the opposite sex whilst they envy and fear the same sex parent known as the Oedipus complex.

how is the psychodynamic perspective useful?

we now know that anxieties are caused by conflicts in the unconscious mind – practical applications can be developed such as psychoanalysis

how does the psychosexual perspective enhance knowledge of mental illness?

Often focuses on the case study method which gives in depth insightful qualitative data to enhance knowledge of mental illness

how is the psychodynamic approach holistic?

at both individual and situational explanations such as early childhood experience and how they impact on the biological development of personality.

how is the psychodynamic approach supportive of the freewill debate.

as they can choose to engage in psychoanalytic therapy

how is the psychodynamic perspective deterministic?

no control over childhood experience and the defence mechanism that the ego employs to protect itself (or unconscious mind)

how is the psychodynamic perspective socially sensitive?

stigma for those who are out of control of certain origins of behaviour such as early childhood trauma and unconscious mind 

how is the psychodynamic perspective reductionist?

focused on biological explanations such as biological maturity through psychosexual stages.

how is the psychodynamic perspective unscientific?

lack of scientific principles and collects highly subjective data as this perspective measure intangible behaviour.