Psychodynamic approach

what is the psychodynamic approach?

any theory that emphasises change in the individual. Drive and childhood experiences is a central concept.

what are the 4 key concepts on the spec of psychoanalysis?

• role of the unconscious

• the structure of personality

• defence mechanisms

• psychosexual stages

what is the role of the unconscious?

existence and importance of the unconscious mind which to a large extent controls our behaviour.

whats the metaphor that describes the mind?

iceberg.

tip of the iceberg is the conscious mind

larger part below the surface is the unconscious mind

what did Freud believe that the unconscious mind is?

part of the mind below our consciousness that we cannot easily access.

He believed that the unconscious influences every part of our waking and sleeping lives.

what are the 3 parts of the psyche?

id - pleasure principle

ego - reality principle

super ego - morality principle

What is the Id?

operates on the pleasure principle - demands immediate gratification regardless of the circumstances.

what is the Ego?

operates on the reality principle and its role is to mediate between the demands of Id and reality of external world. also mediates between id and superego.

what is the superego?

operates on the morality principle - internalisation of society’s rules. determines which behaviours are permissable and causes feelings of guilt.

what did Freud believe about psychic conflict?

Freud believed that conflict took place in the psyche between the Id and superego, the two structures frequently pull us in opposite directions.

If the ego is able to do this it is psychologically healthy.

what does Freud believe about how the conflict can lead to psychological health?

If the Ego is able to mediate then we are psychologically healthy

If we become Id dominated - can lead to conduct disorders

If we become superego dominated - lead to anxiety disorders

what does ‘defence mechanisms’ mean?

if an individual is faced which a situation they are unable to deal with rationally - defence mechanisms may be triggered.

They operate in the unconscious and work by distorting reality so that anxiety is reduced.

examples - repression, denial, displacement

How does repression work?

during early childhood when our ego is too immature to deal with a traumatic event, we may repress our memories of this event into the unconscious mind.

memories are blocked from entering the conscious mind - which enables them to avoid dealing with any painful feelings associated with the event/situation.

how does repression affect our behaviour and an example of this.

Rather than staying quietly in the unconscious - the memories continue to influence our feelings and behaviours.

child abused by a parent may have difficulties forming relationships in the future despite not recollecting the event.

how does repression affect our behaviour and an example of this.

Rather than staying quietly in the unconscious - the memories continue to influence our feelings and behaviours.

child abused by a parent may have difficulties forming relationships in the future despite not recollecting the event.

How does Denial work? + examples

refusal to accept reality.

it enables the person to avoid having to deal with any painful feelings associated with the event/situation.

e.g. addiction, failure, bereavement, sexuality, ageing, toxic relationships

How does displacement work?

redirecting of thoughts/feelings from the actual source of the feelings onto someone else.

Happens when the person feels unable to express their feelings onto the original source so they ‘take it out’ on something else.

It is a defence mechanism because it gives the person the ability to ‘vent’ / express their feelings.

what does ‘psychosexual stages’ mean?

all children pass through a fixed sequence of five psychosexual stages. Each stage is focused on a different part of the body.

Freud believed the driving force that moves us from stage to stage is the libido

what does Freud believe about gratification for the psychosexual stages?

If we have the right amount of gratification at each stage we can move on to the next and become a psychologically and sexually healthy adult

If we get too little/ too much gratification then problems occur.

what are the five stages?

• Oral

• Anal

• Phallic

• Latent

• Genital

What’s the focal point of the oral stage?

Mouth - pleasure derived from putting things in the mouth. Feeding is very importantly

what’s the affect of oral gratification levels on an individual?

Healthy resolution - individual is trusting ( feeding needs were met ). Able to give and receive affection and build healthy relationships.

Under gratified - individual is aggressive and mistrustful as needs not met. Compensates by sucking thumb, biting nails etc

Over gratified - individual is lazy and over- dependant on others

What’s the focal point of the anal stage?

The anus - pleasure gained from bowel movement. Conflict arises when parents insist on toilet training.

what’s the affect of anal gratification levels on an individual?

healthy resolution - can deal with authority figures appropriately.

Under-gratified - “anally retentive” personality. Potty training too strict. Individual is obsessed with cleanliness and order. Difficulty expressing emotions

Over-gratified - “anally expulsive” personality. Individual is too relaxed, messy and disorganised. Lacks respect for authority figures.

what is the focal point of the phallic stage?

Genitals. Both sexes have unconscious desire for the opposite sex parent, jealous of same sex parent.

Boys = oedipus complex - castration anxiety

Girls = Electra complex

what’s the affect of phallic gratification levels on an individual?

healthy resolution - origins of later gender roles. end the stage identifying with the same sex parent.

if theres conflict of desire for opposite sex parent and fear of same sex parent aren’t resolved - problems with their sexual identity/homosexuality.

whats the focal point of the latent stage?

period in which sexuality is dormant and energy is being redirected into play, forming friendships, learning social rules.

what is the focal point of the genital stage?

Genitals. Individual becomes interested in the opposite sex.

what’s the affect of genital gratification levels on an individual?

healthy resolution - individual becomes psychologically and sexually healthy.

fixations formed / conflicts from earlier stages have not been resolved. They begin to emerge and influence behaviour.

what are the strengths of the psychodynamic approach?

• real world application

what are the weaknesses of the psychodynamic approach?

• extremely subjective

• limited application

• untestable

• psychic determinism

• gender bias

PEC

real world application

P: a strength is that it has real world application

E: the model has led to development of psychotherapy. De Maat et al’s large scale review found it was an effective therapy for a number of neuroses e.g. depression

C: therefore, this supports the approach as its not simply abstract and theoretical but actually has real world application.

PEC

subjective

P: a weakness - data gathered by Freud’s case studies of his patients is extremely subjective.

E: Freuds interpretation of the behaviour of his patients e.g. Little Hans is extremely subjective and unlikely that other Psychologists would interpret in the same way.

C: therefore suggests a lack of scientific rigour and this undermines the usefulness of the approach.

PEC

limited app

P: psychotherapy has limited application

E: As an insight therapy, it isn’t appropriate for treating more serious psychoses like schizophrenia.

C: therefore, this undermines the approach as it suggests the therapy has limited real world application.

PEC

untestable

P: weakness, much of the theory is untestable

E: Id, oedipus and electra complexes are said to occur at an unconscious level, making them difficult/impossible to test.

C: Therefore suggests a lack of scientific rigour, undermining the usefulness of the approach.

PEC
determinism

P: weakness is that it can be accused of psychic determinism.

E: Freud argued, behaviour is determined by the psyche evident in Freudian slips

C: this undermines the approach - suggests that it underestimates the control we have over our own behaviour. Fails to recognise the full extent of free will.

PEC

gender

P: weakness is it can be accused of gender bias

E: Karen Horney argued that though many of Freud’s theories focuses on sexual development, he remained ignorant of female sexuality and how it differs.

C: therefore, the claim its biased is concerning given that Freud treated a number of female patients and psychoanalysis is still a popular form of therapy today.